Would it really matter if the next Trek series were on linear TV?

[Temis the Vorta]

Amazon and Netflix are both chasing the same goal, to have critical mass of a large range of appealing shows so that they are the one choice a customer will make for a streaming service. Netflix is way out in front right now. What they both need is to get more original series that will make a huge splash and make them look like the clear winner over the other guy.

Star Trek is the kind of brand they should both be pursuing with gusto. They're already going for big names in deals with Spacey and Fincher and Spielberg and Stephen King. A big name-brand series is the next step.

 

[jefferiestubes8]

Today from the president of CBS tv.

He added, “But we hit a tipping point this year, which is why in the fall numbers were tough to read … some of our hit programs literally are only watched 60 percent now live.”

What about in 4 years from now?
Why should a show like Trek be on linear TV at all in the US since it has an audience that will search it out?

CBS CEO Leslie Moonves is lobbying for advertisers to move to payment for live ratings plus 7 days (C7), versus the live ratings plus 3 days (C3) that they currenly pay for, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

http://m.hollywoodreporter.com/news/les-moonves-declares-dvr-viewing-425980
Via
http://www.tvweek.com/blogs/tvbizwire/2013/03/cbss-moonves-pushes-for-a-new.php

 

[RAMA]

I'd pay to stream it, yes. I also might accept an increase in Hulu or Netflix to get it.

RAMA

 

[jefferiestubes8]

Budgets -

Wow this article shows the budget of Netflix' shows!
There is enough $ for a license to CBS and pay for Trek. Would CBS go for something like this or want it also on a cable channel as a promotional item?

poke about the “huge” budgets behind some of the Netflix drama series. He said the cheapest show is $3.8 million an episode and House of Cards started at $4.5 million with executive producer David Fincher taking it ”way above that”. According to Micelli, the next series Hemlock Grove is costing $4 million an episode, while Orange Is The New Black is just under $4 million as well. (CAA sold some of the shows to Netflix but Micelli later clarified for Variety that these numbers were only his estimates.) Micelli said Netflix, whose deals are structured to cover multiple regions around the world, will control each series for 4 years exclusively and then re-sell them to a linear cable channel. Micelli expects Microsoft’s XBox whose studio is led by CBS vet Nancy Tellem to compete with Netflix for high-end programming.

http://m.deadline.com/2013/03/netflix-tv-episodes-cost-3-8m-4-5m-caa/

Would CBS make an exclusive deal for Star Trek for say 1 season for 6-9months and then release the Blu-ray or the season and go air it on a linear cable channel in 2 years?

 

[Vito Corleone]

No. I want it to be on Network/Cable TV or Syndication, like it always has been. That would actually give me a reason to get cable again.

 

[AviTrek]

Wow this article shows the budget of Netflix' shows!
There is enough $ for a license to CBS and pay for Trek. Would CBS go for something like this or want it also on a cable channel as a promotional item?

poke about the “huge” budgets behind some of the Netflix drama series. He said the cheapest show is $3.8 million an episode and House of Cards started at $4.5 million with executive producer David Fincher taking it ”way above that”. According to Micelli, the next series Hemlock Grove is costing $4 million an episode, while Orange Is The New Black is just under $4 million as well. (CAA sold some of the shows to Netflix but Micelli later clarified for Variety that these numbers were only his estimates.) Micelli said Netflix, whose deals are structured to cover multiple regions around the world, will control each series for 4 years exclusively and then re-sell them to a linear cable channel. Micelli expects Microsoft’s XBox whose studio is led by CBS vet Nancy Tellem to compete with Netflix for high-end programming.

http://m.deadline.com/2013/03/netflix-tv-episodes-cost-3-8m-4-5m-caa/

Would CBS make an exclusive deal for Star Trek for say 1 season for 6-9months and then release the Blu-ray or the season and go air it on a linear cable channel in 2 years?

I imagine Netflix will demand at least 9-12 months before Blu Ray release and an exclusive from other cable channels for the same 4 years they got for House of Cards. But those license fees are the first indication that Star Trek could be doable on "TV" again. Of course, Netflix needs to be convinced a new Star Trek series would drive subscriptions.

