Will CBS’ new Star Trek series be renewed before its premiere? The network thinks the new series will be “extraordinarily successful,” Trek Movie reports.
The new Star Trek series is set for release in early 2017 on the network’s subscription streaming service, CBS All Access.
At a recent conference, CBS CEO Les Moonves said making Star Trek the first exclusive CBS All Access series was a “no-brainer”:
When you put something on [All Access], it’s got to be something special, something you wouldn’t find on the [CBS broadcast network], something that will attract subscribers. As I said, Star Trek was kind of a no-brainer: there aren’t a lot of [properties] out there with that kind of following.”
He mentioned that 60 percent of the first season was already paid for and the network is “very serious” about the series:
We announced Star Trek, and internationally, we basically have covered 60% of the cost of the show already. To make up that [other] 40%, it’s not going to take a whole lot of subscriptions, and it says to the world that we are very serious about this.”
The new Star Trek series will be led by Bryan Fuller, formerly the showrunner for NBC’s Hannibal. Additionally, Rod Roddenberry, the son of original Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry, will executive produce.
What do you think? Are you a Trekkie? Will you subscribe to CBS All Access to watch the new Star Trek series — even for a month?
I’m a Trekkie and have been since I remember watching in the 60s. Given the train wreck CBS/Paramount has created with Axanar as well as the schlock reboots they’ve produced I don’t know that I feel compelled to support them anymore. I know others disagree or will decide I’m not a “true fan”. Their opinions and it doesn’t influence my choices in any way. My general feeling is if the studios want to make Star Trek which appeals to mass audiences, let them. I’m curious to see if the masses with their short attention spans will support the franchise for… Read more »
I think they need to air it first to the people who want to pay for it first before you talk about a season 2?
I think the new Star Trek series will be given a very long leash…this won’t be like broadcast where an underperforming show is given no mercy…this is CBS’s best chance to salvage its streaming service and position itself for the future. If they can’t make streaming customers subscribe for Star Trek, what exactly is their strategy for the future?
does a very long leash mean they will be more free with the content I hope so.
I already have CAA. I wish folks would chill about the subscription service. It IS the way of things to come. It’s already here with Netflix, Hulu Plus, and Amazon.
When I hear “I won’t pay $5.99!” I kind of ask WTHeck???
We pay that for a single Big Mac meal and don’t think twice about it. I spend $6.00 a month for Dollar Shave Club to be delivered to my front door.
A new Star Trek series, plus all the other shows at my fingertips is a no brainer.
I DO think that the new Star Trek series actually has a chance what with Fuller and Meyer on board, but I DO think that their streaming service will bomb (because more people are saying that they will NOT pay for it than those who say they will) and that within a year they’ll move the new series either to mainstream CBS or some alternate cable channel.
I DO want to see it, but will not pay for the service.
If Star Trek fails on CBS streaming, then the fallback will be for CBS to give up on streaming (seriously, if Star Trek won’t do it, what will?) and license the show to Netflix or Amazon. There’s no way it will get decent ratings on CBS, it’s too nichey, and CBS has no cable service that is right for it (Showtime?)
Would love to watch the series, but won’t pay another subscription. Pay enough for cable and other streaming companies. Star Trek 2017 should be on cable to be successful.
I consider myself not only a fan but an aspiring writer. And as much as Trek is ingrained in my being, I will NOT pay CBS for All Access. There is a reason why they are using a new Trek series to bolster their subscription rates. No one wants to pay CBS a third time. Between my Directv fees and advertising on the network, CBS gets plenty of my hard earned money.
I will not be watching. Refuse to pay CBS. We already pay CBS when we pay for cable. Cable pays them to have them. They get paid by the commercials during the show. They think the show is called $tar Trek.
Guess they have a magic ball to know that it will be a success. Would be the first Trek series to be a real success in the first season…
It’s because overseas revenue is a much bigger factor in this vs. previous serious. The global TV market is growing faster than domestic. And Les Moonves knows streaming is the future. Star Trek is his best chance of making his sputtering streaming service work. If it doesn’t work, then he might as well give up on streaming and license the show to Netflix or Amazon, which would be far more compatible places for it vs. cable.
Tim: Most people watch television shows via Netflix and Amazon Prime nowadays. Its obviously a business decision to attract a new generation of viewers. Cable TV is slowly dying.
Won’t be watching it since it will not be on cable only on streaming. Will be a big disaster that way. Most will not pay to watch it on there. PUT IT ON CABLE!
Hope this series make honor to Mr. Gene Roddenberry’s memory. I read some rumors about that the series could be some kind of when Saved by the Bell meets American Pie, but in space.
And you actually believed that there could be any truth to that rumor whatsoever?