News Complete 1st Season to Air on CBS terrestrial in Sept

[C.E. Evans]

I had no doubts that DIS would end up on TV at some point, but I wasn't expecting it to be on CBS proper. I thought it had a better chance airing (syndicated) on BBC America, SyFy, or even the Paramount Network now that the corporate side of Trek got the band back together. Definitely COVID's impact on new TV productions will bring more CBSAA shows out for a while, IMO.

 

[fireproof78]

Good job, CBS.

 

[Cyrus]

They probably put season 1 of Picard on CBS before season 2 on CBSAA(whenever that happens). That series will have a wider appeal for general TV viewers than Discovery.

 

[JoseNoodles]

On one level, I'm not surprised and figured this would happen at some point, though I would have predicted on a premium cable channel like Showtime (I think CBS owns Showtime). On the other hand, WTF? I recall an attempt to show a sanitized and edited version of Dexter on CBS that bombed. Not entirely sure what the reasoning was there, but I can only hope this does at least better (but I won't get my hopes up.)

If they were really cool, they would use alternate takes and additional scenes to make up for any edits due to time and content. Y'know, like they did with movies back in the day. Like the TV edit of Blade Runner that has stuff that's never been seen again, not even in the Final Cut or Director's Cut.

 

[Turtletrekker]

CBS only has room for 40 minute episodes... That means a lot of cutting!

And there was one episode that didn't even last that long.

 

[Guy Gardener]

Starting at ten pm. The can swear.

Unless they're cutting it to air also at earlier hours.

 

[Tim Thomason]

Other than the first episode of Discovery, this is the first time a Star Trek series has been on a broadcast network since 1969 when TOS was on NBC.

*1974 when TAS was on NBC.

 

[Tim Thomason]

Starting at ten pm. The can swear.

Unless they're cutting it to air also at earlier hours.

Not on CBS they can't.

 

[Mechanoid1]

Finaly, Season 1 is airing on CBS for free. This will be epic. Can you imagine the droves of people that are going to sign up to All Access.
Cant wait for the numbers.

 

[tomalak301]

Other than the first episode of Discovery, this is the first time a Star Trek series has been on a broadcast network since 1969 when TOS was on NBC.

UPN wasn't considered a Broadcast network? They wanted to be? CW is usually mentioned as part of the ratings with the other networks.

 

[The Wormhole]

I'm going to get worked up and declare this news ruins my day because reasons.

Never underestimate a Star Trek fan's ability to get pissed off over nothing.

 

[Vger23]

I think this is a pretty good move by CBS. S1 is 3 years old now, so it's not a "key draw" for new subscribers. I'm sure they are hungry for shows to fill time slots. You might have some people signing up if they casually watch the show and end up liking it. While it is polarizing to some Star Trek fans, my guess is that a casual sci-fi / adventure television watcher who tunes in will probably dig it. It has great visuals, some good action scenes, a very good cast etc...so you will likely get some people who will "try it out" because there's nothing else on and it's at least great eye candy. And those people aren't going to have a brain meltdown because of any of the shit the fans routinely freak out about.

And, if it's slightly edited for television, maybe I'll feel good about letting my younger guys watch it now. Sounds like a win!

Finaly, Season 1 is airing on CBS for free. This will be epic. Can you imagine the droves of people that are going to sign up to All Access.
Cant wait for the numbers.

Won't matter one darn bit. We've still got plenty of new Star Trek coming to CBSAA no matter what happens with this.

So that's awesome! I'm glad you are excited!

 

[M'rk son of Mogh]

It's the exact same reason WB is airing cancelled shows on the CW (Swamp Thing and Tell Me a Story) and grabbing shows from other countries to air (Coroner from Canada and Dead Pixels from the BBC).

Desperation for ANYTHING "new" to air.

 

[EnderAKH]

It's the exact same reason WB is airing cancelled shows on the CW (Swamp Thing and Tell Me a Story) and grabbing shows from other countries to air (Coroner from Canada and Dead Pixels from the BBC).

Desperation for ANYTHING "new" to air.

Apparently, "Watch Celebrities Watch TV" isn't really a long-term solution.

 

[Charles Phipps]

I wonder if we'll get a Dexter revival.

 

[Tim Thomason]

I wonder if I'll ever live to see them folded into syndication and air on an H&I-esque TV station. I want an all-Star Trek programming block which features Discovery and Picard and whatever else that I can lazily turn to when I'm flipping channels.

Maybe it'd be too much whiplash going from an average episode of Enterprise to an average episode of Discovery.

 

[Noname Given]

I wonder if I'll ever live to see them folded into syndication and air on an H&I-esque TV station. I want an all-Star Trek programming block which features Discovery and Picard and whatever else that I can lazily turn to when I'm flipping channels.

Maybe it'd be too much whiplash going from an average episode of Enterprise to an average episode of Discovery.

^^^
Assuming terrestrial broadcast TV survives another 50 years, I'm sure within 10 or 20 you'll see all the CBSAA stuff on terrestrial (and satellite/cable) syndication. Remember that Discovery at least already is airing on Cable in Canada, and in the UK, Season 1 of ST: D will be shown on cable there as well starting this year.

The bottom line is money, and once they feel it's done everything it could for CBSAA; CBS will definitely try to package it to other media outlets IF they believe more money can be made.

 

[Owain Taggart]

Its gonna be sliced and diced for broadcast.

Not necessarily as it's already been broadcast on a Canadian network, so they likely already have it formatted for broadcast. The fact that it already is likely made the decision easier to use it as Covid programming.

 

[Lord Garth]

The bottom line is money, and once they feel it's done everything it could for CBSAA; CBS will definitely try to package it to other media outlets IF they believe more money can be made.

It's what I've said a few times before. But I'd always get responses like, "No, no, they won't do that." Non-streaming TV wants new content too.

Sure, I agree with people who say Regular TV won't be around too much longer (relatively speaking)... but it's still around right now. And until it does go away, you'll have channels like H&I that are airing the same old Star Trek shows over and over again. The newest of which ended 15 years ago. If CBS All Access offers its earlier content to somewhere like H&I or BBC America, those channels will take it. And it'll get Discovery, Picard, and all the other new shows more exposure than before. Some people are just not going to jump on the CBS All Access Subscription bandwagon. One day that might change, but at this point we have to acknowledge what's in front of us right now.

 

[The Wormhole]

Not necessarily as it's already been broadcast on a Canadian network, so they likely already have it formatted for broadcast.

No, actually. I mean, yes, in Canada Disco does air on CTV Sci-Fi, a cable channel, but it isn't pared down for broadcast, nor is Picard for that matter. CTV Sci-Fi airs the shows complete, even if it means going over the one hour time slot.