Sony-owned production outfit, Bad Wolf, saw a significant increase in revenues following an unconventional deal to produce the iconic TV show Doctor Who. In September 2021, Bad Wolf was awarded the production contract for Doctor Who, as part of an agreement to bring back Russell T Davies as the showrunner. The first year of producing the beloved sci-fi series proved to be highly successful for Bad Wolf, as the company recorded revenues of £117M ($148M) in the 12 months leading up to March 2023. This marked an impressive 192% increase compared to the £40.2M in 2022.
Bad Wolf’s subsidiary, Whoniverse1, acted as the special purpose vehicle responsible for producing Doctor Who. In the year ending in March, Whoniverse1 contributed an additional £43M ($54M) in sales. With these additional sales, Bad Wolf reached its highest revenue figure of £117M within a 12-month period since its establishment by Julie Gardner and Jane Tranter in 2015.
Despite the challenges faced by the entertainment industry, Bad Wolf saw an impressive surge in pre-tax profit for 2023. The company reported a profit of £7M, representing a remarkable 366% increase from the previous year’s figure of £1.5M. These earnings were published on Companies House, further solidifying Bad Wolf’s financial success.
The decision to entrust an external producer with the Doctor Who franchise was a break from tradition for the BBC. Previously, the show had always been produced by the BBC or BBC Studios. However, Bad Wolf’s involvement in this iconic brand signifies the corporation’s willingness to explore new avenues. Despite this external involvement, BBC Studios retained ownership of the Doctor Who brand and remained responsible for international sales and merchandise. A notable achievement was the deal brokered with Disney+ for streaming rights outside of the UK, highlighting the continued success and appeal of the Doctor Who franchise on a global scale.
Julie Gardner and Jane Tranter, founders of Bad Wolf and former BBC producers, reconnected with Russell T Davies for the revival of Doctor Who in 2005. Having previously worked together, their collaboration on the show’s relaunch was highly successful and garnered a large fan base. Their most recent episode, featuring David Tennant, attracted an impressive viewership of 7.6 million on the BBC in the previous month. Furthermore, there are high expectations for Ncuti Gatwa, who will be taking control of the Tardis for his first full episode, set to air on Christmas Day.
Overall, Bad Wolf’s record-breaking revenues and increased profit, coupled with the commercial success of Doctor Who as a global brand, validate the unconventional deal and highlight the company’s ability to capitalize on iconic franchises. As the entertainment industry continues to evolve, this partnership between Bad Wolf, BBC Studios, and Disney+ serves as a testament to the power of collaboration and innovation in capturing audience attention and driving financial success.