I'm guessing because it will go out on Saturday in the UK and they want it to be in the same slot elsewhere in the world.
The reality is that the loss of a relatively small number of people who'll watch online ahead of it's screening on TV is a small price to pay for the better viewing figures they'll get on a Saturday evening over a Sunday.
I think they're to be commended for doing this - it's what we keep saying, make it available legally and most people will use that in preference to torrents and other more questionable mechanisms.
I disagree. This isn't just a tv show, it's a culture. For the fans who are willing to pirate, a week is ETERNITY. A week means avoiding Facebook and social media, avoiding forums and fan sites and blogs who will all be happily discussing the new developments.
And the worst part is, when you finally see it: you have no one to talk to! The world already discussed, spent a week fanboying out about the episode! They'll spend the week discussing yet-another new episode, while you hide trying to discuss a week-old episode without learning new spoilers.
It keeps you a week behind the world on discussion and prevents you from being able to use any fan media during an active season without having big plot points spoiled.
I'm not sure I understand your point - they're making it legally available via their website as soon as it's available world wide, they're just not putting it on TV until 6 days later. There's no need to avoid anything or pirate or whatever.
Even if that weren't the case, I don't know about the rest of the world but in the UK, at least since the Russell Davis reboot, Doctor Who is mass market.
Yes the people you're talking about exist, but they're not the majority, they're not even that big a minority (though they're very vocal). A network is always going to go where the money is and that's with the largest number of people.
They're making it available in Australia one week after the release date in the UK and America. This is because of time zones and a desire to ensure the show launches on a Saturday.
Thus, Australians have to endure an entire week of UK/US discussion before they can see an episode.
I'm pretty sure that all non-UK stations normally air things a week after they are aired on BBC, it just happens that the first episode of this season is bumped forward a bit for BBC America. I'm not saying this isn't weird, just pointing out that this happens for everywhere, not just Australia.
IIRC, BBCA aired Doctor Who the same day as the BBC last season. That hasn't been the case most years past, though. As far as I can remember, the "one week behind" thing has been the norm, at least for Doctor Who.
Since 2005, months at first, then weeks by the time series 5 rolled out (though the End of Time was only one week behind).
A Christmas Carol was same day as was all of series 6. Indeed, the need to go online for new Who has decreased. (Although I would buy the season sets when they became available to pay my dues to ensure more were made).
Back during classic Who, a few PBS stations aired some late season 1980s stuff before the BBC due to special agreements.
The reality is that the loss of a relatively small number of people who'll watch online ahead of it's screening on TV is a small price to pay for the better viewing figures they'll get on a Saturday evening over a Sunday.
I think they're to be commended for doing this - it's what we keep saying, make it available legally and most people will use that in preference to torrents and other more questionable mechanisms.