'Doctor Who' to air in US from March

America's Sci-Fi Channel has acquired the US first-run rights to Doctor Who, it was confirmed today.

"The Doctor's made all sorts of journeys in Time and Space, but this is one of his most exciting yet," said the show's head writer and executive producer Russell T. Davies. "I'm a huge fan of the Sci-Fi Channel, and I'm delighted that Doctor Who is appearing on a channel that supports and enhances the entire genre."

Season one will start airing on Friday nights at 9pm during March. Sci-Fi is giving the show top billing, with the 9pm slot leading into the hugely popular Battlestar Galactica at 10pm. If Doctor Who performs well, Sci-Fi's deal with the BBC includes an option to pick up season two.

"With its rich history of imaginative storytelling, Doctor Who is a true sci-fi classic," said Thomas P. Vitale, senior VP of programming and original movies at Sci-Fi. "We're excited to add the show to our lineup."

A US DVD release of the show originally scheduled for February 14 has been pushed back to July 4 in light of the new deal.

"We are delighted to be working with SCI FI Channel on the launch of this exciting new take on Doctor Who," said Burton Cromer, VP of consumer products at BBC Worldwide Americas. "The additional marketing support from Sci-Fi, as well their ability to reach such a broad audience base, made moving the release date an easy decision."