What channel should a new Trek TV series be on?

[milatchi]

Wow, what horrible choices! I held my nose and clicked Skiffy but I didn't want to.

Showtime - The audience expects Showtime series to be less mass market than Trek should be.

Spike - Cmon, Trek is better than that.

Skiffy - Has destroyed its reputation so thoroughly that Trek would be tainted by association.

CBS - Of all the major nets, this audience is the least good fit for Trek.

CW - This one has demographic problems, like CBS, but instead of too old, CW's is too young and too female skewing.

Cable in general has the problem of too-small audiences. Trek has been boosted back up into big-ticket franchise status by Paramount; CBS shouldn't be allowed to come along and smush it back down into mere basic cable status.

It's possible that CBS could sell Trek to another network. Fox or NBC would be the most appropriate. If it must be on basic cable, I'd opt for AMC, which is making a name for itself with quality programming that isn't too premium-cable-artsy/high toned.

You just totally read my mind. I was thinking the same thing.
My vote would be Fox or AMC, but I don't think AMC would do it, even if they had the opportunity. They seem to be very selective and cautious when picking their original series shows.

 

[jefferiestubes8]

CW programming

2) As long as CW is only interested in attracting teen girls, the only Star Trek they will show is a Starfleet Academy show filled with teen angst.

As you said in the New Trek Series? thread:

Oh I'm sure the show would be Teen Emo Angst. But that is exactly what CW looks for. And since CBS owns 50% of CW, they may actually do it. Throw in Bad Robot having a TV production deal with Warner Brothers, and the former President of Bad Robot being in charge of drama development at CW and you have all the ducks in a row for a return to TV Trek.

Smallville is ending after this season, so maybe CW will want to replace 10 years of Emo Clark avoiding being Superman with 10 years of Emo Kirk avoiding being a captain. This might not be what any of us here want for Trek on TV, but I hate to say it, it's the most likely outcome.

This is something interesting now that you mention these facts. CW may be interested in having the under 24 age group of Men for a Trek TV series. I can't see it happening before September 2012 though...Well really would Paramount want it to happen before 2013 as if a Trek TV series turns out not so good it would hurt Blu-ray/DVD sales of Trek XII for Q4 2012.

 

[Dusty Ayres]

Trek TV has always explored the characters with extensive character development over the seasons with recently ENT going that way a lot for the first 2 seasons.
Star Trek XI just cannot be compared in the storytelling way to Trek on TV. Star Trek XI is an action movie! A series 6 Trek is a different animal.
My starting this thread brings up a number of things such as who the actual audiences are of these 5 TV channels. Us Trek fans obviously think the audience of Spike is not the Trek audience.

Not all Trek over the years has been equal, my friends who don't like Trek have pointed to "Enterprise" as an example of why they don't like Trek, and I think the criticism is fair and legit. Read some of the posts for bad "Enterprise" episodes reviews at The Agonizer and you'll see where even alot of Trekkers/Trekkies are coming from in their dislike for "Enterprise". Voyager also had some problems. Not all Trek has been character based their are a lot of preachy episodes, and tech based episodes, and the tech based ones were worse than the preaching, Technology makes for good short stories but boring Trek.

Sorry, but I'm not interested any anything the Agonizer or most people have to say about Enterprise, Voyager, DS9 or TNG-and if Star Trek has to be that, then the Star Trek franchise is just another program on TV, and would be boring for that reason.

Technology is what made Star Trek, Star Trek; if it weren't for the tech shown, or the glimpse of the future tech, most of what we have now might never have happened. Technology is part of the makeup of the franchise, and it's the reason many people have become scientists, doctors, and inventors! As for the preaching; BSG did a whole lot of the same, and most of it was heavy-handed as well, so if they can stand what was on that show....

 

[timelord1010]

In my opinion the only real way for Trek to go is Direct to DVD. Different ideas could be tried: continuing Enterprise with self contained stories, Titan stories, and DS9 / Voyager mixed crew stories and / or something entirely new and see which one works. Shows could be aired a few months later on a network, SyFy, or Showtime. This would make TV Trek a event with DVD's coming out every couple of months like what was planned for the Stargate DVD releases.
This would avoid the problem of a weekly series on TV negatively affecting the movie series with people saying why pay to see Trek in the movies when I can see it for free on tv.

 

[AviTrek]

In my opinion the only real way for Trek to go is Direct to DVD. Different ideas could be tried: continuing Enterprise with self contained stories, Titan stories, and DS9 / Voyager mixed crew stories and / or something entirely new and see which one works. Shows could be aired a few months later on a network, SyFy, or Showtime. This would make TV Trek a event with DVD's coming out every couple of months like what was planned for the Stargate DVD releases.
This would avoid the problem of a weekly series on TV negatively affecting the movie series with people saying why pay to see Trek in the movies when I can see it for free on tv.

