Big Finish License

[covok]

Is there a reason that Cubicle 7 can't license the Big Finish stories? I can't imagine they'd charge too much, Big Finish apparently needs the money, and it would give them the ability to make a whole new line of "Doctor" sourcebooks for 2nd edition.

[misterharry]

I imagine they've made a decision not to acquire a licence based on a view that Big Finish sourcebooks would sell a lot less than those based on the TV series - after all, the audios are a niche product rather than a mainstream success. So it's not just about the cost of the licence but also the return on that cost and the fact that they can devote their resources to publishing releases that will make more revenue and profit.

[thewarchief]

It also might be that the Big Finish stuff just isn't available. Big Finish has to license out Doctor Who from the BBC as C7 does, and it quite possible that Big Finish's license doesn't allow them to "sublet" out Doctor Who to a third party. C7 probably can't let Big Finish adapt their adventures into radio dramas either.

Companies tend to be a lot more careful about this sort of sub contracting after the Star Fleet Battles fiasco.

[misterharry]

Jan 7, 2024 15:09:47 GMT thewarchief said:

It also might be that the Big Finish stuff just isn't available. Big Finish has to license out Doctor Who from the BBC as C7 does, and it quite possible that Big Finish's license doesn't allow them to "sublet" out Doctor Who to a third party. C7 probably can't let Big Finish adapt their adventures into radio dramas either.

Companies tend to be a lot more careful about this sort of sub contracting after the Star Fleet Battles fiasco.

Yes, that's also possible - restrictions on sub-licensing without the BBC's consent would be fairly normal.

We also don't know what Big Finish's contracts with their writers are like. If they're anything like the ones Virgin Books put in place for their novels, the individual writers would retain ownership of the characters and creatures they create. Which means Cubicle 7 would also have to negotiate terms with each writer whose concept they want to use, making it a very complicated and potentially costly business.

[Nyder]

In response to the top post, the rumour that Big Finish are short of cash is an unfounded one. Somebody on some podcast or other read BF's published accounts and clearly has no idea how to read and understand them - either that or they're being deliberately misleading. The general consensus is that Big Finish aren't in any financial trouble so there's no incentive for them to licence their audios cheap, even if they are contractually able to do so.