IS CBS All Access the best format to release a new Star Trek series?

[The Overlord]

So the new Star Trek series is coming out and its going to be released exclusively on CBS All Access. But is that the best format to release this series. I agree that releasing a Star Trek series on a streaming service is a good idea, but I was hoping it be released on one of the more popular ones, like Netflix, Amazon or Hulu. CBS All Access seems to have a far weaker library of shows then those other services. IF CBS is going to link the health of its Star Trek show to the health of CBS All Access, then this show could be for a rough ride.

People are going to have to pick and choose which services they want and I'm not sure CBS is making this service competitive with these services, maybe that will change, but they seem to nothing in the way of edgy cable content or shows for kids. I'm not sure why I would want to keep this service after the first season of Star Trek is released, most of the rest of their shows do not seem worth it.

 

[thumbtack]

Re: IS CBS All Access the best format to release a new Star Trek serie

No, but they're not doing what's best for Star Trek, which is still an iffy proposition on tv. They're doing what's best for CBS All Access.

 

[The Overlord]

Re: IS CBS All Access the best format to release a new Star Trek serie

No, but they're not doing what's best for Star Trek, which is still an iffy proposition on tv. They're doing what's best for CBS All Access.

That may be true, but other networks can play nice with the major streaming sites, why does CBS have to be the outlier here? This series would have a better chance of being successful if it was on one of the major streaming sites.

 

[mswood]

Re: IS CBS All Access the best format to release a new Star Trek serie

No, but they're not doing what's best for Star Trek, which is still an iffy proposition on tv. They're doing what's best for CBS All Access.

That may be true, but other networks can play nice with the major streaming sites, why does CBS have to be the outlier here? This series would have a better chance of being successful if it was on one of the major streaming sites.

Because that's not the point. CBS is two different businesses. One is a broadcaster, the other is a content creator. The broadcast model is dying, it no longer can support itself, thanks to the change in how people consume media.so cBS the broadcaster can do two things. try and move to both an over the air and internet broadcasters, or it can just let its broadcaster division slowly die off.

The only reason the other broadcasters have been "playing nice" with things like netflix or Hulu, or whatever, is that when they originally signed content deals they didn't realize how fast the migration away from over the air broadcast would occur. expect all major broadcasters to try and get into the internet broadcasting arena in some for or another. it may be by expanding their own digital footprint, it might be through acquisition, but make no mistake no broadcaster is just going to set back and not try and keep their business up and thriving.

If CBS was only a content provider, this would not be an issue. They would just seek the place that gets them the best chance at a deal. But as long as CBS is both, they are going to spend money to take every chance they have to be able to migrate to the digital world as a broadcaster.

 

[The Overlord]

Re: IS CBS All Access the best format to release a new Star Trek serie

No, but they're not doing what's best for Star Trek, which is still an iffy proposition on tv. They're doing what's best for CBS All Access.

That may be true, but other networks can play nice with the major streaming sites, why does CBS have to be the outlier here? This series would have a better chance of being successful if it was on one of the major streaming sites.

Because that's not the point. CBS is two different businesses. One is a broadcaster, the other is a content creator. The broadcast model is dying, it no longer can support itself, thanks to the change in how people consume media.so cBS the broadcaster can do two things. try and move to both an over the air and internet broadcasters, or it can just let its broadcaster division slowly die off.

The only reason the other broadcasters have been "playing nice" with things like netflix or Hulu, or whatever, is that when they originally signed content deals they didn't realize how fast the migration away from over the air broadcast would occur. expect all major broadcasters to try and get into the internet broadcasting arena in some for or another. it may be by expanding their own digital footprint, it might be through acquisition, but make no mistake no broadcaster is just going to set back and not try and keep their business up and thriving.

If CBS was only a content provider, this would not be an issue. They would just seek the place that gets them the best chance at a deal. But as long as CBS is both, they are going to spend money to take every chance they have to be able to migrate to the digital world as a broadcaster.

Expect Disney has signed a deal with Netflix recently and is providing them with new content.

Hulu is a co creation between Fox and ABC, so it has a wide variety of programs on it, including shows from other networks.

CBS All Access just seems inferior to other major streaming sites, which has a much wider variety of content then CBS All Access. Unless you love Star Trek and old NCIS episodes, most people will pick one of the streaming sites that have a bigger library then CBS All Access.

 

[USS KG5]

Re: IS CBS All Access the best format to release a new Star Trek serie

Unless you love Star Trek and old NCIS episodes, most people will pick one of the streaming sites that have a bigger library then CBS All Access.

