Star Trek will return to television in 2017, but CBS made the surprising decision to put the new series on its streaming network. That decision still has people talking weeks later, and now CBS has revealed why the 2017 edition of Star Trek will air on CBS All Access.
It was a matter of competition.
According to Trek Today, Cynthia Littleton, from Variety, revealed the reasoning CBS used to come to the streaming decision.
“Original programming was part of the game plan for CBS All Access from the start. Trek was a natural choice because the worldwide fan base for the enduring franchise virtually assures strong international sales. What’s more, CBS has been approached by more than one SVOD rival interested in reviving a Star Trek series. That told network execs it was a no-brainer to steer the show to CBS All Access, which is also home to the previous five Trek TV series, starting with the original 1966-69 edition.”
After the premiere airs on CBS, viewers that want to continue to see the new Star Trek will need to subscribe to CBS All Access.
Will you be one of the people to subscribe to CBS All Access in 2017 to see the new adventures in space shown on Star Trek? Tell us what you think.
To add to my other comment I will see this series go just like enterprise where people didn’t know it existed until after it already canceled because of this so good luck with getting a big audience
No, I pay too much already for television. If everyone doesn’t pay for this, it will force them to re-think the whole idea. I was looking forward to the new Star Trek, so hope they decide to air it on regular TV.
it is a total disgrace to force star trek fans to pay extra to see the new star trek. if viewers are smart they should not pay and force cbs to put it on regular tv.
Star Trek wouldn’t survive on network TV. It couldn’t survive years ago when Enterprise was cancelled, and things have only gotten worse in the meantime, with ratings in the toilet because the audience is fleeing for…you guessed it…streaming.
The reason Moonves is interested in reviving Star Trek is because he knows broadcast is doomed and cable will follow. He needs to make his streaming service work, and Star Trek is his best chance to kickstart it.
And this is why people who already pay over 200 bucks a month on tv and internet say we are going to download. We are already paying for these services.
Its turning into what they tried pulling in the 90s, pay for every web site too. Forget it
The other thing is, Star Trek isn’t as good a bet for a revival as it once was. When TNG came back it was after years of people loving it in syndication and then several successful movies. Now, Star Trek will be following several series that finally lost a lot of audience interest and a complete reboot in the movies. Which Star Trek will they bring back? One that builds off the old television universe, including TNG, DS9, Voyager, Enterprise? Or off the new Star Trek movie universe. Will they do yet another reboot in the TV universe that ignores… Read more »
Star Trek on CBS All Access will be calibrated for the audience that is likely to kick a few bucks their way for a streaming service: hardcore Trekkies and fans of Netflix or Amazon, who Moonves hopes to lure away or at least get to augment their streaming habit. My bet is that it will be a starship going boldly with a diverse cast but that doesn’t mean we won’t have yet another white male captain. It will be serialized because that’s the format that locks in streaming subscriptions. It will be diverse and not be shy about having gay… Read more »
Yes, I will reluctantly subscribe because it is Star Trek. and I am a dyed-in-the-wool Trekker. I am disappointed for the millions of fans who might not be able to afford one more bill. I hope that the streaming is not as problematic with CBS Access as the streaming I get with Netflix. At least it’s cheaper and I will probably drop Netflix.
Bad move CBS. This will turn me off of their services, not make me want to get them. I pay enough already. What worries me about this is what’s next? Air all new shows on the network, getting people hooked, then move them to streaming so you either pay more to continue the story or miss the rest? Or move long established shows with big followings (Big Bang Theory, Criminal Minds), leaving loyal fans in the dust?
Oh yes, no doubt.
Yup, it all comes down to greed, and that’s why it will fail. I will NOT be watching.
That “rival” who approached CBS was certainly Netflix. Probably had Moonves on speed dial bugging him on a weekly basis to let them license Star Trek. However, just because Netflix sees huge viewership numbers for the old Star Trek series does not necessarily translate to huge numbers for CBS All Access, if Star Trek is all they have. More likely, they put up the new season, everyone uses the free trial to hoover up the whole thing and then nobody subscribes.
A surprising amount of backlash doesn’t involve price. According to others, CBS All Access shows commercials during many shows despite the subscription fee. It also gets faulted for poor streaming performance and problems when it switches between commercials and the actual show being watched. There are even complaints about the service showing the same commercials over and over during each show. (I assume “commercials” includes promos for other CBS shows as well.)
Moonves has already said he’d look at an ad-free $10 tier. So that won’t be an obstacle. The bigger obstacle is, after you’ve hoovered up the whole season of Star Trek in under a week, what else do they have to convince you to stick around? If all they offer is CSI and I Love Lucy reruns, it’ll be churn city.
It’s a no brainer for an established service, for CBS Access, I’m not so sure. I’ve always said that CBS priced Access too high and adding Star Trek isn’t enough to change my mind on that. Good Lord, Netflix has far, far more content and is only $4 more. I know CBS and the other networks want to get into streaming and make those profits for themselves, but right now CBS has priced itself out of the market, at least for me.
$6-$10 is probably the lowest reasonable price to charge. Let’s say they cut that to $3? So what, you’re only saving $3. Can’t even get a damn coffee at Starbucks for that. No, the barrier is not price, it’s content. They don’t have enough good content to make it worth the bother of subscribing. They need to work on that in tandem with developing Star Trek and focus on the kind of content that will appeal to the Star Trek audience. Merging Showtime streaming with CBS would be a good start. And if the service isn’t on all platforms (Roku,… Read more »
I really think that this is a bad decision not everybody can afford like myself I do not see it lasting too long because of the price of all access so I think of it is a bad decision as much as I love Star Trek that’s not something I’m willing to pay for guess I will have to wait until it’s on DVD
I’m terribly disappointed. My DIRECTV bill is high enough and I can’t afford to pay for extra services. This seems more of a “greed” decision than anything else. Only those that pay extra can enjoy the Star Trek series. When it comes to the almighty dollar, avarice always trumps. I watched the original series when it first aired on TV. Sadly, most of the original cast has passed. I would have enjoyed watching it and this new series. Such is life. As our dear departed Leonard Nimoy (Spock) would say, “Live long and prosper.”
Try calling DIRECTV to lower your bill. You need the Customer Retention Department.
I am very disappointed! I exist on social security disability and therefore, will not be able to afford the subscription. And I have been a Trekkie since day one. Please rethink your decision, some of us who really want to watch, will now not be able to!