Quantifiable Increased Interest in the Franchise?

[Mr. B]

There's been a good deal of talk about how the new movie has generated new interest in the franchise. I am somewhat doubtful of that myself but I was wondering if such new interest could or has been documented in any fashion, such as increased ratings for reruns. I was hoping to start this thread armed with some facts so I checked out the Netflix Top 100. Unfortunately there is no Trek material there, nor is there a single Trek DVD in the Top 25 of the sci-fi/fantasy genre. Has anyone encountered any numbers outside of the current film's box office take that would indicate renewed interest in old Trek?

 

[Islander]

I had 3 different channels running a Trek movie marathon prior to the release of the movie 2 weeks ago. Does that count?

 

[Mr. B]

I had 3 different channels running a Trek movie marathon prior to the release of the movie 2 weeks ago. Does that count?

I don't see why not... unless nobody watched them

I had a look at Google Trends and searches for a variety of trek film and series titles are all up...

http://www.google.com/trends?q=star+trek+generations

 

[perigee]

I'm not sure you can count on a crossover interest on the wider audience. For a long time, I thought that Kirk/Gorn fight shown on The Onion clip was slowed down for comic effect. Then I checked, and it wasn't. If it hadn't seemed cool when I was a kidling, I'd be laughing like a goon at all the idiot stuff in TOS like the rest of the universe.

I'd say that the press coverage the film has had - like the cover of Newsweek - the critical reviews, and the box-office returns that are even shocking the hard-core fans in here has to say something quantifiable. But without even a month under its belt, I think you're a little premature in expecting hard data returns at this point.

 

[MPH]

The casual film goer enjoyed the film for what it was, an action movie! Unfortunaly Trek has a 40 year old stigma attached to it making your average person still steering clear.

 

[Peter the Younger]

I don't want them looking closer. They might accidentally rent TFF, or watch "Spock's Brain" or something.

 

[perigee]

Movie Magic - "Star Trek XII: Sybok's Brain" The first Star Trek Zombie Movie. Part Aliens - Part 24 Days Later. Escaping from hungry Starfleet zombies, they whiz up the turboshaft on jet boots... "They're the things we carry with us, the things that make us who we are. If we lose them, we lose ourselves. I don't want my brain taken away! I need my brain!"

 

[Argus Skyhawk]

I would be interested in knowing whether Trekbbs.com has seen an increase in registrations of newbies. That might show whether the new movie is bringing in new fans.

 

[Islander]

I'm newbie here because of it. I was a hardcore trekkie long before but never though of going on a bbs about it. I actually wanted to read about what others were thinking about the new movie (canon & alternate reality crap) to be at ease with my own mind about it.

 

[Squiggy]

http://www.google.com/trends?q=Star+Trek&ctab=0&geo=all&date=all&sort=0

 

[Cdr MacDuff]

I wish this interest increase translate into a new Trek series.

 

[Mr. Adventure]

Is there a quantifiable increased interest in the present and future Star Trek franchise? Probably. In the past franchise, doubtful.

 

[Borgminister]

I wish this interest increase translate into a new Trek series.

Me too. And it will, just not for another 4-5 years, probably.

Again with the chart smackdown, squiggs?!?

 

[roguephoenix]

speaking from experience, i would say there is some truth to this. prior to this movie, i only had interest in next generation and some voyager. had 0 interest in oldtrek. however, upon the arrival of this new movie, i actually find myself mildly interested in kirk, spock, and the rest of the oldtrek characters. i never thought i would buy a 1701 enterprise, but here i am with the nuoldtrek enterprise. this won't be replacing my love of tng and ent d, but it's a nice little addition. so yes, it has added a new fan to the newly birthed franchise.

 

[Squiggy]

I wish this interest increase translate into a new Trek series.

Me too. And it will, just not for another 4-5 years, probably.

Again with the chart smackdown, squiggs?!?

It's all I got.

 

[Borgminister]

I wish this interest increase translate into a new Trek series.

Me too. And it will, just not for another 4-5 years, probably.

Again with the chart smackdown, squiggs?!?

It's all I got.

Damn you sir, damn you and your facts..!!