The BBC has acknowledged the very first Doctor Who writer, amidst controversy over copyright deals.
Recently, the BBC has announced they were bringing over 800 episodes to iPlayer; to celebrate 60 years of Doctor Who.
However, this has stirred up trouble between the BBC and the Anthony Coburn’s son (Stef Anthony Coburn). Anthony Coburn is the writer for the very first Doctor Who stories, in the 60’s.
BBC has now written a new article recognizing Anthony Coburns work as a writer for the hit science-fiction series. Anthony Coburn wrote An Unearthly Child; this his only televised Doctor Who story.
Although, in their article there’s been no indication or response to the copyright complaints made by his son, who inherited the rights to the IP, in 2013.
Stef Anthony Coburn states that the BBC will “never again have the right to distribute Tony’s [Anthony Coburn’s] episodes.
There’s been no details revealed about the amount Coburn’s son has demanded in his ‘fair deal’. In Stef’s previous posts, he mentioned the “BBC chose not to take the deal I offered, “the deal could have been sorted”, in 2023. And then he goes onto rant about the BBC paying Gary Lineker over a million per year to talk about Football.
Coburn’s son responds to a post where he is challenged about losing to the BBC:
It’s a ‘battle’ I’ve ALREADY won! I knew they were NEVER going to accept the deal I offered. NOT because it was unreasonable, but because THEY are predatory avaricious pirates who feel ‘entitled’ to anything THEY want. They did this to themselves. My vengeance is NEARLY complete.
X/ Stef Anthony Coburn.
Chatter Box Film has emailed the BBC press office last night about claims made by Stef Anthony Coburn to prevent certain Doctor Who episodes such as An Unearthly Child from being released on BBC iPlayer, this November. Currently waiting for a response from them.
The BBC has also set clips to private for An Unearthly Child, on their official Youtube channels.
An Unearthly Child episode is currently available on another streaming platform instead; ITVX Premium/BritBox. *Not sponsored.
Update: BBC confirms that Coburn’s Doctor Who story will not be releasing on BBC iPlayer.
