News WB/Paramount merger talks

[fireproof78]

That's how franchises work. There are always ups and downs. They just need to have something that makes as big of a splash as TOS, TNG, and the Abrams Films. All three of which, if you look at the pattern, happened a little over 20 years apart. 1966, 1987, 2009. Enough time to gain a new audience in sufficient enough numbers to replace any old audience that's lost.

Exactly so. The franchise goes up and down. But fans continue on, engage with the products, creating within it, having discussions, or debates.

To me, there is nothing substantial that will change if there is a change of ownership. Fans are built in, and seek to create that community despite any productions going.

I've been engaged with fans for 30 years now. I see more opportunities for engagement not less.

Mileage will vary.

 

[fireproof78]

This is the solipsism I was talking about. I’m glad you think your Trek fan cup is full and don’t need anything else. But your experience is not universal.

It does not tell me how fans are going to change. It's an assumption, to me a cynical one, that fans will stop participating because of ownership.

Sorry, but I saw fan engagement even after Nemesis and Enterprise ending. So, it's confusing at this point this assumption of negative results.

 

[El Maestro]

It does not tell me how fans are going to change. It's an assumption, to me a cynical one, that fans will stop participating because of ownership.

Sorry, but I saw fan engagement even after Nemesis and Enterprise ending. So, it's confusing at this point this assumption of negative results.

Again, the conclusion is based upon everything we’ve seen and heard in the industry for the last several years. And not just the industry, the wider economy. Everything touched by modern MBA-bro finance and/or private equity dies. There have been no exceptions. Hell, Boeing planes are falling apart at altitude. Trek will be no different. At least no one will die….

 

[fireproof78]

Again, the conclusion is based upon everything we’ve seen and heard in the industry for the last several years. And not just the industry, the wider economy. Everything touched by modern MBA-bro finance and/or private equity dies. There have been no exceptions. Hell, Boeing planes are falling apart at altitude. Trek will be no different. At least no one will die….

I disagree because of the nature of Star Trek as a franchise.

Fans will continue on even if no products are made. That's my observation.

 

[El Maestro]

I disagree because of the nature of Star Trek as a franchise.

Fans will continue on even if no products are made. That's my observation.

And without vitality and continued life in the franchise from a content production perspective the fanbase will at best stagnate, and at worst asymptotically approach 0. I do not wish this for us/Trek.

 

[fireproof78]

And without vitality and continued life in the franchise from a content production perspective the fanbase will at best stagnate, and at worst asymptotically approach 0. I do not wish this for us/Trek.

Strongly disagree.

 

[El Maestro]

Strongly disagree.

Based on what? Vibes? Look at the stargate fandom. It’s been out of production for about a decade and the fanbase is a shadow of what is used to be. So was Dr Who until the revival. I don’t know what makes Trek the exception.

 

[fireproof78]

Based on what? Vibes? Look at the stargate fandom. It’s been out of production for about a decade and the fanbase is a shadow of what is used to be. So was Dr Who until the revival. I don’t know what makes Trek the exception.

Based on experience with the fandom, engaging in RPGs, creating art, going to conventions, and posting here.

There's more to Trek than most franchises.

 

[El Maestro]

Based on experience with the fandom, engaging in RPGs, creating art, going to conventions, and posting here.

There's more to Trek than most franchises.

Believe me, I’d love to be wrong. I guess we’ll see

 

[fireproof78]

Believe me, I’d love to be wrong. I guess we’ll see

I belive it will be what we make it.

 

[UssGlenn]

we picked up a few new fans in 2009 who went on to watch the older shows, but by and large the last generation of new fans before that were watching Voyager in highschool. And we are 40 years old.

 

[Lord Garth]

Thank you for a thoughtful response instead of a drive-by curt response.

These are good points but I think the one difference now is that from TOS all the way to the end of ENT, the media industry was the same/similar model for all of that time. It definitely evolved, and there were big changes in how networks and syndication worked, etc., but everything was largely variations on the same theme. Things are very different now, so I’m not sure we can be confident that downs will lead to ups and pauses won’t be permanent.