If you think Showtime would touch a DTV with a 100 foot poll you really need to learn how the media business works. DTV is the bottom of the barrel. Franchises go there to ring out their last few cents while dieing. You mentioned Stargate, well look at the Stargate DTVs, SG1 was the only show to get them after 10 years, and even that has ended. Stargate is considered a low budget cable property, Paramount has just spent millions rebuilding the Star Trek brand. Why would they want to trash that brand now? Do you think JJ Abrams would make another minute of Star Trek after a DTV is made? And the DTVs would kill the movies ratings even more, the public will now say, "why pay for Star Trek, when it's that crap that goes right to DVD".

 

[jefferiestubes8]

3-D series

If cable is a possibility what about a deal with a specific satellite operator DirecTV?

DirecTV is starting up

a linear 3D channel dubbed "N3D."

That did say CBS.

Since CBS Television owns Star Trek series it is possible to premiere the next Trek TV series in 3-D HD.

Could Trek work on a 3-D channel similar to N3D that would be on DirecTV and also cable networks?

With last week's news that HBO is planning a 3-D channel I think we'll probably have the next Trek series in 3-D in 2015.

HBO is planning to launch a 3D on-demand channel early next year.

There has been no official announcement and no launch date has been set but an HBO spokesperson confirmed the plans when I explained that a source had provided me the information.

http://hollywoodinhidef.com/2010/09/hbo-going-3d-inception-next/
also http://www.crunchgear.com/2010/09/2...work-with-the-world-premiere-of-inception-3d/

You know 3-D original HBO programming will follow.

Since this will be a video-on-demand offering rather than a linear 24 hour programming 3-D channel it is essentially a download for a series. Could Trek end up on CBS owned Showtime or a CW 3-D channel after all?

I wasn't sure if this post would actually fit in this thread or this one:
provider for new Trek series as original series download


It is possible that some sort of 3-D tie-in could actually occur to help defray pilot production costs like:
next Trek series pilot in cinemas as double feature from Paramount?

 

[LtChange]

Showtime - This could be my prime choice. airing on Showtime would give something Trek could use: more liberty, sexuality, more realistic scenes, less censorship ... I really think Trek could use the showtime approach

Spike - Nope

Syfy - hummmm... maybe. I'm not sure. would be a fun combination, on the same night Star Trek and Stargate, or Star Trek and Caprica

CBS - I don't think it is a good idea

CW - it might be a good idea, because CW needs more male audience, Trek would bring that, and a Trek with some lower ratings would survive on this channel (a Trek series with the Enterprise cancellation numbers would have been considered successful here

 

[Admiral_Young]

Why does the Starfleet Academy idea get such a bad wrap from fans? I think that it could be done in a mature, entertaining way, focusing on relationships and the dynamic of a small group of cadets attempting to graduate and become officers in a variety of disciplines. It doesn't have to be EMO or 90210 crap at all. I think you just need a brave enough showrunner who's willing to tell traditional mature stories while in the context of a teen series. "Veronica Mars" is an example of this.

 

[AviTrek]

Why does the Starfleet Academy idea get such a bad wrap from fans? I think that it could be done in a mature, entertaining way, focusing on relationships and the dynamic of a small group of cadets attempting to graduate and become officers in a variety of disciplines. It doesn't have to be EMO or 90210 crap at all. I think you just need a brave enough showrunner who's willing to tell traditional mature stories while in the context of a teen series. "Veronica Mars" is an example of this.

I think the problem is fans hear young Kirk/Spock or even just Starfleet Academy + CW and think young Clark Kent on Smallville.

Also, a realistic portrayal of college kids is boring if you exclude emo angst. They go to classes, they do homework, and they worry about their bf/gf. You can't have a bunch of students save Earth/the Federation every week, and there are only so many episodes you can tell about the kobiyashi maru or another academy test.

 

[Temis the Vorta]

Also, a realistic portrayal of college kids is boring if you exclude emo angst. They go to classes, they do homework, and they worry about their bf/gf. You can't have a bunch of students save Earth/the Federation every week, and there are only so many episodes you can tell about the kobiyashi maru or another academy test.

Cadets on away missions to space could be the basis for a great show. Starfleet would keep freshmen and sophomores on planet, and then let the juniors and seniors get their feet wet in the Milky Way - right? So focus on the last two years of the Academy and the first few years in Starfleet. But the suspicion will always be that any show about people in their late teens/early 20s will be mindless junk.

 

[therealfoxbat]

Absolutely completely utterly NOT Fox...

