Doctor Who travels to The SCI FI Channel

The good Doctor is finally coming to the United States! The SCI FI Channel and BBC Worldwide Americas announced today that the new Doctor Who series will debut this March on the cable network.

The 13-episode first series (or 27th season of Doctor Who, depending on who you ask) will air Fridays at 9 p.m. Eastern/Pacific starting in March — taking over Stargate Atlantis‘s regular timeslot, no doubt after new episodes have finished. The series drew big ratings when it premiered on BBC ONE in the U.K. last spring.

Doctor Who stars Christopher Eccleston as the Doctor and Billie Piper as Rose, his travelling companion. The duo risk their lives in new adventures battling monsters and aliens and travelling in time and space via the famous TARDIS.

“The Doctor’s made all sorts of journeys in time and space, but this is one of his most exciting yet,” head writer and executive producer Russell T. Davies said. “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.”

The deal also includes an option for the second season of the new series, which stars David Tennant as the Doctor’s latest reincarnation and begins airing in the U.K. this spring.

Meanwhile, Who‘s upcoming North American DVD release has been pushed back from February to July 4 to capitalize on the television debut.

The classic Doctor Who series won the hearts of many science fiction fans in the U.S. during its run on public broadcasting stations, but has never had a wide distribution in the States. As the longest-running genre series in TV history, Who‘s ever-changing leading men, TARDIS, K-9 robotic dog, and evil Daleks have become cultural icons since the show’s original debut in 1963.

Read the BBC’s complete announcement at the network’s official Web site. Check out fan site Outpost Gallifrey to learn more about the Doctor Who universe!

(Thanks to Tannerman and Rob Mican for the tip!)