THE APEX TIMES
Prime Video UK Scripted executive says the platform “welcomes any conversation around IP” after “Doctor Who” question at Edinburgh TV Festival
Oliver Jones, senior commissioner for UK scripted at Amazon-owned Prime Video, responded to audience questions about whether the long-running BBC sci-fi series could find a new international home on the streamer, saying he loves “Doctor Who” and that the company is open to discussions about intellectual property.
Prime Video executives indicated that the streamer is open to discussions about major intellectual property after an audience question at the Edinburgh TV Festival raised the possibility of “Doctor Who” moving to Prime Video as an international home.
Oliver Jones, Prime Video’s senior commissioner for UK scripted, was asked directly if Prime Video could become the next outlet for the long-running British sci-fi program. Jones told the festival audience, “I love Doctor Who, and we welcome any conversations around IP,” according to Deadline’s report. The comments drew attention because Prime Video has increasingly focused on high-profile scripted projects and acquisitions.
The question and Jones’s response were framed as a matter of international distribution, with “Doctor Who” being a globally recognized franchise and one of the best-known titles in UK genre television. At the same time, Jones’s remarks did not provide any details about active talks, timelines, or the status of rights negotiations.
Jones’s role, as described in Deadline’s account, is tied to commissioning and development for UK scripted content, a function that typically includes evaluating which series and creative properties can be brought to audiences through the platform. His response emphasized the willingness to engage with intellectual property conversations rather than announcing any agreement or broadcast plan.
The Edinburgh TV Festival appearance comes as international streamers continue to compete for established brands and audience-recognized franchises, where access to intellectual property can be a deciding factor for global programming strategies. For viewers and industry stakeholders, questions about a potential “Doctor Who” home are likely to remain a recurring theme as companies assess distribution and production partnerships.
No new licensing decision was announced in the reported exchange. Deadline’s coverage centered on Jones’s statement about being open to conversations around IP, not on any confirmed change in where “Doctor Who” would stream in specific territories or through specific windows.
Prime Video’s comments therefore function primarily as a public report of openness rather than a concrete step toward a deal, with any potential “Doctor Who” transition depending on rights holders and contractual arrangements that were not addressed in the report.
Why It Matters
- Public comments from a UK scripted commissioning executive can clarify how major streamers approach high-profile franchise intellectual property.
- Even without a confirmed agreement, the exchange highlights ongoing competition among international platforms for globally recognized IP brands.
- For audiences, the question underscores how distribution decisions can affect which services host long-established series in different territories.
- For industry rights holders and producers, the comments reflect that interested platforms may be willing to engage, though negotiations and approvals remain subject to contractual and licensing terms.
Sources
Key Facts
- Oliver Jones, senior commissioner for UK scripted at Prime Video (Amazon-owned), made remarks at the Edinburgh TV Festival about “Doctor Who”.
- Jones said, “I love Doctor Who, and we welcome any conversations around IP,” in response to a question about whether Prime Video could become an international home for the series.
- The remarks were reported by Deadline on August 28, 2026.
- The statement focused on openness to intellectual property discussions and did not cite any specific deal or timeline.