No. I want it to be on Network/Cable TV or Syndication, like it always has been. That would actually give me a reason to get cable again.

If you would subscribe to cable, why not subscribe to Netflix? $8/month is a lot cheaper than any cable package you could get.

 

[Temis the Vorta]

I saw that Deadline article, interesting...I thought House of Cards was a pricey outlier but I guess not (unless you count Fincher blowing the budget).

And cable is a supreme ripoff! Greedy sports franchises are pushing the rates thru the roof and I see no end in sight. Cut the cord now.

$8/month is a lot cheaper than any cable package you could get.

Due to Netflix's crappy streaming library, I added 2X DVD and that still comes out to just $20/month. Cable was over $100 when I finally kicked it to the curb. I basically get everything - every movie, TV series and documentary I can think to add to my queue. More than I can ever hope to watch, really.

Of course, Netflix needs to be convinced a new Star Trek series would drive subscriptions.

Other than a Star Wars series, I can't think of anything that would do a better job of driving subscriptions. What they need is a "unicorn" series, something that is unlike everything else so that you can't just say, "I won't bother with that, I'll watch this other thing instead, it's just as good."

House of Cards may have been popular but wasn't a unicorn. There are other fine series like it on TV now that have some combination of its chief elements -strong acting and characterization, intrigue, complex plotting, an antihero lead character.

But if you want Star Trek, what else can you substitute? Nothing, certainly nothing on TV now. If there was such a thing as a live action Star Wars series, that might be close. I could see Netflix getting one and then Amazon countering by getting the other, that would be hilarious.

 

[jefferiestubes8]

Viacom has been planning something. The nickelodeon app just launched and now a CBS app has launched. Shows air on linear TV and then on the CBS app. I now do not see them having current shows available on Hulu Plus for the most part.

the

program which handles streamed full episodes of certain CBS shows, and so-called “second screen” features for people who are watching conventional live TV. The network says that its daytime and late night shows will be available within 24 hours after they air, and most primetime shows will be up after eight day

s

http://m.deadline.com/2013/03/cbs-new-app-streams-programs-to-iphones-and-ipads/

See the first comment though for how bad the video playback is.

 

[jefferiestubes8]

HBO Go and possible Showtime Anywhere

Where HBO goes Showtime is sure to follow since both are the top premium cable channels in the USA.
in Yesterday's news:

"HBO could widen access to its HBO Go online streaming service by teaming up with broadband Internet providers for customers who do not subscribe to a cable TV service, HBO Chief Executive Richard Plepler said,"

The Reuters story adds, "Plepler said late Wednesday that HBO Go could...be packaged with a monthly Internet service, in partnership with broadband providers, reducing the cost. Customers could pay $50 a month for their broadband Internet and an extra $10 or $15 for HBO to be packaged in with that service, for a total of $60 or $65 per month, Plepler said. 'We would have to make the math work,' he added."

HBO Go has about 6.5 million users, compared with !00 million subscribers worldwide for HBO's primary pay service.

As far as the pay TV regular channel customers:

HBO currently has 115 million subscribers worldwide, 41 million of who are in the US.

Game of Thrones has been pirated heavily online, and making HBO Go available to non-subscribers would provide a legal alternative.

HBO Go Considered For Non-Cable Subscribers: Report
also
http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/03/21/net-us-hbo-streaming-idUSBRE92K14D20130321
http://www.tvweek.com/blogs/tvbizwire/2013/03/potential-game-changer-hbo-ceo.php

Since Viacom owns CBS If Trek were put on (Viacom-owned) Showtime and Showtime allowed their Showtime Anytime available to non-subscribers of their primary premium subscription television service It could mean $12-15. subscription that would help fund a new Trek series. Maybe even on one of the multiplex channels like Showtime 2, or Showtime Beyond (which has sci-fi/fantasy films and made-for-cable science fiction series produced for Showtime.) just so Trek would be on a linear TV channel. If this was announced in 3-4 years while the next Trek series was in development you would see the subscriptions go up in the month leading up to Trek's premiere episode. So with the title of this thread if Trek were to premiere it's next TV series not on linear TV I think it would also have a major piracy problem and offering a Showtime Anytime subscription by teaming up with broadband Internet providers for customers who do not subscribe to a cable TV service would give most customers a legal way to see the next Trek TV series not necessarily with a cable television subscription.