The problem for CBS has been put across very well up-thread.

You can't expect a business to give up, sack all its staff and go home because they currently don't offer the range of programming Netflix do?

Personally, in the UK where Netflix, Amazon Prime and Now TV are the only providers and I subscribe to all three, I'm hoping we will get the new trek on one of those.

 

[mswood]

Re: IS CBS All Access the best format to release a new Star Trek serie

Overlord

No one is arguing that CBS online is the best online site to launch a new trek series (in relation to what services are currently the best),

I don't know why this seems so hard to understand. More and more of people's TV viewing is from online sources. Why should CBS the broadcasters just say screw it, i'll just let this property that we are producing air on say Netflix?

Sure that program will be viewed in the US by more people, but CBS doesn't earn anything off of its broadcast.

They want to build their online presence. To do that they need to add not only the CBS library (and eventually I assume that Library won't be available on other sites, if they find success in this), they need exclusives. And the idea is that you slowly over time build your audience and further develop and improve your business.

Back in the early 90's Paramount/ Viacom spent considerable resources to try and form a new network. Voyager was their initial selling point. Voyager managed to get a nice 7 year run, when its numbers would not have allowed it to survive to that degree on the other networks of that time.

With this new business venture, the new Star Trek show will not have to secure a large audience. CBS isn't expecting that this one show will bring in enough business to cover it's expense. It's all about just increase their subscribers base. With the show's budget already 50% covered from overseas sales so far (and we are still over a year away), the show isn't going to have to worry much about how it performs ratings wise, unlike if it aired on any of the networks. And unlike airing on Netflix or Hulu, we have no idea what level it would need to achieve for them to what to continue it.

In the long run, cos may have no success in this venture. But Star Trek will get a new series that will get several seasons out of it, even if its a complete failure. That's better odds then regular broadcast.

 

[The Overlord]

Re: IS CBS All Access the best format to release a new Star Trek serie

Overlord

No one is arguing that CBS online is the best online site to launch a new trek series (in relation to what services are currently the best),

I don't know why this seems so hard to understand. More and more of people's TV viewing is from online sources. Why should CBS the broadcasters just say screw it, i'll just let this property that we are producing air on say Netflix?

Sure that program will be viewed in the US by more people, but CBS doesn't earn anything off of its broadcast.

They want to build their online presence. To do that they need to add not only the CBS library (and eventually I assume that Library won't be available on other sites, if they find success in this), they need exclusives. And the idea is that you slowly over time build your audience and further develop and improve your business.

Back in the early 90's Paramount/ Viacom spent considerable resources to try and form a new network. Voyager was their initial selling point. Voyager managed to get a nice 7 year run, when its numbers would not have allowed it to survive to that degree on the other networks of that time.

With this new business venture, the new Star Trek show will not have to secure a large audience. CBS isn't expecting that this one show will bring in enough business to cover it's expense. It's all about just increase their subscribers base. With the show's budget already 50% covered from overseas sales so far (and we are still over a year away), the show isn't going to have to worry much about how it performs ratings wise, unlike if it aired on any of the networks. And unlike airing on Netflix or Hulu, we have no idea what level it would need to achieve for them to what to continue it.

In the long run, cos may have no success in this venture. But Star Trek will get a new series that will get several seasons out of it, even if its a complete failure. That's better odds then regular broadcast.

But the see the problem is CBS doesn't have the same variety of content that Netflix has, for example. Maybe if this service had all the Paramount movies, all the Showtime shows and all the CBS shows, it might be competitive. Does CBS all access even have movies? Also how is the CBS library on its own interesting enough to sustain a site like this long term? Do people really want to watch old episodes of Survivor? Something like Netflix has mainstream fare, edgy cable shows, children's programs and movies. CBS needs a lot more then just it's library and a few exclusives to make this work long term.

 

[MarsWeeps]

Re: IS CBS All Access the best format to release a new Star Trek serie

But the see the problem is CBS doesn't have the same variety of content that Netflix has, for example.

I'll pay $6/month just to watch only Star Trek. I spent close to that just now at Starbucks so it's not going to kill me to pay for this service. If, at some point, the new series doesn't interest me, I'll cancel the subscription.

I don't see why people complain about a $6/month access charge when they blow more than that going to McDonald's one time.

 

[JirinPanthosa]

Re: IS CBS All Access the best format to release a new Star Trek serie

I think people who already love Star Trek will pay $6/month to watch Star Trek, but people who are only curious will not. And people who love Star Trek will only continue to pay if they like what they see, otherwise they'll assume it'll come out in some free way eventually.

