Okay...they announced Star Fleet Academy and soon after they cancel / end Strange New Worlds. This makes me think that they are possibly switching to a "One Show At A Time" approach now to save money, logistics or whatever. Maybe someone "in the know" could enlighten me on that thought, please?
From now on one show at a time?
- Thread starter FreddyE
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I don't know if we have many people here that are in management at Paramount and can say exactly what is going on! Even if there is, they're probably not supposed to say anything. I don't work there, so all I can give are guesses.
We did just see a pretty major change with Skydance acquiring Paramount. They announced Starfleet Academy somewhere back in 2023, before the merger deal was made, and no new shows were announced after that. There's a chance they didn't want to start on any new shows before the transition was completed, as the new management could have a different direction they want to go.
Another option is that they've seen what many other streamers have been realizing, that the current streaming model is not sustainable, and they're not committing to any more high budget streaming shows until they come up with a workable solution.
There's also just a chance that they just haven't seen a pitch they're willing to fully commit to yet! We've seen several people talk about shows they've tried to get going, but no official announcements.
We did just see a pretty major change with Skydance acquiring Paramount. They announced Starfleet Academy somewhere back in 2023, before the merger deal was made, and no new shows were announced after that. There's a chance they didn't want to start on any new shows before the transition was completed, as the new management could have a different direction they want to go.
Another option is that they've seen what many other streamers have been realizing, that the current streaming model is not sustainable, and they're not committing to any more high budget streaming shows until they come up with a workable solution.
There's also just a chance that they just haven't seen a pitch they're willing to fully commit to yet! We've seen several people talk about shows they've tried to get going, but no official announcements.
The current streaming models faults beeing (IMHO):
1. to short seasons
2. to long time between seasons
3. that studios insist in having their own payed streaming service (or even multiple!) instead of just co-producing with and licensing for one of the non-studio ones like in the beginning of the streaming era (Amazon / Netflix / Apple TV)
I know that the main reason for 1. and 2. is that the studios somehow got "production value as high as possible" into their heads...insisting on needing everything to look like a blockbuster movie. I hope they get over that soon and find a middle ground. More episodes....lets say 15 ish instead of the current standard of 6(!) to 10, lower the production value to "high quality network standard" (or "middle quality network standard depending on genre.) and shorten time between season back to about a year for most stuff.
1. to short seasons
2. to long time between seasons
3. that studios insist in having their own payed streaming service (or even multiple!) instead of just co-producing with and licensing for one of the non-studio ones like in the beginning of the streaming era (Amazon / Netflix / Apple TV)
I know that the main reason for 1. and 2. is that the studios somehow got "production value as high as possible" into their heads...insisting on needing everything to look like a blockbuster movie. I hope they get over that soon and find a middle ground. More episodes....lets say 15 ish instead of the current standard of 6(!) to 10, lower the production value to "high quality network standard" (or "middle quality network standard depending on genre.) and shorten time between season back to about a year for most stuff.
Given chatter indication Paramount Skydance wants to wants Star Trek to become a film franchise, it's possible after Academy has its five year run there could be no new Trek shows for the foreseeable future.
As far as space operas go, there's no reason to expect more than a dozen episodes a year ever again. At the risk of invoking coin jars and fire hoses, The Orville was a network show with an executive producer who had pull with the network it aired on and even that could only manage a dozen episodes a season. Space operas really are too complex to go on for long seasons.
You think SFA will run for five seasons? That's quite optimistic.
I suspect it's gonna be 2 seasons of SFA, wrapping all of current Trek up and they'll switch to movies or whatever the new administration wants. But we shall see, just guesswork.
This seems like a good thread to ask - did the current era actually pay off for the execs?
The goal was clearly to reinvent Star Trek as a franchise that could be applied to any target audience and beaten into any shape - animated Nickelodeon show, gritty prestige drama, shameless nostalgia piece, YA drama, Rick & Morty style cartoon, even Cocomelon shit with this Scouts show, and whatever SNW is trying to turn into. I'm sure Section 31 was aimed at someone, somewhere, too.
Do we have any statistics or insider knowledge that suggests they achieved their goals? The cancellation of Prodigy and the possible cutting-short of SNW makes me wonder. I know Discovery was apparently considered a huge success in terms of generating streaming subscribers, and SNW was initially reported as doing well, but beyond that it's all totally opaque.
