What's the optimal "Run-Time" & '# of eps'/season for future Star Trek Series in the Streaming Age?

[Kamen Rider Blade]

With Broadcast TV & Cable TV dying a slow but annoying death, what do you think is the optimal average "Run-Time" per episode & '# of eps" / season structure for future Star Trek shows IYO?

The world is moving to Streaming Media where "Run-Time" & "# of eps'/season is relatively arbitrary.

Also, are there things you want in Star Trek like Openers before the "Title Sequence" or Post Credit "Epilogue Bits"?

Please list the things you want in future Star Trek show structure.

 

[fireproof78]

15 Episodes.

Mid-season arc.

No epilogue bits.

Short cold opens.

 

[Relayer1]

I'd normally say more episodes the better, but modern shows with arcs seem to be susceptible to mid season slumps, so short ten episode seasons could keep it tighter.

I prefer longer episodes to the standard 43 minutes.

Teasers aren't going anywhere.

 

[Orac]

Sixty nine 69 minute episodes per season. With that kind of quantity they're bound to make a few above average episodes a year that might bear a second viewing. Also I'd personally like to see a return to the 5 act story structure. And can we get a season in this format with standalone stories, I don't have time for these tedious ten to fifteen part stories, if I have an hour free to watch telly I want a story with plot resolution. Know what I'm sayin?

 

[Kamen Rider Blade]

Sixty nine 69 minute episodes per season. With that kind of quantity they're bound to make a few above average episodes a year that might bear a second viewing. Also I'd personally like to see a return to the 5 act story structure. And can we get a season in this format with standalone stories, I don't have time for these tedious ten to fifteen part stories, if I have an hour free to watch telly I want a story with plot resolution. Know what I'm sayin?

You do know that there are 52 weeks in a year, so 69 eps per season would be a crazy filming schedule, especially with 69 minutes per episode, right?

 

[Tim Thomason]

You do know that there are 52 weeks in a year, so 69 eps per season would be a crazy filming schedule, especially with 69 minutes per episode, right?

We're heading that way:
* Discovery = 10 episodes
* Picard = 10 episodes (+10 = 20)
* Strange New Worlds = 10 episodes (+10 = 30)
* Section 31 = 10 episodes (+10 = 40)
* Lower Decks = 10 episodes (+10 = 50)
* Prodigy = 10 episodes (+10 = 60)
* Short Treks = 6 episodes (+6 = 66)
* Academy = 10 episodes (+10 = 76)

 

[Kamen Rider Blade]

For main line series, I would prefer 17 episodes per season at 60 mins for actual core content
Episodes should only start with Episode #, the Episode title should be saved for last scenes.

At least another 10 mins will be allocated to:
Previously Bit + Teaser + Op + Ed(Ep # & Title) + Epilogue + Next Ep PV

First & Last eps of each season can be 2 Hr specials.

You can cycle 3 different large live action mainline series in various states of production with my 17 episode production schedule

If you have to "Broadcast" the show on TV, it would fit under the 1½ hr time slot.

I would also prefer to also have 18x ~10min each "Short Treks" placed between episodes to shed light on other stories that aren't as pressing as primary story lines or give more to world building type stories.

 

[ialfan]

16+ episode seasons with episodes around 50 minutes sometimes longer depending on the story. Not into post-credit scenes. Some episodes can be standalone as long as the story is worth telling.

 

[JirinPanthosa]

I like 13. Gives you space to tell a varied story without the need for filler.

 

[BillJ]

Ten episodes, 25 to 28 minutes each.

 

[FederationHistorian]

Depends on the type of show.

Drama (ex. Discovery & Picard) should be 50 - 60 minutes, 10-15 episodes/season. It might be possible to squeeze out a 75-80 min episode once in a while, but only if it is supposed to be of significance to the story and doesn’t drag on. As long as some episodes don’t unnecessarily delete scenes due to time constraints, producers can decide the length of the episode.

Animation/Comedy (ex. Lower Decks) should be 25 minutes tops, 10-15 episodes/season. 24-25 episodes only work if its supposed to be a single season produced only.

