News Star Trek: Discovery Is Most Popular Streaming Show in the US, UK According to Report

[Vger23]

It's another indication that wishing / hoping / actively campaigning for the death of something in the franchise, just because that particular iteration doesn't appeal to you, is not constructive to the health of the overall franchise.

It's just like anything else in the entertainment industry...if it's popular and makes money, you're bound to have a healthy franchise that will advance, grow, continuously improve, and have additional resources put into it.

 

[ITDUDE]

I wonder why CBS just won't put out it's own numbers? Why do others have to guess? If it really is doing that great, publish your own numbers CBS. Common, just do it already

 

[Vger23]

I wonder why CBS just won't put out it's own numbers? Why do others have to guess? If it really is doing that great, publish your own numbers CBS. Common, just do it already

I'm sure there's some sort of competitive concern or other financial issue that causes streaming services to keep this stuff close-hold.

Besides, what fun would it be if all the arguments about "This is good news" vs "No it isn't...the numbers are LIESSSSS!" went away?

 

[ITDUDE]

Besides, what fun would it be if all the arguments about "This is good news" vs "No it isn't...the numbers are LIESSSSS!" went away?

Oh, it wouldn't
How many still think that the whole 25% deal is a CBS conspiracy even after they have come up with an official statement

 

[CaptGrumpy]

I wonder why CBS just won't put out it's own numbers? Why do others have to guess? If it really is doing that great, publish your own numbers CBS. Common, just do it already

I don't understand why it matters if they put out the numbers. They don't have to justify continuing the series to us. They decide whether it's successful enough for them. Ratings won't tell me whether I like it or not.

 

[DaveyNY]

This is rather surprising, especially the U.S. response-since watching Discovery required a subscription to CBS, unlike Europe, also Trek never rated very high when it aired on broadcast television in the U.S., I guess that mid-season cliff-hanger and the whole Mirror Universe arc hit.

Don't forget that this survey somehow manages to include "Non-Paying" viewers here in the USA.

 

[XCV330]

So CAN'T judge a new trek show by the vitriol spewed from a bunch of Youtube commenters.

I wonder why CBS just won't put out it's own numbers? Why do others have to guess? If it really is doing that great, publish your own numbers CBS. Common, just do it already

Be a major CBSAA advertiser and I'm sure CBS is ready to talk turkey to you on that. If not, why should they? NA seems comfortable with the value of the network. They certainly weren't about to try go fire-sale it to Viacom.

 

[ITDUDE]

I don't understand why it matters if they put out the numbers. They don't have to justify continuing the series to us. They decide whether it's successful enough for them. Ratings won't tell me whether I like it or not.

Well, the point of this thread is to show that the numbers are actually good, not that there are individuals who like a show or not. I liked A LOT of shows, whose ratings were shit and were cancelled too soon (I am looking at you FOX). Since it does in fact appear that STD is a success viewership wise, why can't CBS post some official numbers instead of fans relying on 3rd party educated guesses?

 

[dahj]

I wonder why CBS just won't put out it's own numbers? Why do others have to guess? If it really is doing that great, publish your own numbers CBS. Common, just do it already

Does it even matter?
Whatever the actual number is it will be "a disaster" for people already calling it a disaster, and "a success" for people already calling it a success.

 

[CaptGrumpy]

Welcome to the post-fact world, folks. CBS says it's Prime universe, we hear, no it's not (despite the fact that it ain't our decision), CBSAA says they're happy with DSC's success and rewards it with a 2nd season, and we hear Prove it.

 

[Vger23]

Oh, it wouldn't
How many still think that the whole 25% deal is a CBS conspiracy even after they have come up with an official statement

Conspiracy theories are often waaaay more fun than logic and facts!

 

[BillJ]

Welcome to the post-fact world, folks. CBS says it's Prime universe, we hear, no it's not (despite the fact that it ain't our decision)...

What art means has always been up to the individual consuming it. I see no reason to change it now. This is the first time I remember a company/artist telling the community of consumers how to think.

CBSAA says they're happy with DSC's success and rewards it with a 2nd season, and we hear Prove it.

Obviously it is a financial success. CBS wouldn't continue to throw money at it if it wasn't.

 

[SpocksOddSocks]

Welcome to the post-fact world, folks.

At least it's not the Ex Post Facto world. I remember that one seeming rather dull.

 

[fireproof78]

Well, the point of this thread is to show that the numbers are actually good, not that there are individuals who like a show or not. I liked A LOT of shows, whose ratings were shit and were cancelled too soon (I am looking at you FOX). Since it does in fact appear that STD is a success viewership wise, why can't CBS post some official numbers instead of fans relying on 3rd party educated guesses?

Why would they? It won't change anyone's minds and the numbers mean more to them than the audience.