 

[Temis the Vorta]

Customers could pay $50 a month for their broadband Internet and an extra $10 or $15 for HBO to be packaged in with that service, for a total of $60 or $65 per month, Plepler said.

No sale. I get all HBO shows and a lot more for $20 month from Netflix and of course millions of others pay nothing at all.

 

[LtChange]

I thought of Temis in the moment I saw this:

TrekCore: At the end of Enterprise, I remember, I think, twice actually, a fan campaign to get the show on the air, to keep the show on the air, or something. Were you aware of that? Did you think it had any legs behind it? Was it always a done deal?
Brannon Braga: I was aware of the fan campaign to keep Enterprise alive, because I drove past it every morning on my way to work. I don't think it had a chance. I think the network had decided what it wanted to do, and there was even a fan campaign to raise money. You know, Enterprise cost millions of dollars an episode, and I think they raised $30,000 or something. It was a noble effort, but there was no way the fans were going to save it.
The best thing the fans could do, for those reading this, the best possible thing the fans could do is, if they want to see another season of Enterprise, is watch it on Netflix.
TrekCore: Watch it on Netflix?
Brannon Braga: My neighbor produces Arrested Development, and they're making a new season of Arrested Development. I recall him telling me that it's because for that show, they know they're gonna get... they have data! They know a certain number of people are going to watch that show. I've heard rumors in town that the CBS show Jericho might get another season, because the numbers on Netflix are big!
Watch Enterprise!
TrekCore: Brannon, I will go home and watch it five times through, but are you saying - and I know you can't commit - if everybody was watching it on Netflx, there's a chance the actors would get back involved?
Brannon Braga: I don't work at Netflix, but all I can tell you is, based on what I've seen, if a show is real popular, they take notice. It's a business model... I would love to see another season of Enterprise. Whether or not you could get the whole cast, I don't know. But this cast is young, vibrant... I see them here, a lot of the cast is here at this convention, and I miss these guys.
It wasn't too long ago... it would be fun to do something. Even if it was just a two-hour special.
TrekCore: Just a couple of hours?
Brannon Braga: Yeah. I think that people would check it out.

Source:
http://trekcore.com/blog/2013/03/exclusive-brannon-braga-interview-part-ii/

 

[Temis the Vorta]

Ack, I have to agree with Brannon Braga now?

But yeah, I'm sure that deep in the bowels of Netflix, there's some Landru-like computer adding up all the people who are watching Star Trek series (all of them) on streaming, every minute of every day... Sooner or later something's gonna click with Landru's human minions.

Forget ENT, tho - a new series would be the way to go. And a two-hour special would make no sense at all, why invest all the start-up costs for something that short? Netflix is all about grabbing and hanging onto viewers (being subscribers, not ad viewers, they're more valuable to hang onto), which means there always needs to be something else that's related to shove at them, either the same series or something compatible.

EDIT: Sadly, that traitorous Landru seems to be a Bablyonic.

Hot on the heels of Netflix’s original series House Of Cards, the company has announced that it will release a new sci-fi TV series to the platform called Sense8.

The show is being developed under the guidance of the Wachowskis, who are responsible for smash hits like the Matrix series of films, V for Vendetta, Cloud Atlas and Speed Racer, as well as J. Michael Straczynski who is the creator behind Changeling, Thor, and Babylon 5.

...

With Sense8, Netflix Chief Content Officer Ted Sarandos explained that the Wachowskis and Straczynski are some of the most popular content creators on the Netflix Instant platform. “Their incredible creations are favorites of Netflix members globally and we can’t wait to bring Sense8 to life.”

 

[LtChange]

Looking at Netflix strategies I think that 2 hours would not make sense, most probably if they venture to Star Trek Enterprise roads (although I don't think so, but I would love to see the Earth-Romulan war done right) they would do at least 6-10 episodes. But that will be the strategy with any Star Trek series.

