Difference between revisions of "User:Jon Preddle"

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Zambia began its television service in 1961.  
 
Zambia began its television service in 1961.  
  
There is only one national television broadcaster, '''Television Zambia (ZTV)''', which was in 1979 the first country to introduce the ([[Wikipedia:PAL|PAL]]) colour system within Africa.  
+
There is only one national television broadcaster, '''Television Zambia (ZTV)'''; in 1979 it was the first country to introduce the [[Wikipedia:PAL|PAL]] colour system within Africa.  
  
In the mid-1960s, '''ZTV''' operated from two regional stations, the northern station in the Copperbelt district / Kitwe (on channel 4), and the southern regions from the capital, Lusaka (on channel 3). (Transmissions from Lusaka commenced from 25 December 1965.)
+
In the mid-1960s, '''ZTV''' operated from two regional stations: the northern station broadcasting from the Copperbelt / Kitwe district (on channel 4), and the southern station broadcasting from the capital, Lusaka (on channel 3). (Transmissions from Lusaka commenced from 25 December 1965.)
  
 
A third repeater was established in 1968 in Kabwe. The three stations were connected as a network by microwave interconnection.  
 
A third repeater was established in 1968 in Kabwe. The three stations were connected as a network by microwave interconnection.  
Line 50: Line 50:
 
'''The Seventies''' records a sale of '''"(36)"''' stories by 28 February 1977. '''The Handbook''', however, identifies '''38'''; 26 for Hartnell and 12 from Troughton. This total agrees with the number of stories that did air, per the story tables below.  
 
'''The Seventies''' records a sale of '''"(36)"''' stories by 28 February 1977. '''The Handbook''', however, identifies '''38'''; 26 for Hartnell and 12 from Troughton. This total agrees with the number of stories that did air, per the story tables below.  
  
In '''DWM''', Zambia is identified in '''37''' story Archives: the same as above, but with the single omission of {{A}}.
+
In '''DWM''', Zambia is identified in '''37''' story Archives: the same as above, but with the single omission of the first serial, {{A}}.
 +
 
  
 
==Stories bought and broadcast==
 
==Stories bought and broadcast==
[[File:Zam Tonight.JPG|thumb|right|250px|Debut! 17 October 1965]]
+
[[File:Zam Sync.JPG|thumb|right|300px|Lusaka debut with The Keys of Marninus; 13 March 1966]]
[[File:Zam Sync.JPG|thumb|right|250px|Lusaka debut with The Keys of Marninus; 13 March 1966]]
+
[[File:Zam Contam.JPG|thumb|right|300px|The Sensorites, part three; May 1966]]
[[File:Zam Contam.JPG|thumb|right|250px|The Sensorites, part three; May 1966]]
+
[[File:Zam November.JPG|thumb|right|300px|8 November 1966]]
[[File:Zam November.JPG|thumb|right|250px|8 November 1966]]
+
[[File:Zam Air.JPG|thumb|right|300px|Galaxy 4, part three; 20 February 1968]]
[[File:Zam Air.JPG|thumb|right|250px|Galaxy 4, part three; 20 February 1968]]
+
[[File:Zam New.JPG|thumb|right|300px|11 June 1973]]
[[File:Zam New.JPG|thumb|right|250px|New Series, 11 June 1973]]
+
[[File:Zam Sept.JPG|thumb|right|300px|10 September 1973; NOTE: The Goodies debuts – these film prints were sent to Zambia from New Zealand]]
[[File:Zam Sept.JPG|thumb|right|250px|10 September 1973; NOTE: The Goodies debuts – these film prints were sent to Zambia from New Zealand]]
 
  
  
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|}
 
|}
  
Zambia therefore bought GROUPs A to F of the [[William Hartnell stories]] (the only other country to buy just this run of episodes was [[Barbados]]).
+
Zambia therefore bought GROUPs A to F of the [[William Hartnell stories]] (the only other country to buy this run of 117 episodes was [[Barbados]]).
  
 
The programme was supplied as 16mm black and white film prints with English soundtracks.
 
