Fans ofDoctor Whoare in for some bad news as the series is leavingHBO Maxafter five years.Doctor Who, the iconic sci-fi series, has been undergoing a bit of a rough patch. In 2022,Disney+struck a significant deal to streamDoctor Who, marking the beginning of a new era for the series. However, the series struggled in the ratings, and with the contract having expired, there is currently no word on Disney renewing it or any other prominent streamer picking up the co-financing deal with the BBC on the legendary sci-fi series.
Doctor WhoSeason 1 through 13 will leave HBO Max on July 08, 2025, according toCollider. This will come one day shy of the six-year anniversary of when it was confirmed thatHBO Max had gained the exclusive streaming rights toDoctor Whoback on June 19, 2025.Doctor Whowas available to stream on HBO Max on the day the app launched back in 2020. Starting with the 60th Anniversary specials in 2023 and the Ncuti Gatwa-led Series 14 and Series 15, new episodes ofDoctor Whobegan airing on Disney+.
Doctor Who Takes on Another Form in Spin-off Series Aimed at a Brand New Audience
Doctor Whois currently in a somewhat unusual holding period. Season 15 ended with the surprise regeneration of Ncuti Gatwa’s Fifteenth Doctor, with former companion actress Billie Piper seemingly taking up the role of the Doctor. However, the credits did not refer to her as the title character. The decision, and the finale, were widely controversial among fans and seen as adesperate attempt to generate fan interestand secure the series' renewal for another season. As of this moment,Doctor Who’s future is uncertain, as there’s still no word on an upcoming season.
‘Doctor Who’s Uncertain Future
HavingDoctor Who’s streaming rights split up between HBO Max and Disney+ has been a problem for the franchise. Instead ofDoctor Whohaving a single unified streaming home, it is split between two competing streaming companies. It seemed not to be a problem for the Disney+ era ofDoctor Who, as it was initially pitched as a new starting point for fans who could jump in without needing to watch the prior seasons of the television series. Yet it quickly became clear thatshowrunner Russell T. Davies’ newDoctor Whowas building off the previous seasons, including multiple recurring characters, references, and callbacks.
GivenDoctor Who’s high popularity, another streamer is likely to pick up the distribution rights, which fans hope will include adeal to renew the series for newer episodes. Netflix held the streaming rights toDoctor Whofor years, which helped the series gain popularity in North America. Therefore, it would be a fitting home for the series. Yet streamers like Apple TV+, Paramount+, and Peacock would undoubtedly benefit from having the iconic series as part of their libraries. In the meantime, however, fans ofDoctor Whomay want to start watching on HBO Max soon, as it is unclear whether or when it will be easily accessible for streaming.
Source:Collider
Doctor Who
