Back in February we reported on rumors that the BBC would be distributing some of its more popular shows, including Doctor Who, via iTunes in the U.S.. Well, they are rumors no more. To coincide with this week's appearance of the BBC at the San Diego Comic-Con, the BBC is releasing Doctor Who for purchase and download from the iTunes store.

Now, before you get all crazy and start searching for episodes of the show that featured Peter Davison as the fifth Doctor, the episodes that are being offered are from the new series only. And, you can't purchase and download shows from the current fourth series. However, you can download series one through three. This means you get both Christopher Eccleston as the gritty Doctor and David Tennant as the more exuberant Doctor.

Matthew Graham, co-writer and co-creator of Life On Mars, has confirmed that the upcoming second series of the hit show will be its last. According to Graham, "We decided Sam's journey should have a finite life span and a clear-cut ending and we feel we have now reached that point after two series." For more from Graham, there is a Q&A he did for BBC available on their site.

Life On Mars follows the story of a cop, Sam Tyler (John Simm). After a car crash in 2006, he wakes up in 1973. It's unclear whether he has actually traveled back in time. He could be in a coma from the accident and dreaming everything, or possibly be in either time and be losing his mind.

The first series has already run in the states on BBCAmerica, and now Bravo has signed a deal to run it as well. Series two is just finishing production and will air in the U.K. in early 2007.

[ via Digital Spy ]

Those of you who have been resisting the urge to read Martin's reviews of the second season of Doctor Who's current incarnation, hoping that the shows will appear here in the States soon, your efforts have been rewarded. According to Comingsoon.net, the BBC and Sci Fi came to a licensing agreement on Thursday that will allow the American cable network to run the show's second season (or series, as the Brits call it). The series premiere will air on September 29 with a two-hour episode that includes the Christmas Invasion special that introduced the tenth Doctor, played by David Tennant.

Considering how popular Series One was on these shores, this announcement seemed like it would be a foregone conclusion. I guess the Beeb could have shown the program on their little-seen BBC America network (Cablevision doesn't even offer it on their digital package in NJ, for crissakes), but they probably would have had a revolt on their hands if they did. Let's just hope Sci Fi doesn't interrupt this show for six months, like they're thinking of doing with the two Stargate shows.