The programme was supplied as 16mm black and white film prints with English soundtracks.
Line 179: Line 179:
  
 
===[[William Hartnell stories|WILLIAM HARTNELL]]===
 
===[[William Hartnell stories|WILLIAM HARTNELL]]===
[[File:Zam First.JPG|thumb|right|250px|Debut? 19 September 1965]]
+
[[File:Zam First.JPG|thumb|right|200px|Scheduled debut on 19 September 1965]]
[[File:Zam Where.JPG|thumb|right|250px|Delayed; 26 September 1965]]
+
[[File:Zam Tonight.JPG|thumb|right|250px|Debut! 17 October 1965]]
[[File:Zam Third.JPG|thumb|right|250px|Delayed again; 10 October 1965]]
 
  
  
 
'''KITWE / COPPERBELT'''
 
'''KITWE / COPPERBELT'''
  
The series was scheduled to commence from Sunday, '''26 September 1965''', however the films were not received from [[Rhodesia / Zimbabwe]] in time, so the scheduled programme was replaced with an episode of the Canadian series,  
+
The series was scheduled to commence from Sunday, '''19 September 1965''', however the films were not received from [[Rhodesia / Zimbabwe]] in time, so the scheduled programme was replaced with an episode of the Canadian series,  
 
[[wikipedia:Forest Rangers|The Forest Rangers]].  
 
[[wikipedia:Forest Rangers|The Forest Rangers]].  
  
The very fact that Rhodesia commenced the series on '''26 September 1965''', which was also the scheduled date for its debut in Zambia, strongly implies that Rhodesia's debut of the series was also delayed, presumably due to non-arrival of the films (from [[Nigeria]]?).
+
The very fact that Rhodesia commenced the series on '''26 September 1965''', which was the week '''after''' the scheduled date for its debut in Zambia, strongly implies that Rhodesia's own debut of the series had also been delayed, presumably due to non-arrival of the films (from [[Nigeria]]?).
 +
 
 +
'''Doctor Who''' was re-scheduled by ZTV for the following week, but the '''26 September 1965''' screening was also pre-empted by The Forest Rangers, again due to non-receipt of the '''Doctor Who''' films from Rhodesia.  
  
'''Doctor Who''' was re-scheduled by ZTV for the following week, but the '''3 October 1965''' screening was also pre-empted by The Forest Rangers, again due to non-receipt of the '''Doctor Who''' films from Rhodesia.  
+
But the TARDIS failed to materialise on '''3 October 1965'''. The Forest Rangers aired instead.
  
 
Third time lucky? Sadly, no: the '''10 October 1965''' screening was also pre-empted.
 
Third time lucky? Sadly, no: the '''10 October 1965''' screening was also pre-empted.
  
Success! On Sunday, '''17 October 1965''', at 5.40pm, after three weeks of continued delays, '''Doctor Who''' finally went to air on ZTV.  
+
Success! On Sunday, '''17 October 1965''', at 5.40pm, after four weeks of delays, '''Doctor Who''' finally went to air on ZTV.  
  
 
The time changed to 5.45pm from '''14 November''' with the second serial, [[The Daleks]]. In April, the series moved to Saturdays, but for the first week of the change, an episode aired on Saturday as well as Sunday, '''2 and 3 April'''.  
 
The time changed to 5.45pm from '''14 November''' with the second serial, [[The Daleks]]. In April, the series moved to Saturdays, but for the first week of the change, an episode aired on Saturday as well as Sunday, '''2 and 3 April'''.  
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'''LUSAKA'''
 
'''LUSAKA'''
  
TV broadcasts to the southern regions of Zambia were introduced from 25 December 1965. '''Doctor Who''' commenced from Sunday, '''13 March 1966''', at 5.40pm. However, rather than beginning with [[An Unearthly Child]], the screenings started with [[The Keys of Marinus]], which had started in Kitwe / Copperbelt only the week before. Screenings of the same episode but one week apart, continued in that manner with the film being transported from Kitwe to Lusaka.  
+
TV broadcasts were introduced to the southern regions of Zambia from 25 December 1965.  
 +
 
 +
'''Doctor Who''' commenced in Lusaka from Sunday, '''13 March 1966''', at 5.40pm. However, rather than beginning from the start with [[An Unearthly Child]], the Lusaka screenings started with [[The Keys of Marinus]], which had begun in Kitwe / Copperbelt only the week before (6 March). Lusaka would be supplied with the same film print used by Kitwe until at least 1968.  
  
The day of the week and timeslot for Lusaka changed to match those of the Kitwe broadcasts, before settling in on Tuesdays at 6.20pm from August 1966.  
+
The day of the week and timeslots for Lusaka changed to match those of the Kitwe broadcasts, before settling in on Tuesdays at 6.20pm from August 1966.  
  