The goal was clearly to reinvent Star Trek as a franchise that could be applied to any target audience and beaten into any shape - animated Nickelodeon show, gritty prestige drama, shameless nostalgia piece, YA drama, Rick & Morty style cartoon, even Cocomelon shit with this Scouts show, and whatever SNW is trying to turn into. I'm sure Section 31 was aimed at someone, somewhere, too.
Do we have any statistics or insider knowledge that suggests they achieved their goals? The cancellation of Prodigy and the possible cutting-short of SNW makes me wonder. I know Discovery was apparently considered a huge success in terms of generating streaming subscribers, and SNW was initially reported as doing well, but beyond that it's all totally opaque.
I have nothing to go on but my gut, but that’s basically what I think will happen as well. It looks like they’ll let everything that’s announced so far play out and then it’ll be quiet for a while before they either do a completely new show for streaming or attempt another movie. I kind hope it’s the former as I think Trek works much better on the small screen.
The original plan was for year-round Trek, but Covid killed that. Then the streaming bubble burst and Paramount have been floundering a lot. None of the shows became "must watch" streaming stuff akin to Stranger Things or Game of Thrones as hoped, but I'm sure they kept Trekkies subscribed. Section 31 became a movie when Michelle Yoah became too expensive after winning awards and Prodigy seemingly failed because analytics showed it was 40somethings watching instead of kids.
It wouldn't have gone on this long if it wasn't profittable.
Hey! I was in my thirties when I watched Prodigy. Okay, thirty-nine when the second season was released, but that still isn't quite forty-something.
Well, they couldn't keep this lifelong Trekkie subscribed. After Lower Decks was canceled (far and away my favorite Trek of the last quarter-century) I unsubscribed from Paramount+ and never re-upped. And since the new Skydance overlords seem clearly evil, It's likely I'm done with Star Trek after being a fan for 59 years.
I unsubscribed after Season 3 and will resubscribe for Starfleet Academy.
And I'm not done with Trek as I enjoy my TOS VHS
And I'm not done with Trek as I enjoy my TOS VHS
TPTB don't want to turn Star Trek into a movie franchise only. The new people have stated several times that they want Trek to be a movie and TV franchise. I'm sure there will be new shows but I wouldn't be surprised if Kurtzman's time is up when his contract expires. After more than ten years as the new Berman, it's time for a fresh pair of eyes anyways.
Actually if anything - SNW S5's 6 episodes may be what 'wraps up' pre Skydance Trek.
SFA S1 in Jan. 2026
SNW S4 in July 2026
SFA S2 in Jan. 2027
SNW S5 in July 2027
SFA S1 in Jan. 2026
SNW S4 in July 2026
SFA S2 in Jan. 2027
SNW S5 in July 2027
I mean, you never know, they might announce more new Trek shows before the takeover. I'm sure they'll announce at least five more Star Trek 4's.
And then 4 more Star Trek 5s.
Actually if anything - SNW S5's 6 episodes may be what 'wraps up' pre Skydance Trek.
SFA S1 in Jan. 2026
SNW S4 in July 2026
SFA S2 in Jan. 2027
SNW S5 in July 2027
Counting movies as episodes:
1. TOS: 80 (Cage inclusive)
2. TAS: 22 episodes
3. TOS movies: 6
-----------108-------
4. TNG: 178 episodes, doubles as 2
5. TNG movies: 4
---------108 + 182 = 290--------
6. DS9: 176 episodes, doubles as 2
7. VOY: 172 episodes, doubles as 2
8. ENT: 98 episodes, doubles as 2
-------290 + 446 = 736/726
TNG is 176 broadcast, 178 syndicated. DS9 173/176. VOY 168/172. ENT 97/98. A difference of 10 for Berman era. So 736/726 depending on how one counts after Berman era.
9. Kelvin movies (4)
---------4 + 736/726 = 740/730-------
10. DISCO: 65 episodes
11. ST: 10 episodes
12. PIC: 30 episodes
13. LD: 50 episodes
14. Prodigy: 40 episodes
15. SNW: 30 episodes (so far)
16. Section 31 movie: 1
-------226 + 740/730 = 966/956-----
17. SFA S1: 10 = 976/966
18. SNW S4: 10 = 986/976
19. SFA S2: 10 = 996/986
20. SNW S5: 6 = 1,002/992
By my count, episode 4 of SNW S5 will crack 1,000 Trek installments.
If one does not count the double length broadcasts as two (-10) and/or takes out the movies (-15), then there is still a ways to go. I did not count Very Short Treks.
Star Trek: Post Grad
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