 

[cultcross]

This is that 'demand expressions' stuff again, isn't it? I'm really sceptical of how well that translates into popularity of a show, as opposed to just how much it is debated about online.
An illustration of what I mean - I have probably made in the region of a thousand posts here about Discovery, and the search function suggests I have made none about Alias Grace, and yet I have watched both shows in their entirety and enjoyed them thoroughly. I just don't have much to say about Alias Grace.
Maybe their secret formula somehow irons all this out, maybe not. But the methodology seems a suspect to me if one is trying to extrapolate overall popularity. We know they don't have streaming numbers, because those aren't available, and we don't know how much is based on the 'buzz' about a show as opposed to people actually saying yes, I watched it, every episode.

Discovery is clearly and unavoidably a success (renewal, same creator gets to helm possibly 5 new projects), and I'm glad that this work shows people are talking about it and reviewing it well. I'm just not convinced on the validity of concluding it is "most popular streaming show" on the back of this company's method without more detail on how it is achieved.

Since it does in fact appear that STD is a success viewership wise, why can't CBS post some official numbers instead of fans relying on 3rd party educated guesses?

Doesn't seem to be the done thing in the streaming market - most don't release figures. CBS have advertising to sell which does add in an interesting angle that Netflix don't have to worry about though. I wonder how much is disclosed to them.

 

[BillJ]

This is that 'demand expressions' stuff again, isn't it? I'm really sceptical of how well that translates into popularity of a show, as opposed to just how much it is debated about online.
An illustration of what I mean - I have probably made in the region of a thousand posts here about Discovery, and the search function suggests I have made none about Alias Grace, and yet I have watched both shows in their entirety and enjoyed them thoroughly. I just don't have much to say about Alias Grace.
Maybe their secret formula somehow irons all this out, maybe not. But the methodology seems a suspect to me if one is trying to extrapolate overall popularity. We know they don't have streaming numbers, because those aren't available, and we don't know how much is based on the 'buzz' about a show as opposed to people actually saying yes, I watched it, every episode.

I was thinking along the same lines, but didn't post anything because of my stance about the quality of the show.

Besides, you probably worded it better.

 

[Spot261]

Who knew?

I thought the fans were in revolt and it wouldn't get renewed, it's almost like people have been projecting their own views onto the majority.....

 

[cultcross]

I was thinking along the same lines, but didn't post anything because of my stance about the quality of the show.

Besides, you probably worded it better.

I'm just concerned that the very fact that it is Star Trek skews the figures - of course a new Star Trek show gets talked about on the internet, that's what the internet is for.

 

[BillJ]

I'm just concerned that the very fact that it is Star Trek skews the figures - of course a new Star Trek show gets talked about on the internet, that's what the internet is for.

There is this article from January 30, 2018:

http://www.nscreenmedia.com/cbs-all-access-star-trek-discovery-growth-slows/

One year ago, CBS said that Showtime had 1.5 million subscribers and that the All Access had “almost as many.” That means in the last year All Access has acquired around half-a-million new subscribers, or just over 40,000 subscribers a month. The annual growth rate is currently 33%, a strong performance by any measure. However, it looks like growth has slowed dramatically.

In July of 2016, CBS All Access had 1 million subscribers according to the company’s CEO Les Moonves. This data suggests the SVOD service acquired a half-million subscribers between July 2016 and February 2017, or about 70,000 subscribers a month. This data suggests an equivalent annual growth rate of more than 100%.

2017 growth is dramatically slower than 2016, despite the release of a blockbuster like Discovery.

 

[Vger23]

This is that 'demand expressions' stuff again, isn't it? I'm really sceptical of how well that translates into popularity of a show, as opposed to just how much it is debated about online.
An illustration of what I mean - I have probably made in the region of a thousand posts here about Discovery, and the search function suggests I have made none about Alias Grace, and yet I have watched both shows in their entirety and enjoyed them thoroughly. I just don't have much to say about Alias Grace.
Maybe their secret formula somehow irons all this out, maybe not. But the methodology seems a suspect to me if one is trying to extrapolate overall popularity. We know they don't have streaming numbers, because those aren't available, and we don't know how much is based on the 'buzz' about a show as opposed to people actually saying yes, I watched it, every episode.

Discovery is clearly and unavoidably a success (renewal, same creator gets to helm possibly 5 new projects), and I'm glad that this work shows people are talking about it and reviewing it well. I'm just not convinced on the validity of concluding it is "most popular streaming show" on the back of this company's method without more detail on how it is achieved.



Doesn't seem to be the done thing in the streaming market - most don't release figures. CBS have advertising to sell which does add in an interesting angle that Netflix don't have to worry about though. I wonder how much is disclosed to them.

"Popular" might be a misleading word to define this kind of data, so I agree. Maybe "buzzworthy" (whatever the hell that means) would be more accurate.

In any event, it actually doesn't matter. Unless we're trying to settle some random online debate...if these "demand expression" numbers are viewed as positive by those in charge who have the wallets...it's all good, regardless of the MEANING of the data.