The run concluded on '''13 June 1967''', a week after Kitwe, with [[The Time Meddler]] part four. Again, the run played six weeks more than the number of available episodes. These pre-emptions seem to have occurred in March / April 1967.  
+
The run concluded on '''13 June 1967''', a week after Kitwe, with [[The Time Meddler]] part four. The Lusaka run also played six weeks more than the number of available episodes. The pre-emptions seem to have occurred in March / April 1967.  
  
 
Eight months later '''Doctor Who''' returned to the Lusaka region; from Tuesday '''6 February 1968''', at 6.10pm, re-commencing from where the previous run had ended. (Presumably the same episodes aired a week earlier in Kitwe / Copperbelt.)
 
Eight months later '''Doctor Who''' returned to the Lusaka region; from Tuesday '''6 February 1968''', at 6.10pm, re-commencing from where the previous run had ended. (Presumably the same episodes aired a week earlier in Kitwe / Copperbelt.)
  
Only two serials aired – [[Galaxy 4]] and [[The Myth Maker]] – before the series took a one week break. (Replaced by Dennis the Menace.) Screenings resumed from '''9 April 1968''' (presumably with [[The Massacre]]).  
+
Only two serials aired – [[Galaxy 4]] and [[The Myth Makers]] – before the series took a one week break. (Replaced by Dennis the Menace.) Screenings resumed from '''9 April 1968''' (presumably with [[The Massacre]]).  
  
The series moved to 5.40pm in June 1968. There was another break of a week between [[The Ark]] and [[The Gunfighters]]. Further pre-emptions occurred during [[The War Machines]] (was there perhaps a problem with completing delivery of the films from Kitwe to Lusaka?)
+
The series moved to 5.40pm in June 1968. There was another break of a week between [[The Ark]] and [[The Gunfighters]]. Further pre-emptions occurred during [[The War Machines]] (was there perhaps a problem with the delivery of the films between Kitwe and Lusaka?)
  
 
There were several timeslot changes, from 6.00pm, to 6.10, then 6.20pm.
 
There were several timeslot changes, from 6.00pm, to 6.10, then 6.20pm.
  
 
The run concluded on '''5 November 1968''', with (presumably) part four of [[The Smugglers]].  
 
The run concluded on '''5 November 1968''', with (presumably) part four of [[The Smugglers]].  
 
By this time, the microwave network across the country had been established, so presumably the same episode was being screened across all regions.
 
  
  
 +
===[[Patrick Troughton stories|PATRICK TROUGHTON]]===
  
===[[Patrick Troughton stories|PATRICK TROUGHTON]]===
+
When the series returned 17 months later, it was with a new Doctor. A further 16 week run commenced from Wednesday, '''8 April 1970''', at 5.50pm; [[BBC Records]] indicate these were [[The Highlanders]] to [[The Macra Terror]]. (The series took a one week break between serials on '''3 June 1970'''.)
  
When the series returned 17 months later, it was with a new Doctor. A further 16 week run commenced from Wednesday, '''8 April 1970''', at 5.50pm; [[BBC Records]] indicate these were [[The Highlanders]] to [[The Macra Terror]]. (The series took a between-serial break for a week on '''3 June 1970'''.)
+
The microwave network across the country had been established for a few years, so presumably by this time the same episode was screened in both regions at the same time.  
  
 
Neither [[The Tenth Planet]] or [[The Power of the Daleks]] screened in Zambia (most likely on account of the latter having been withdrawn from sale under Terry Nation's agreement with the BBC), so viewers were offered no on-screen explanation for the change in appearance of the lead character.
 
Neither [[The Tenth Planet]] or [[The Power of the Daleks]] screened in Zambia (most likely on account of the latter having been withdrawn from sale under Terry Nation's agreement with the BBC), so viewers were offered no on-screen explanation for the change in appearance of the lead character.
  
It wasn't for another '''three years''' that '''Doctor Who''' aired in Zambia again. A 30 week / episode run commenced on Monday, '''11 June 1973'''', at 5.50pm. There was a change of time to 6.20pm with the fifth episode, then to 5.30pm from August 1973 to the end of the run, which ended on '''31 December 1973'''. The serials to air would have been [[The Faceless Ones]] to [[The Web of Fear]]] (skipping [[The Evil of the Daleks]] and [[The Tomb of the Cybermen]]).  
+
It wasn't for another '''three years''' that '''Doctor Who''' aired in Zambia again. A 30 week / episode run commenced on Monday, '''11 June 1973''', at 5.50pm. There was a change of time to 6.20pm with the fifth episode, then to 5.30pm from August 1973 to the end of the run, which was '''31 December 1973'''. The serials that aired would have been [[The Faceless Ones]] to [[The Web of Fear]] (skipping [[The Evil of the Daleks]] and [[The Tomb of the Cybermen]]).  
  
