Doctor Who and its place on US TV

This is a post I wrote for a similar topic on the Doctor Who forum at the SciFi channel. Unfortunately, even with the writers strike, I have to agree with most posters that Doctor Who will never see the light of day on a major network in the US. First, networks don't run imports these days because they spend too much on their own productions to pay the BBC, or whomever, the money for the rights to something they have no control over. However, Doctor Who could have been a much bigger hit on cable had it been promoted at all. For example, take Torchwood. BBC America promoted Torchwood tremendously. It became the biggest show in the history of the channel. If BBC America had the in home saturation/penetration that SciFi has (number of homes where it is available) it would have gotten 3 or 4 times the audience that it DID get. That would have put it among the top 10-15 cable shows, probably around 3-4 million viewers.SciFi doesn't even run promos of Who in their biggest show "Eureka". To their credit they did run Series 3 spots on BBC America (oh pinch me I must be dreaming). Had SciFi promoted Doctor Who with the same resolve that BBC America promoted Torchwood, considering their household availability and penetration (they ran promos for "TinMan" on NBC) Doctor Who, with it's built in PBS recognition factor, could have ranked among the highest cable shows. That, however would have meant that the BBC could have charged more for subsequent series of Doctor Who.If SciFi can get their 1M viewers for a bargain price with a British import and maintain a ratings quota , why make it a hit and have to pay more for it later or outbid another channel for the rights after it becomes a hit. It's all about money and spending less of it. Especially if it isn't a show they own a piece of.