CBS might be thinking that other major networks will start pushing their output to paid subscription services and really want to be there first. That might work, but again they're betting on the quality of the show they put out. People may pay for Netflix, Hulu and CBS but they aren't going to pay for Netflix, Hulu, CBS, ABC, Fox, NBC, FX and AMC.

If they combined it with Showtime content I'd pay a lot more than $6. That would mean I was also paying for Twin Peaks.

 

[2takesfrakes]

Re: IS CBS All Access the best format to release a new Star Trek serie

$6.oo a month does feel a bit steep, when I'm so used to STAR TREK television being entirely free. But I am a slave to my fandom of this franchise and will pay any price to get my fix. Oh, CBS saw me coming, when they thought up this deal ...

 

[JirinPanthosa]

Re: IS CBS All Access the best format to release a new Star Trek serie

$6.oo a month does feel a bit steep, when I'm so used to STAR TREK television being entirely free. But I am a slave to my fandom of this franchise and will pay any price to get my fix. Oh, CBS saw me coming, when they thought up this deal ...

Yeah, but are there enough people out there like you and I who will watch Star Trek no matter what to make the service profitable? And, suppose the show turns out mediocre. First few episodes? Okay, I'll give it more time. Ten episodes in and it's still mediocre, would you really keep paying for it?

 

[StalwartUK]

Re: IS CBS All Access the best format to release a new Star Trek serie

Personally I think they're using Star Trek as some sort of guinea pig. If it weren't for CBS All Access it would probably still be sitting on the shelf. If it works great but if it fails they'll just blame Star Trek not being popular enough or something.

 

[JirinPanthosa]

Re: IS CBS All Access the best format to release a new Star Trek serie

When those first couple episodes premiere, the line of non-Trekkies will be 'wait-and-see'.

If they hear people raving about how great the new Trek is, they'll sign up and they'll watch it. If not, they'll ignore it.

 

[1001001]

Re: IS CBS All Access the best format to release a new Star Trek serie

Per the pinned thread at the top of this forum, threads about the new show should go in Future of Trek.

Moving now.

 

[dub]

Re: IS CBS All Access the best format to release a new Star Trek serie

No, but they're not doing what's best for Star Trek, which is still an iffy proposition on tv. They're doing what's best for CBS All Access.

That may be true, but other networks can play nice with the major streaming sites, why does CBS have to be the outlier here? This series would have a better chance of being successful if it was on one of the major streaming sites.

Because that's not the point. CBS is two different businesses. One is a broadcaster, the other is a content creator. The broadcast model is dying, it no longer can support itself, thanks to the change in how people consume media.so cBS the broadcaster can do two things. try and move to both an over the air and internet broadcasters, or it can just let its broadcaster division slowly die off.

The only reason the other broadcasters have been "playing nice" with things like netflix or Hulu, or whatever, is that when they originally signed content deals they didn't realize how fast the migration away from over the air broadcast would occur. expect all major broadcasters to try and get into the internet broadcasting arena in some for or another. it may be by expanding their own digital footprint, it might be through acquisition, but make no mistake no broadcaster is just going to set back and not try and keep their business up and thriving.

If CBS was only a content provider, this would not be an issue. They would just seek the place that gets them the best chance at a deal. But as long as CBS is both, they are going to spend money to take every chance they have to be able to migrate to the digital world as a broadcaster.

This seems to me to be exactly what they're trying to do. And I can't blame them. The writing is on the wall for broadcast. Might as well test the waters with streaming and see what sticks. They're doing it boldly with their own paid channel and a popular franchise. Kudos to them for taking a chance!

I've said before in other threads, I'd love it if every broadcast channel offered their own streaming channel. The more options are available on streaming, the more convinced I will become that I can totally drop my cable subscription.

The only paid streaming channels I have right now are amazon and netflix. I have several other free channels, but the only free streaming channel I use religiously is youtube.