25 months later, Thursday, '''5 February 1976''', a 22-week run commenced. The timeslot changed several times, from 6.35pm at the start of the run, to 6.00pm at the end. [[BBC Records]] indicate these 22 weeks were the final three Patrick Troughton serials. (Zambia therefore skipped over six serials.)
+
25 months later, on Thursday, '''5 February 1976''', a 22-week run commenced. The timeslot changed several times, from 6.35pm at the start of the run, to 6.00pm at the end. [[BBC Records]] indicate these 22 weeks were the final three Patrick Troughton serials. (Zambia therefore skipped over six serials.)
  
The 185th and final episode of '''Doctor Who''' to air in Zambia screened on '''1 July 1976'''.  
+
The '''185th''' and final episode of '''Doctor Who''' to air in Zambia screened on '''1 July 1976'''.  
  
 
There is no clear record that Zambia screened '''Doctor Who''' again, even after the switch to colour in 1979.
 
There is no clear record that Zambia screened '''Doctor Who''' again, even after the switch to colour in 1979.
Line 253: Line 255:
 
==TV listings==
 
==TV listings==
 
{{Airdates-left|}}
 
{{Airdates-left|}}
 +
[[File:Zam Where.JPG|thumb|right|350px|Delayed; 26 September 1965]]
 +
[[File:Zam Third.JPG|thumb|right|200px|Delayed again; 10 October 1965]]
 
[[File:Zam Agony.JPG|thumb|right|250px|The Agony...; 14 May 1966]]
 
[[File:Zam Agony.JPG|thumb|right|250px|The Agony...; 14 May 1966]]
 
[[File:Zam Dad.JPG|thumb|right|250px|My Dad's a Dalek!; 3 July 1966]]
 
[[File:Zam Dad.JPG|thumb|right|250px|My Dad's a Dalek!; 3 July 1966]]
Line 258: Line 262:
 
TV listings have been obtained from the newspapers ''Zambia News'', ''Zambia Mail'' and ''Times of Zambia''. The listings in the ''News'' were in a "Radio and TV Guide" section.  
 
TV listings have been obtained from the newspapers ''Zambia News'', ''Zambia Mail'' and ''Times of Zambia''. The listings in the ''News'' were in a "Radio and TV Guide" section.  
  
The listings always gave the title as '''"Dr Who"'''. For the three weeks that the series' debut was delayed, the ''Zambia News'' carried a brief explanation as to why this had happened.  
+
The listings always gave the title as '''"Dr Who"'''. For the four weeks that the series' debut was delayed, the ''Zambia News'' carried a brief explanation as to why this had happened.  
*26 September 1965: '''WHERE, WHEN , WHY ANDS WHAT HAPPEEND TO DR WHO?'''
+
*26 September 1965: '''WHERE, WHEN, WHY AND WHAT HAPPENED TO DR WHO?'''
 
*10 October 1965: '''THIRD TIME LUCKY?'''
 
*10 October 1965: '''THIRD TIME LUCKY?'''
 
*17 October 1965: '''TONIGHT, MAYBE?'''
 
*17 October 1965: '''TONIGHT, MAYBE?'''
Line 271: Line 275:
 
The 3 July 1966 issue of the ''News'' TV and Radio Extra featured an interview with Dalek operator Robert Jewell ('''My Dad's a Dalek!''')  
 
The 3 July 1966 issue of the ''News'' TV and Radio Extra featured an interview with Dalek operator Robert Jewell ('''My Dad's a Dalek!''')  
  
Some printing oddities occurred in the papers: for the second serial, the enemy of the Daleks were named as '''Thaals''. Part four of [[The Keys of Marinus]] was given as '''Shows of Terror'''. Part three of [[The Sensorites]] was billed by the unusual name of '''Contamination'''! Part two of [[The Reign of Terror]] was '''Quest of Madame Guillotine'''. The last three episodes of [[The Web Planet]] were also mixed up or duplicated. [[Galaxy 4]] part three was '''Air Look'''.  
+
Some printing oddities occurred in the papers: for the second serial, the enemy of the Daleks were named as '''"Thaals"'''. Part four of [[The Keys of Marinus]] was given as '''"Shows of Terror"'''. Part three of [[The Sensorites]] was billed by the unusual name of '''"Contamination"'''! Part two of [[The Reign of Terror]] was '''"Quest of Madame Guillotine"'''. The last three episodes of [[The Web Planet]] were also mixed up or duplicated. [[Galaxy 4]] part three was listed as '''"Air Look"'''.  
  