Nobody here wants a new Trek series canceled after two episodes...

 

[AviTrek]

Absolutely completely utterly NOT Fox...

Nobody here wants a new Trek series canceled after two episodes...

You mean like Dollhouse that got 2 seasons when its ratings indicated it should have been canceled midway into the first? Or Sarah Connor which also got a gift second season its ratings didn't justify? Or how about Fringe which is going strong in its third season?

I wish people would stop bashing Fox for past mistakes. The management that canceled Firefly is gone. Fox may cancel sci fi shows, but they also try a lot more sci fi than any other network. Their cancellation rate is right in line with every network. Like it or not, most tv shows don't make it past a 1st season. Give Fox credit for at least consistently trying.

 

[Temis the Vorta]

Fox is chasing the right demo, at least. NBC and Fox have the most motivation to nurture a Star Trek series. ABC has less motivation, CW even less, CBS none at all. So of course CBS has to be the one that owns it.

 

[Quinton O'Connor]

You mean like Dollhouse that got 2 seasons when its ratings indicated it should have been canceled midway into the first? Or Sarah Connor which also got a gift second season its ratings didn't justify? Or how about Fringe which is going strong in its third season?

I wish people would stop bashing Fox for past mistakes. The management that canceled Firefly is gone. Fox may cancel sci fi shows, but they also try a lot more sci fi than any other network. Their cancellation rate is right in line with every network. Like it or not, most tv shows don't make it past a 1st season. Give Fox credit for at least consistently trying.

Quoted for truth. I'm not the biggest Fox fan in the world or anything, but it's ridiculous how eight years on, people still equate that network's routine with the time of Firefly despite obvious attempts to break the mold.

I'm not trying to go on some holy Fox crusade, but seriously.

 

[exalted one]

No channel. Make it syndicated.
Hell, make it syndicated *worldwide.* It's a new Trek, make it effin' EVENT!

 

[Quinton O'Connor]

Syndication is a dying breed. It's not quite dead, but it doesn't do much compared to what it used to.

 

[jefferiestubes8]

event level

It's a new Trek, make it effin' EVENT!

check out this idea exalted one:
next Trek series pilot in cinemas

 

[Dusty Ayres]

Why does the Starfleet Academy idea get such a bad wrap from fans? I think that it could be done in a mature, entertaining way, focusing on relationships and the dynamic of a small group of cadets attempting to graduate and become officers in a variety of disciplines. It doesn't have to be EMO or 90210 crap at all. I think you just need a brave enough showrunner who's willing to tell traditional mature stories while in the context of a teen series. "Veronica Mars" is an example of this.

I think the problem is fans hear young Kirk/Spock or even just Starfleet Academy + CW and think young Clark Kent on Smallville.

Also, a realistic portrayal of college kids is boring if you exclude emo angst. They go to classes, they do homework, and they worry about their bf/gf. You can't have a bunch of students save Earth/the Federation every week, and there are only so many episodes you can tell about the kobiyashi maru or another academy test.

Bullshit. Not all teens are angst-driven emo people; some are wiser than their years (like Wesley Crusher) and know their shit backwards and forwards. The trick to doing this is to tell stories about young Starfleet cadets that deal with whatever emotional problems they have in addition to being what they are as Starfleet cadets. The Starfleet Academy comic book by Marvel did this quite well; maybe a show can use it a s a guide.

Cadets on away missions to space could be the basis for a great show. Starfleet would keep freshmen and sophomores on planet, and then let the juniors and seniors get their feet wet in the Milky Way - right? So focus on the last two years of the Academy and the first few years in Starfleet. But the suspicion will always be that any show about people in their late teens/early 20s will be mindless junk.

I love your idea and I think that it will work.

 

[Quinton O'Connor]

I'm not trying to start anything, but I do find it funny that you pointed to Wesley Crusher as an example of anything. Personally, I'm not a 'Wesley hater', but it still elicited a chuckle.

Of course I recognize that your point stands, but still. See the humor in this.

 

[C.E. Evans]

Syndication is a dying breed. It's not quite dead, but it doesn't do much compared to what it used to.

Truthfully, though, syndication is doing exactly what it used to do--offer reruns of network shows to local stations. In that capacity, syndication is actually bigger now than it was 20 years ago because they're also selling shows to various cable networks in addition to local stations. It was first-run syndicated dramas (usually action or sci-fi/fantasy shows) were always more rare than common in syndication, IMO, and we've simply gone back to the way things were prior to TNG's debut with mostly reruns of dramatic shows.

If anything, the glut of so many network dramas and reality shows in syndication these days makes selling a first-run drama there very difficult. Although...it might be easier to sell a new Star Trek show there than some unknown show local programmers have never heard of before...