I haven't checked out what CBS offers currently. I figured I'd wait until the Trek series comes out. But if I were CBS, I'd throw everything I have at this channel for a fresh re-launch of the app with the Trek series:

• I'd offer a live stream of the network. Figure out some way to sell commercials during the live stream for some ad revenue (separate from broadcast).
• Have two sections for each new show: one section with the episodes and another section with interviews, behind-the-scenes clips, and the sort of things you'd find on a bluray extras section. But for new shows, I'd also regularly offer new preview clips/interviews between seasons to keep up the hype.
• Do some entertainment-style interviews of actors/directors/writers or whoever you can get (LIVE whenever possible) to stream following the debut of as many new episodes as possible.
• Have a way to subscribe to your favorite shows (of course), but also have a section of "newest clips" specific to your subscription. So, if NCIS: New Orleans was one of my subscriptions, any new episode or interview clip/behind the scenes would show up in that "newest clips" section.
• Do a CNN Headline News version of CBS News and roll that into the CBS app as an exclusive.
• Offer as many full past series on streaming as the library allows. Start producing/offering interviews/behind-the-scenes clips related to those old shows.
• Do the same for any old movies owned by CBS.
• Try to get partnerships with some cable networks/film studios to widen the variety even further.
• Do some interactive sort of things, like games and contests. Have sponsored video/photo contests related to some of the shows and allow people to upload media (viewable after being cleared by CBS) to be judged by viewers with "likes," with giveaway incentives.
• Offer a free version of the channel that has less offerings, perhaps remains a season behind on new shows, things like that.

Forgive my ignorance if they're already doing some of those things. But if all of those things were available on the CBS streaming app, I'd probably be more excited about the app than the new Trek series. And I wouldn't hesitate to pay for a subscription.

 

[Paul Weaver]

Re: IS CBS All Access the best format to release a new Star Trek serie

I predict we'll see some mergers in the the US TV networks in the next decade. There will still be 4 or 5 large content creators, but two of them will be Netflix and Amazon, and don't forget international providers competing for screentime (https://store.bbc.com/ for instance)

If CBS can't get their system to work now, with a known rabid fanbase who won't think twice about paying 1 cup of coffee a month for a show, they won't be able to make it work with anything.

However if it does work, it's a strong position for themselves in the upcoming rationalisation.

By 2025, Broadcast TV will be relageted to rolling news (or rolling "news" in the u.s.), and reality tv. Episodic TV's future is the internet, it has been since ADSL came available 15 years ago, but it's finally happening in a big way in the last couple of years.

 

[dub]

Re: IS CBS All Access the best format to release a new Star Trek serie

If CBS can't get their system to work now, with a known rabid fanbase who won't think twice about paying 1 cup of coffee a month for a show, they won't be able to make it work with anything.

They need to make sure they do it right though. They can't just put all of their chips into one show to draw a segment of the population temporarily. They need to make the app attractive enough that people will stick with the app even if this show sucks.

 

[jamestyler]

Re: IS CBS All Access the best format to release a new Star Trek serie

I remember at the launch of the WWE Network that the reactions to it were the same as CBS All Access: Doom, gloom and failure.

As much as Netflix have ushered the way forward in changing how we watch TV, we're still missing a step. All those studios have missed out, given their licences to something they likely didn't see as anything more than a low-rent Blockbusters.

The WWE Network get forgotten about as this niche thing, but it does stand to be a good template for places like CBS. WWE regularly plows out content to have new things on there, and their NXT program has been a very popular addition, but most of the subscribers are only paying their $9.99 a month for one event per month.

Not sure about the US, but here in the UK it's had a significant impact on pricing. If you wanted to watch these WWE pay per views before the Network you had to either subscribe to Sky Sports, or buy it as a solo event.

To watch on Sky you have to subscribe to one of their base packages then add on the Sports subscription. The Sports bundle currently costs £45 (540 per year). And if you're only watching for WWE, that's going to seem a bit expensive since WWE's just one part of a larger package.

I may seem like I'm going off on a tangent here, but there is a point

Netflix has taken advantage of the idea and it's advanced to the point where networks are missing out and beginning to see the possibilities.

For networks: Netflix has taken their revenue. Time to take it back and by offering services direct to the consumer without having to worry about cable discribution and all the shenanigans that come with it? You get direct control.

For fans: Would you rather pay a big chunk of money to watch Star Trek on a cable subscription? Or is paying $6 a month for new content and archives worth it? (of $18 if you just want the new content? It's better than paying for cable if you only intend to watch one or two things a week, right?

I think HBO's been the only smart one so far. Want to watch Game of Thrones? Get HBO or wait for the DVD. Why sell it to Netflix and get less?

 

[Paul Weaver]

Re: IS CBS All Access the best format to release a new Star Trek serie

If CBS can't get their system to work now, with a known rabid fanbase who won't think twice about paying 1 cup of coffee a month for a show, they won't be able to make it work with anything.

They need to make sure they do it right though. They can't just put all of their chips into one show to draw a segment of the population temporarily. They need to make the app attractive enough that people will stick with the app even if this show sucks.

This talk of adverts tells me they simply don't get it.