 
Between October 1966 and April 1967 there were quite a few newspapers missing. As noted above, there are six weeks more than the number of episodes; presumably there were pre-emptions on the dates for which no paper was available. (If so, the majority of these 'breaks' were between episodes of [[The Space Museum]] and [[The Chase]].)
 
Between October 1966 and April 1967 there were quite a few newspapers missing. As noted above, there are six weeks more than the number of episodes; presumably there were pre-emptions on the dates for which no paper was available. (If so, the majority of these 'breaks' were between episodes of [[The Space Museum]] and [[The Chase]].)
  
During the 1968 run, the ''Zambia Mail'' did not always have TV listings; instead an apology was printed that that they were unable to publish the listings "as they were not available from TVZ at the time of going to press". This means the start date of '''6 February 1968''' is only assumed.  
+
During the 1968 run, the ''Zambia Mail'' did not always have TV listings; instead an apology was printed that that they were unable to publish the listings "as they were not available from TVZ at the time of going to press". This means the start date of '''6 February 1968''' of that run is only assumed.  
  
None of the listings for the 1970, 1973 and 1976 runs had episode titles: the listings give the title '''"Dr Who"'''.  
+
None of the listings for the 1970, 1973 and 1976 runs had episode titles: the listings give the title as '''"Dr Who"'''.  
  
  

Revision as of 03:47, 16 April 2011

Zambia is in south west Africa. It is bordered by Rhodesia.

Profile

Country Number (10) 1965 FIRST WAVE
Region Africa Commonwealth
Television commenced 1961
Colour System 1979 PAL
Population 1966 3.65 million
TV Sets 1966 11,118
Population 1976 4.64 million
TV Sets 1966 22,500
Language/s English


Television Stations / Channels

Zambia began its television service in 1961.

There is only one national television broadcaster, Television Zambia (ZTV); in 1979 it was the first country to introduce the PAL colour system within Africa.

In the mid-1960s, ZTV operated from two regional stations: the northern station broadcasting from the Copperbelt / Kitwe district (on channel 4), and the southern station broadcasting from the capital, Lusaka (on channel 3). (Transmissions from Lusaka commenced from 25 December 1965.)

A third repeater was established in 1968 in Kabwe. The three stations were connected as a network by microwave interconnection.


Language/s

The principal language of Zambia is English.


DOCTOR WHO IN ZAMBIA

Zambia was the 10th country to screen Doctor Who, and the third in Africa (see Selling Doctor Who).


BBC Records

The Seventies records a sale of "(36)" stories by 28 February 1977. The Handbook, however, identifies 38; 26 for Hartnell and 12 from Troughton. This total agrees with the number of stories that did air, per the story tables below.

In DWM, Zambia is identified in 37 story Archives: the same as above, but with the single omission of the first serial, A.


Stories bought and broadcast

Lusaka debut with The Keys of Marninus; 13 March 1966
The Sensorites, part three; May 1966
8 November 1966
Galaxy 4, part three; 20 February 1968
11 June 1973
10 September 1973; NOTE: The Goodies debuts – these film prints were sent to Zambia from New Zealand


WILLIAM HARTNELL

Twenty-six stories, 117 episodes:

A An Unearthly Child 4
B The Daleks 7
C Inside the Spaceship 2
D Marco Polo 7
E The Keys of Marinus 6
F The Aztecs 4
G The Sensorites 6
H The Reign of Terror 6
J Planet of Giants 3
K The Dalek Invasion of Earth 6
L The Rescue 2
M The Romans 4
N The Web Planet 6
P The Crusade 4
Q The Space Museum 4
R The Chase 6
S The Time Meddler 4
T Galaxy 4 4
U The Myth Makers 4
W The Massacre 4
X The Ark 4
Y The Celestial Toymaker 4
Z The Gunfighters 4
AA The Savages 4
BB The War Machines 4
CC The Smugglers 4

Zambia therefore bought GROUPs A to F of the William Hartnell stories (the only other country to buy this run of 117 episodes was Barbados).

