CBS Is Right To Make Us Pay For 'Star Trek: Discovery'

[Kevin Wolff]

This is the ala carte model people have been demanding for years! You pay for one channel instead of a bunch at once, and only get content from that channel. It appears what people actually wanted was "I get everything that is produced by everyone, from one service for ten bucks a month."

I know. It was the same with cable tv back in the stone age (early 80's). The people don't realize that which is 10 bucks a month now will be 20x that amount when the cable/broadcast model ends. It's pointless thinking out loud, but the ala carte model I want is per episode or event as the people could not only consume as much or as little as they wish, but it would provide a more accurate review model of what people are actually watching. It wouldn't be without its flaws as it wouldn't factor in sharing and piracy, but again, it will never happen.

 

[galad2003]

Saying to drink one less coffee etc implies that someone is spending money on that and saying just spend $6 comes form a level of privilege where you don't realize that some people live on strict budgets and can't afford $6 more.

I also haven't seen a movie in theaters in years.But that's for the same reason, it's value for money. CBSAA is no value for money for me. Also, It starts with $6 here, then oh well it's only 10 for this or 5 bucks for that. It adds up. I have allocated x amount of money for entertainment and I stick to that.

Personally, I am in a huge custody case with my kids and that is sucking up a lot of money and I am working 2 jobs because of it. So yes, $6 is a consideration for me. So again, thanks for dismissing my budget. If $6 is peanuts then will you pay for my subscription? Just buy one less coffee a month or go to McDonalds one less time.

 

[The Librarian]

I know. It was the same with cable tv back in the stone age (early 80's). The people don't realize that which is 10 bucks a month now will be 20x that amount when the cable/broadcast model ends. It's pointless thinking out loud, but the ala carte model I want is per episode or event as the people could not only consume as much or as little as they wish, but it would provide a more accurate review model of what people are actually watching. It wouldn't be without its flaws as it wouldn't factor in sharing and piracy, but again, it will never happen.

I don't see how that could be sustainable at all, though. The way new shows get paid for is by having an entire channel behind them, or a service like Netflix or Amazon. The successful shows allow the channels to pay for new content, including shows that ultimately fail, and in particular they're what allow shows with lower return or smaller audiences but high prestige to exist.

 

[Vger23]

I'd love to stay and chat further about it, but I need to go stream DSC off CBSAA in a few minutes...

Au revior, homies.

 

[T'Bonz]

They need to get their shit together. I watched the ep, but now I can't watch anything else. Too much traffic, I guess.

I was going to watch After Trek but will need to do so later tonight.

 

[JWPlatt]

I WASN'T TALKING ABOUT PERSONAL BUDGETS OR ANYONE ELSE'S SITUATION BUT MINE.

...again...open your frigging piggy bank and scrape up the spare change. Or lay off one Starbuck's coffee per month...or skip going to McDonald's for your #3... stop trying to make it about budget and ill-affordability. Turn off your frigging lights when you leave the room and drive 5 MPH less on the highway and you'll have enough money for a month's subscription. Enough already.

The latter post does a lot of telling others what to do for being only about you.

 

[ralfy]

I never thought about this, i.e., the idea that with producers might have to listen to subscribers' advice about the story, characterization, etc.

 

[BillJ]

I never thought about this, i.e., the idea that with producers might have to listen to subscribers' advice about the story, characterization, etc.

Not really. The season is mostly done. Scripts have all been written, filming is pretty much done. Nothing major is going to change.

 

[fireproof78]

That's monthly and ignores a recurring cost over time- so $72 to $120 annually. When there are more important things on your budget, and you're annual net revenue is negative, for example, it's not peanuts. The annual cost could mean clothes, food, education, health, or power for a month - for some. It would be irresponsible for someone who can't afford it to dig themselves deeper in the hole. Saying it's peanuts is ignorant of all those for whom it's not.

For me, for the excitement and engagement I get out of a new Trek show being available, $6-10 is peanuts.

That part of the post started with the important point of "for me."
No need for the out of context quoting.

Saying to drink one less coffee etc implies that someone is spending money on that and saying just spend $6 comes form a level of privilege where you don't realize that some people live on strict budgets and can't afford $6 more.

I also haven't seen a movie in theaters in years.But that's for the same reason, it's value for money. CBSAA is no value for money for me. Also, It starts with $6 here, then oh well it's only 10 for this or 5 bucks for that. It adds up. I have allocated x amount of money for entertainment and I stick to that.

Personally, I am in a huge custody case with my kids and that is sucking up a lot of money and I am working 2 jobs because of it. So yes, $6 is a consideration for me. So again, thanks for dismissing my budget. If $6 is peanuts then will you pay for my subscription? Just buy one less coffee a month or go to McDonalds one less time.

They didn't say that. They talked about himself.

 

[JWPlatt]

I cancelled and got the offer for a one month extension to the one-week free trial, which of course I accepted. When it didn't show up on the account, I called Customer Service. They confirmed the redemption and told me it might not show up on the account, but the extension is valid and I won't be charged. I'd expect the same for you and anyone else who redeemed the extension.

The (US) Customer Service number is 888-274-5343. They'll need the email address for your account if you call to confirm.

Thanks. I'll give them a jingle tomorrow. I did email them a short while ago.

They need to get their shit together...

Yep, so it turns out my one-week trial was cancelled at the end of yesterday (after watching episode 3), as it should have been. But despite assurances from Customer Services, the one-month extension did not work. A Customer Service email says I need to resubscribe for them to give me the extension, which they seem perfectly willing to do. But of course my account is no longer offering a free trial option and the website says “Your credit card will be charged today” if I resubscribe.

