Doctor Who DVD Files is a fortnightly partwork magazine published by GE Fabbri Ltd, authorised by 2 entertain and BBC Worldwide. As well as a magazine, each issue includes a DVD of two episodes of the re-launched series of Doctor Who with Christopher Eccleston and David Tennant as the Ninth and Tenth Doctors, respectively.
From issue 25 subscibers were informed the series was to be extended beyond The Next Doctor release (on issue 28), with DVD's of classic stories up to, tentatively, issue 40.
Overview
- GE Fabbri Ltd followed their successful Doctor Who: Battles in Time collection which had come to an end (after an extended run of 70 issues) Doctor Who DVD Files was launched on January 14th 2009 throughout the UK and Ireland after a regional test in the north-east of the UK (from September 2008).
- This new title was promoted with a £1 million advertising campaign in magazines and on the commercial channels.
- Due to licensing issues involving the inclusion of the DVDs, this magazine will not be distributed in North America, however beginning in February 2009 the magazine introduced an online version, sans DVD content, that was accessible worldwide (see below).
- The magazine title by necessity had to include 'DVD' in the title so as not to be confused with the Doctor Who Files, a range of BBC Children's Books.
- Initially launched as a 28-part issue (including releases up to and including The Next Doctor), the title was expanded to 40 issues with 'classic' story releases as 'vanilla' editions (ie. without extras).
- The magazine was once again expanded, this time up to 60 issues with 'classic' story releases, however issues 57 & 58 contained the Tenth Doctor 's last 4 episodes (Planet of the Dead , The Waters of Mars & The End of Time )
Online Content
The publisher (GE Fabbri Ltd), had anticipated that before this title had been announced there would be interest in the magazine part only, from fans already having access to the stories on DVD, individually or as part of a boxset release, as well as non-UK Doctor Who fans as DVD licensing prevented the magazine from being distributed outside the British Isles.
Because the DVD's were supplied with ALL copies of the magazine, a magazine version only was not practical. A different approach was adopted and following the launch of the accompanying website [[1]], an expansion into a archive subscription service(updated with each new issue released), was announced and implemented in February 2009.
For a subscription fee of £3 per month (or £25 per year), this archive service allowed online readers unlimited access to the 600+ pages of the magazine and a further 150 pages that made up the comic strip pages that ran in their other successful title Doctor Who: Battles in Time.
- The website also included a number of other bonus features including a desktop Dalek, online games and downloadable wallpapers.
Content
This partwork magazine with detachable pages (and online archive service), had pages that could be divided and filed under 7 headings (donated by colour and page referencing). Not all sections were represented each issue and some pages are of a fold-out nature
- The Doctor (what we know about the last of the Time Lords from Gallifrey)
- Allies (with quotes of wit and wisdom)
- Enemies (with essential data)
- Behind The Scenes (with exclusive interviews)
- Technology (with special artwork)
- Flashback (with new artwork reliving classic moments)
- DVD Episode Guide (with essential facts, previous encounter notes and a test yourself quiz on accompanying DVD release)
Regular Issue Covers (for New Series Releases 1-28)
Issue 1 - DVD includes the episodes Rose and The End of the World
Issue 2 - DVD includes the episodes The Unquiet Dead and Aliens of London
Issue 3 - DVD includes the episode World War Three and Dalek (TV story)
Issue 4 - DVD includes the episodes The Long Game and Father's Day plus bonus The Five Doctors DVD.
Issue 5 - DVD includes the episodes The Empty Child and The Doctor Dances
Issue 6 - DVD includes the episodes Boom Town and Bad Wolf (TV story)
Issue 7 - DVD includes the episodes The Parting of the Ways and The Christmas Invasion
Issue 8 - DVD includes the episodes New Earth and Tooth and Claw
Issue 9 - DVD includes the episodes School Reunion and The Girl in the Fireplace
Issue 10 - DVD includes the episodes Rise of the Cybermen and The Age of Steel
Issue 11 - DVD includes the episodes The Idiot's Lantern and The Impossible Planet
Issue 12 - DVD includes the episodes The Satan Pit and Love & Monsters
Issue 13 - DVD includes the episodes Fear Her and Army of Ghosts
Issue 14 - DVD includes the episodes Doomsday and The Runaway Bride
Issue 15 - DVD includes the episodes Smith and Jones and The Shakespeare Code
Issue 16 - DVD includes the episodes Gridlock and Daleks in Manhattan
Issue 17 - DVD includes the episodes Evolution of the Daleks and The Lazarus Experiment
Issue 18 - DVD includes the episodes 42 and Human Nature
Issue 19 - DVD includes the episodes The Family of Blood and Blink
Issue 20 - DVD includes the episodes Utopia and The Sound of Drums
Issue 21 - DVD includes the episodes Last of the Time Lords and Voyage of the Damned
Issue 22 - DVD includes the episodes Partners in Crime and The Fires of Pompeii
Issue 23 - DVD includes the episodes Planet of the Ood and The Sontaran Strategem
Issue 24 - DVD includes the episodes The Poison Sky and The Doctor's Daughter
Issue 25 - DVD includes the episodes The Unicorn and the Wasp and Silence in the Library
Issue 26 - DVD includes the episodes Forest of the Dead and Midnight
Issue 27 - DVD includes the episodes Turn Left and The Stolen Earth
Issue 28 - DVD includes the episodes Journey's End and The Next Doctor
Regular Issue Covers (for Classic Series Releases 29-40)
Issue 29 - DVD includes the Seventh Doctor adventure Remembrance of the Daleks
Issue 30 - DVD includes the Third Doctor adventure The Three Doctors
Issue 31 - DVD includes the Fourth Doctor adventure Genesis of the Daleks TBC
Issue 32 - DVD includes the Fifth Doctor adventure Earthshock
Issue 33 - DVD includes the Fourth Doctor adventure Pyramids of Mars
Issue 34 - DVD includes the Fifth Doctor adventure Resurrection of the Daleks
Issue 35 - DVD includes the Third Doctor adventure Spearhead from Space
Issue 36 - DVD includes the Fifth Doctor adventure The Caves of Androzani
Issue 37 - DVD includes the Fourth Doctor adventure City of Death
Issue 38 - DVD includes the Sixth Doctor adventure Revelation of the Daleks
Issue 39 - DVD includes the Seventh Doctor adventure The Curse of Fenric
Issue 40 - DVD includes the Fourth Doctor adventure The Brain of Morbius
Issue 41 - DVD includes Fourth Doctor story The Talons of Weng-Chiang
Subscription Offer
Early subscribers to this title received a number of bonus free gifts worth over £50 (UK) that included;
- Three character options 5" action figures (various figures dispatched)
- Flat-pack storage case for 14 DVD's
- Bonus Eighth Doctor DVD featuring Doctor Who the Movie
- A saving of £1 per issue (UK)