The programme was supplied as 16mm black and white film prints with English soundtracks.

Origins of the Prints?

Zambia's prints of the first eleven Hartnell stories were definitely sourced from Rhodesia / Zimbabwe, which was the previous African country to screen those eleven stories.

Nigeria may have been the source of the season two episodes. Zambia was the first African nation to screen the stories from season three.


PATRICK TROUGHTON

Twelve stories, 68 episodes:

FF The Highlanders 4
GG The Underwater Menace 4
HH The Moonbase 4
JJ The Macra Terror 4
KK The Faceless Ones 6
NN The Abominable Snowmen 6
OO The Ice Warriors 6
PP The Enemy of the World 6
QQ The Web of Fear 6
XX The Seeds of Death 6
YY The Space Pirates 6
ZZ The War Games 10

Zambia therefore bought GROUP B, most of D, and F of the Patrick Troughton stories.

The programme was supplied as 16mm black and white film prints with English soundtracks.


Origins of the Prints?

Zambia was the only African country to screen the set of twelve Troughtons that was supplied. These may have been sourced from Gibraltar.


Transmission

WILLIAM HARTNELL

Scheduled debut on 19 September 1965
Debut! 17 October 1965


KITWE / COPPERBELT

The series was scheduled to commence from Sunday, 19 September 1965, however the films were not received from Rhodesia / Zimbabwe in time, so the scheduled programme was replaced with an episode of the Canadian series, The Forest Rangers.

The very fact that Rhodesia commenced the series on 26 September 1965, which was the week after the scheduled date for its debut in Zambia, strongly implies that Rhodesia's own debut of the series had also been delayed, presumably due to non-arrival of the films (from Nigeria?).

Doctor Who was re-scheduled by ZTV for the following week, but the 26 September 1965 screening was also pre-empted by The Forest Rangers, again due to non-receipt of the Doctor Who films from Rhodesia.

But the TARDIS failed to materialise on 3 October 1965. The Forest Rangers aired instead.

Third time lucky? Sadly, no: the 10 October 1965 screening was also pre-empted.

Success! On Sunday, 17 October 1965, at 5.40pm, after four weeks of delays, Doctor Who finally went to air on ZTV.

The time changed to 5.45pm from 14 November with the second serial, The Daleks. In April, the series moved to Saturdays, but for the first week of the change, an episode aired on Saturday as well as Sunday, 2 and 3 April.

There was another day change from 7 June 1966 – now Tuesdays at 6.10pm - where it remained for the rest of the run, which came to an end on 6 June 1967, with part four of The Time Meddler.

The series aired over a period spanning 87 weeks, but with there being only 81 episodes to account for, there must have been six weeks on which no episode aired. These pre-emptions appear to have been mainly in February / March 1967 – see TV listings below. (There was no episode on 21 February and 9 May of that year.)

  • NOTE: TV listings for Kitwe / Copperbelt were not available beyond June 1967, so further details for screenings of Doctor Who in that area are unknown.


LUSAKA

TV broadcasts were introduced to the southern regions of Zambia from 25 December 1965.

Doctor Who commenced in Lusaka from Sunday, 13 March 1966, at 5.40pm. However, rather than beginning from the start with An Unearthly Child, the Lusaka screenings started with The Keys of Marinus, which had begun in Kitwe / Copperbelt only the week before (6 March). Lusaka would be supplied with the same film print used by Kitwe until at least 1968.

The day of the week and timeslots for Lusaka changed to match those of the Kitwe broadcasts, before settling in on Tuesdays at 6.20pm from August 1966.

The run concluded on 13 June 1967, a week after Kitwe, with The Time Meddler part four. The Lusaka run also played six weeks more than the number of available episodes. The pre-emptions seem to have occurred in March / April 1967.

Eight months later Doctor Who returned to the Lusaka region; from Tuesday 6 February 1968, at 6.10pm, re-commencing from where the previous run had ended. (Presumably the same episodes aired a week earlier in Kitwe / Copperbelt.)

Only two serials aired – Galaxy 4 and The Myth Makers – before the series took a one week break. (Replaced by Dennis the Menace.) Screenings resumed from 9 April 1968 (presumably with The Massacre).

The series moved to 5.40pm in June 1968. There was another break of a week between The Ark and The Gunfighters. Further pre-emptions occurred during The War Machines (was there perhaps a problem with the delivery of the films between Kitwe and Lusaka?)