I think the model hasn't changed as much as people believe. I think Streaming effectively functions the same way Syndication used to. TOS through ENT were "syndicated" on Netflix, until they moved to CBSAA/Paramount+. Which I wouldn't call "syndication" so much as I would call it "premium cable" due to not being as widely adopted. So all the series from DSC onward have been released on the equivalent of "premium cable" when they should be in "syndication". Netflix, Hulu, whatever. If Prodigy is any indication, I think they'll all end up on Netflix at the end of the day, but that's a whole other discussion. Anyway...

Eventually, all these competing streaming services will either consolidate or the competition will die out. All the pre-existing Star Trek series will end up somewhere. Then one day, after the third wave of Trek shows ends, someone will be like, "Why don't we make another one?" It'll be as simple as that.

As far as cinematic movies... I think things are changing from what they've been for the last 15-20 years. Whatever that ends up changing into, your guess is as good as mine.

 

[Daddy Todd]

Who was responsible for those Kenner toys flying off the shelves? It wasn't adult collectors.

in the last 30 or so years, it was adult collectors.

 

[Danja]

Based on what? Vibes? Look at the stargate fandom. It’s been out of production for about a decade and the fanbase is a shadow of what is used to be. So was Dr Who until the revival. I don’t know what makes Trek the exception.

Amazon is rebooting Stargate:

https://www.gateworld.net/news/2023/09/stargate-next-move-world-building/

https://www.space.com/stargate-robocop-reboot-series-amazon

 

[The Old Mixer]

in the last 30 or so years, it was adult collectors.

In the context of the conversation, I was clearly talking about the original line in the '70s.

 

[Lord Garth]

I've been engaged with fans for 30 years now. I see more opportunities for engagement not less.

Hmmm. Before Disco, I barely posted here after 2007. There was only so much I could talk about with the old shows and, as you've noted before, I tend to stay in my lane. Without Streaming Trek, people here would've been like, "Lord Garth? Oh, yeah! That moderator who used to post here in the early-2000s! I didn't agree with him, except when I did!"

You can only talk about the same shows so much. Although the regulars in the Old Trek forums would probably tell me otherwise.

 

[fireproof78]

Hmmm. Before Disco, I barely posted here after 2007. There was only so much I could talk about with the old shows and, as you've noted before, I tend to stay in my lane. Without Streaming Trek, people here would've been like, "Lord Garth? Oh, yeah! That moderator who used to post here in the early-2000s! I didn't agree with him, except when I did!"

Before coming here after Into Darkness, I posted on three other Trek forums, costumed with friends and attended some conventions.

Now, thsts not everyone's speed but I truly believe that if fans make an effort there is a lot of different ways to engage with Trek, even without a show in production.

Now, it might take a little more effort bur thsts why im optimistic now. Start planting seeds now, to be creative, to be engaged, and find those common fan outlets.

We have access to more technology to connect us fans thsn ever before yet the pessimism around options staggers my mind.

You can only talk about the same shows so much. Although the regulars in the Old Trek forums would probably tell me otherwise.

I have yet to reach that point and find value in rewatching, and hearing other people and their opinions.

But, I'm the odd duck who enjoys revisiting topics again and again.

 

[El Maestro]

Amazon is rebooting Stargate:

https://www.gateworld.net/news/2023/09/stargate-next-move-world-building/

https://www.space.com/stargate-robocop-reboot-series-amazon

These were announced a while ago…like more than a year or two….and it’s been in development hell since then and in the September Gateworld article there’s nothing to suggest there’s been any movement. Don’t get me wrong, I love SG and very much want a new show! There just doesn’t seem to be anything concrete happening with it.

 

[Jarvisimo]

Hmmm. Before Disco, I barely posted here after 2007. There was only so much I could talk about with the old shows and, as you've noted before, I tend to stay in my lane. Without Streaming Trek, people here would've been like, "Lord Garth? Oh, yeah! That moderator who used to post here in the early-2000s! I didn't agree with him, except when I did!"

You can only talk about the same shows so much. Although the regulars in the Old Trek forums would probably tell me otherwise.

A shame you weren't into treklit, as *that* forum was very alive throughout that period - and ironically less so since the TV shows' return.

 

[The Wormhole]

ironically less so since the TV shows' return

Probably because since Trek's return to TV, novel publishing has decreased dramatically. We've gone from a novel released each month a decade ago, to currently having three scheduled for the entire year. And that's an increase over the previous year's.