Anthologies (ex. Short Treks) depends on the episode. Some episodes should last only 8 min, while others should last 30 min; it all depends on the story. This is probably the only one that can get the full 24-26 episodes/season still, since they are so short. I don’t know if its necessary to produce that many per season though. They should just be produced when they have a story ready, even if its for a recurring minor character; the less filler the better. It is okay if they are a mix of standalone episodes and storyarcs that are 4 episodes in lengths, and its okay if the anthologies are period specific for some anthology seasons (i.e early 22nd century, early 24th century, mid 30th century, etc).

I’d like the episode titles back for the drama series, even if they are placed in the opening credits. Its been completely odd watching Discovery and Picard with no episode titles.

 

[Kamen Rider Blade]

I prefer "Episode #" at the Start of the content &"Episode # + Title" at the end of the content to avoid spoiling the viewers.

Sometimes, Episode Title Names gives away too much about the story.

 

[ananta]

I actually like the shorter streaming seasons, it makes them much more tempting to rewatch. For instance, I often think Berman era Trek would have been so much better had the seasons been shorter and tighter. The thought of now going back and rewatching another meandering season of TNG is a sobering prospect because I know only half of the episodes will be particularly good, and the other half middling to bad, with invariably dull and pointless Troi, Geordi or Crusher episodes to sit through. From now on I might just pretend the seasons are half the length and simply select the best ones to watch.

 

[BillJ]

...and simply select the best ones to watch.

That is mostly what people have been doing for the last fifty-plus years. Welcome to the club.

 

[Kamen Rider Blade]

ST:TNG, STS9, ST:VOY generally had 26 ep seasons at ~45 mins each for main content.
There were a few exceptions in certain seasons, but most of them ended up with 26 episodes.

I think at 17 episodes while using the 1 hr of content per episode structure would help the writers focus a bit more on the core arc(s) of each season, have less pointless filler eps, and allow more depth on each episode.

I really like the "Short Treks" concept and want to expand that to help world building and allow what would normally be B/C plots in a traditional Berman Era Trek be plucked out and isolated into a small bite sized portion "Short Trek" and allow better World Building or Side Character development that would be a waste in the main episodes.

 

[Takeru]

10-12 episodes per season, 40-45 minutes per episode for dramatic shows and 20-25 minutes for cartoons/comedy, I'd be okay with the occasional longer episode if it's justified but I don't want longer episodes just because they can be longer.

I prefer the episodes to start with the title sequence, no teaser. The only point of a teaser is to hook the audience fast and stopping them from switching the channel after whatever came before, that's not an issue with streaming, when people hit play they've already decided to watch.

I really enjoyed the short treks and hope they continue that format too. It's perfect for more out there ideas or to revisit characters or places we've seen before but they don't fit into the current seasons anymore.

 

[maneth]

The episode length can be variable. Put the focus on the story rather than the number of minutes per episode.

For drama, I prefer longer episodes, 45 to 60 minutes per episode, with the occasional two-parter, if it's in the B5, TNG, DS9, etc. storytelling format with A, B and occasionally C stories, rather than the linear TOS format. There can be some exceptions to this, but for me it gets too intense to focus for an hour on one story. For linear stories with no switches, shorter episodes work better.

For shows that are intended for streaming only, no teasers or recaps are necessary, with the exception of two-parters. They're a waste of time that is better spent on the story itself. I love the way you can skip the recap on The Mandalorian.

 

[Tenacity]

You do know that there are 52 weeks in a year, so 69 eps per season would be a crazy filming schedule, especially with 69 minutes per episode, right?

soaps did five, one hour episodes, per week. month after month. nearly year round.

star trek needs to suck it up and put out.

seven year run, one thousand episodes.

 

[Farscape One]

The difference between soaps and STAR TREK are the effects and set redressing for worlds. 5 episodes a week IS ludicrous, despite how much I would LOVE that to be true.

I think what Berman era did was reasonable with 26 per year, per series.

Honestly, it's better than now. The same 9-10 month filming schedule creates only 13 or so episodes vs. 26 episodes back then. A big chunk of that is the insane level of post production. You don't need that level of effects to tell a good story.

I'd take a good bottle show over a heavy effects laden mediocre episode any day.

 

[fireproof78]

26 episodes is too much. It's more likely to push me away from a series now.