So I've sent another email asking how I resubscribe without being charged for the one-month free trial extension. I think they weren't entirely prepared or communicating between departments...

 

[T'Bonz]

Well good news. I was going to call today, but checked my account first. And there it was, an extra month!

 

[MPH]

That's monthly and ignores a recurring cost over time- so $72 to $120 annually. When there are more important things on your budget, and you're annual net revenue is negative, for example, it's not peanuts. The annual cost could mean clothes, food, education, health, or power for a month - for some. It would be irresponsible for someone who can't afford it to dig themselves deeper in the hole. Saying it's peanuts is ignorant of all those for whom it's not.

You wouldn't have it all year round though would you just for the few m0nths its on, if it is cancel anytime?

 

[GeekUSACarl]

I think they should knock some of the cost off due to the app working like crap

 

[Tribble puncher]

It's a good point, because they do seem to be edited (even ep 2, which was only available streaming) with the commercial break fade-in and fade-outs.

I wonder if they will release the "uncut" versions of eps during the off season to keep people from cancelling in between.

 

[VOODOOXI]

To quote the legendary Tom Petty:

“As we celebrate mediocrity, all the boys upstairs want to see how much how much you’ll pay for something you used to get for free”

Are people so blind to accept the corporate line that this show costs so much money that you guys have to pick up the extra cost? Poor CBS, how are those kids making ends meet?

FYI, when the market closed today CBS's market cap was $23.53 BILLION dollars.
http://www.marketwatch.com/investing/stock/cbs
#suckers

 

[Mudd]

To quote the legendary Tom Petty:

“As we celebrate mediocrity, all the boys upstairs want to see how much how much you’ll pay for something you used to get for free”

Are people so blind to accept the corporate line that this show costs so much money that you guys have to pick up the extra cost? Poor CBS, how are those kids making ends meet?

FYI, when the market closed today CBS's market cap was $23.53 BILLION dollars.
http://www.marketwatch.com/investing/stock/cbs
#suckers

Do you understand that CBS doesn't have to make Star Trek at all?

They make it for the profit. Period. They don't have to "need" the money.

There's nothing wrong with that, because you have no right to expect anything for free at all.

Parenthetically, William Shatner is in his mid-eighties, will never appear in Star Trek again, and about six hundred people in the world care about that.

 

[The Librarian]

To quote the legendary Tom Petty:

“As we celebrate mediocrity, all the boys upstairs want to see how much how much you’ll pay for something you used to get for free”

Are people so blind to accept the corporate line that this show costs so much money that you guys have to pick up the extra cost? Poor CBS, how are those kids making ends meet?

FYI, when the market closed today CBS's market cap was $23.53 BILLION dollars.
http://www.marketwatch.com/investing/stock/cbs
#suckers

We never got it for free. We got it at the cost of watching ads. Since that revenue source is dying, the alternative is to either pay for it - and at the same time much more directly show our support than was ever possible via Nielsen ratings - or not have a show at all.

 

[Zod]

Do you understand that CBS doesn't have to make Star Trek at all?

They make it for the profit. Period. They don't have to "need" the money.

There's nothing wrong with that, because you have no right to expect anything for free at all.

Parenthetically, William Shatner is in his mid-eighties, will never appear in Star Trek again, and about six hundred people in the world care about that.

I think CBS is making a huge mistake. They could have gone big, instead they went niche. Shaking down Trek fans in North America desperate for content. Then to add injury to insult they put it on Netflix everywhere else. Netflix is where this belongs anyway since it has content for Sci Fi fans already. CBS and its crappy app does not. How much you wanna bet most of us already have Netflix?

Then to add double injury they charge people to watch commercials. Then they add triple injury by providing a shitty app that doesn't always stream in 1080p and 2.0 stereo sound while Netflix feed is crystal clear 1080p 5.1 sound.

I have been very disappointed in this whole thing, even though I have enjoyed the show itself.

 

[MvRojo]

I think CBS is making a huge mistake. They could have gone big, instead they went niche. Shaking down Trek fans in North America desperate for content. Then to add injury to insult they put it on Netflix everywhere else. Netflix is where this belongs anyway since it has content for Sci Fi fans already. CBS and its crappy app does not. How much you wanna bet most of us already have Netflix?

Even if they had put it on Netflix, some people would still have to subscribe, who wouldn't normally subscribe. For example, I only randomly subscribe to Netflix when there's a show I want to watch that has new episodes.

Then, it's CBS making money off Netflix's desire for Trek, and in turn Netflix making money off Star Trek fans. And Netflix's market penetration internationally is lower than in the US, so it's still functionally the same thing for a lot of overseas viewers.

 

[Zod]

Even if they had put it on Netflix, some people would still have to subscribe, who wouldn't normally subscribe. For example, I only randomly subscribe to Netflix when there's a show I want to watch that has new episodes.

Then, it's CBS making money off Netflix's desire for Trek, and in turn Netflix making money off Star Trek fans. And Netflix's market penetration internationally is lower than in the US, so it's still functionally the same thing for a lot of overseas viewers.

It doesn't change the fact that I'm paying to watch one show on the worst network for Sci fi or fantasy with commercials with sometimes poorer quality video and absolutely poorer quality sound while it's a perfect source on Netflix, which I already pay for. I'm sure many people here also have Netflix. It leaves a bad taste in my mouth and so I did not subscribe when the trial ended. Well I was going to cancel then they offered a free month.