 

[Temis the Vorta]

By the time a new Star Trek series is ready there may be no "linear TV" (ad-supported broadcast) for it to air on. Broadcast is losing its struggle to compete with cable and streaming and their lovely subscription revenues. More broadly, they can't compete with technology that gives consumers the power over TV.

Will FOX be the first domino to fall?

The time is soon coming when to see anything worth watching, we'll have to pay for it by more than watching ads. (That's already true for me, there's nothing on broadcast that is even worth watching ads for.) Fortunately, there will be no reason to pay much, certainly not a $100/month cable bill. The same forces that are crunching broadcast will also drive down the price of content overall.

 

[dub]

Another article about the continued success of Netflix...

http://guardianlv.com/2013/10/is-netflix-pushing-the-envelope-again/

(And a small mention of DS9 in the article as well)

Other shows that may push Netflix further along include Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, a Star Trek series whose writers later wrote Battle Star Galactia. The first 2 seasons of The Twilight Zone from the late 50s to the early 60s, created by Rod Serling. Ugly Betty and Xena: Warrior Princess will be shown and also an old known favorite Rockford Files. This streamlining of old shows should bring repeat viewers and give newer, younger audiences a chance to view old favorites without using or pushing the envelope.

I'll say it again, I became a Niner thanks to Netflix. I love streaming so much that I purchased a Roku 3, and I'm not the sort of person who has to have every little gadget that comes out. And I discovered the crazy amount of channels out there on Roku. Granted, most of the channels are crap, but there are some diamonds in the rough. And many of the channels are free. Some you just have to watch an ad here and there to view. Some are annoying with their ads [delete channel]. But you can't beat free!

But I'm also a fan of TV. And at this point, I'd love to see Trek come back to TV in either broadcast or streaming. Either way. Bring it!

 

[Hober Mallow]

Broadcast TV isn't going anywhere anytime soon. The dinosaurs in charge are going to stick to the old model no matter how outdated and ridiculous it becomes.

Hell, the day the first stupid youtube video which cost nothing to make got more views than a hit cable show that a studio spent $2 million to produce was the day the old model died.

 

[AviTrek]

Broadcast TV isn't going anywhere anytime soon. The dinosaurs in charge are going to stick to the old model no matter how outdated and ridiculous it becomes.

Hell, the day the first stupid youtube video which cost nothing to make got more views than a hit cable show that a studio spent $2 million to produce was the day the old model died.

The old model will die the day it's not financially viable. Until then it will carry on.

A stupid youtube video getting more hits than a cable tv show is meaningless when it can't be monetized for anything compared with what TV shows can be.

 

[jefferiestubes8]

I'd be willing to pay if I were allowed to download the episode.

$1 per episode isn't bad. I don't think I would go higher than $3 per episode.

At any rate, I'd like to see Trek back on a mainstream network before hoping for any schemes like these.

After thinking about it Paramount / CBS is charging roughly
$3.00 per episode for the DVD sets. I would not pay to just stream a show, I would pay maybe $1 to $3 for a download that I could save on my computer or a disc. What I would really like is direct to DVD at a price that is in the same range as other hour long TV shows.

The problem there is that you're missing out on a massive amount of revenue by not doing a first run network/cable run. Revenue that would be needed to make the series financially viable.

CBS thinks they will have enough subscriptions with CBS All Access for the new 2017 Trek series... I wonder what linear TV channels will buy the series in foreign markets?

 

[T'Bonz]

In this changing media landscape are you willing to pay to first-time view new episodes? Yes/No

No. I already have cable and haven't cut the cord because the stuff I like (documentaries, WWII stuff and such) aren't what the young ones watch and so aren't offered on the various streaming services.

I'm not paying MORE for shows. I pay enough.

 

[Squiggy]

In this changing media landscape are you willing to pay to first-time view new episodes? Yes/No

No. I already have cable and haven't cut the cord because the stuff I like (documentaries, WWII stuff and such) aren't what the young ones watch and so aren't offered on the various streaming services.

I'm not paying MORE for shows. I pay enough.

If you cut the cord and then pay for every streaming service out there you'd not only have the same selection of programming, but you'd end up paying less.