There were several timeslot changes, from 6.00pm, to 6.10, then 6.20pm.

The run concluded on 5 November 1968, with (presumably) part four of The Smugglers.


PATRICK TROUGHTON

When the series returned 17 months later, it was with a new Doctor. A further 16 week run commenced from Wednesday, 8 April 1970, at 5.50pm; BBC Records indicate these were The Highlanders to The Macra Terror. (The series took a one week break between serials on 3 June 1970.)

The microwave network across the country had been established for a few years, so presumably by this time the same episode was screened in both regions at the same time.

Neither The Tenth Planet or The Power of the Daleks screened in Zambia (most likely on account of the latter having been withdrawn from sale under Terry Nation's agreement with the BBC), so viewers were offered no on-screen explanation for the change in appearance of the lead character.

It wasn't for another three years that Doctor Who aired in Zambia again. A 30 week / episode run commenced on Monday, 11 June 1973, at 5.50pm. There was a change of time to 6.20pm with the fifth episode, then to 5.30pm from August 1973 to the end of the run, which was 31 December 1973. The serials that aired would have been The Faceless Ones to The Web of Fear (skipping The Evil of the Daleks and The Tomb of the Cybermen).

25 months later, on Thursday, 5 February 1976, a 22-week run commenced. The timeslot changed several times, from 6.35pm at the start of the run, to 6.00pm at the end. BBC Records indicate these 22 weeks were the final three Patrick Troughton serials. (Zambia therefore skipped over six serials.)

The 185th and final episode of Doctor Who to air in Zambia screened on 1 July 1976.

There is no clear record that Zambia screened Doctor Who again, even after the switch to colour in 1979.

Fate of the Prints?

Uganda was the next African country to air the first eleven William Hartnell stories that had been transmitted in Zambia in 1965-1966.

Nigeria may have been the recipient of the Troughton stories that aired in Zambia in 1973.

Zambia was the last country to screen the now-missing serial The Space Pirates.


TV listings

Airdates in Jon Preddle
← AIRDATES ...... (CLICK ICON TO GO TO TABLE SHOWING EPISODE BREAKDOWN AND AIRDATES - N/S = story title is Not Stated)
Delayed; 26 September 1965
Delayed again; 10 October 1965
The Agony...; 14 May 1966
My Dad's a Dalek!; 3 July 1966

TV listings have been obtained from the newspapers Zambia News, Zambia Mail and Times of Zambia. The listings in the News were in a "Radio and TV Guide" section.

The listings always gave the title as "Dr Who". For the four weeks that the series' debut was delayed, the Zambia News carried a brief explanation as to why this had happened.

  • 26 September 1965: WHERE, WHEN, WHY AND WHAT HAPPENED TO DR WHO?
  • 10 October 1965: THIRD TIME LUCKY?
  • 17 October 1965: TONIGHT, MAYBE?

The News and Mail carried titles for the majority of the episodes for the 1965 to 1967 run. For the first four serials, the News carried short synopses.

For the 1968 run, only five of the 36 episodes were identified by title.

On 14 May 1966, the News reprinted an interview with William Hartnell (Oh the Agony of being Dr Who) that had originated in the UK Daily Mirror (April 1966 – see Ghana.)

The 3 July 1966 issue of the News TV and Radio Extra featured an interview with Dalek operator Robert Jewell (My Dad's a Dalek!)

Some printing oddities occurred in the papers: for the second serial, the enemy of the Daleks were named as "Thaals". Part four of The Keys of Marinus was given as "Shows of Terror". Part three of The Sensorites was billed by the unusual name of "Contamination"! Part two of The Reign of Terror was "Quest of Madame Guillotine". The last three episodes of The Web Planet were also mixed up or duplicated. Galaxy 4 part three was listed as "Air Look".

Between October 1966 and April 1967 there were quite a few newspapers missing. As noted above, there are six weeks more than the number of episodes; presumably there were pre-emptions on the dates for which no paper was available. (If so, the majority of these 'breaks' were between episodes of The Space Museum and The Chase.)

During the 1968 run, the Zambia Mail did not always have TV listings; instead an apology was printed that that they were unable to publish the listings "as they were not available from TVZ at the time of going to press". This means the start date of 6 February 1968 of that run is only assumed.

None of the listings for the 1970, 1973 and 1976 runs had episode titles: the listings give the title as "Dr Who".


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