Why CBS is taking the wrong approach to nutrek.

[AviTrek]

Star Trek: The Search For More Money

I don't mind it so much being a steamed series, but at the very least they could put it into free syndication.

Alas, I think the 90s syndication market that nurtured TNG and XENA and the like is pretty much gone these days. The TV universe has changed too much and that business model has gone the way of the dinosaur.

Quick: name a new syndicated sf or fantasy or adventure program airing these days.

Qucik name one before 1987. OK Legend Of The Seeker was the last first run hour long genre series in syndiction. But there aere plenty of old shows in syndication on cable and if not free syndication put the show on a cable channel.

CBS thinks it can make more money selling subscriptions than selling the show to another network/syndication. Given the ratings the end of VOY and ENT got and reports that multiple streaming services asked about Star Trek, I think they're probably right.

 

[DWF]

Alas, I think the 90s syndication market that nurtured TNG and XENA and the like is pretty much gone these days. The TV universe has changed too much and that business model has gone the way of the dinosaur.

Quick: name a new syndicated sf or fantasy or adventure program airing these days.

Qucik name one before 1987. OK Legend Of The Seeker was the last first run hour long genre series in syndiction. But there aere plenty of old shows in syndication on cable and if not free syndication put the show on a cable channel.

CBS thinks it can make more money selling subscriptions than selling the show to another network/syndication. Given the ratings the end of VOY and ENT got and reports that multiple streaming services asked about Star Trek, I think they're probably right.

Maybe my post wasn't clear, there's reason why the series can't be syndicated on cable or free TV after it's been streamed. That is to say in addition to being streamed not in place of it.

 

[AviTrek]

Qucik name one before 1987. OK Legend Of The Seeker was the last first run hour long genre series in syndiction. But there aere plenty of old shows in syndication on cable and if not free syndication put the show on a cable channel.

CBS thinks it can make more money selling subscriptions than selling the show to another network/syndication. Given the ratings the end of VOY and ENT got and reports that multiple streaming services asked about Star Trek, I think they're probably right.

Maybe my post wasn't clear, there's reason why the series can't be syndicated on cable or free TV after it's been streamed. That is to say in addition to being streamed not in place of it.

Sure. And eventually CBS will probably sell the show into syndication. But they will want a very long window between CBSAA and syndication to prevent people from waiting. If I remember correctly, Stargate SG1 was in syndication a season or two behind what was airing on SyFy.

 

[fireproof78]

CBS thinks it can make more money selling subscriptions than selling the show to another network/syndication. Given the ratings the end of VOY and ENT got and reports that multiple streaming services asked about Star Trek, I think they're probably right.

Maybe my post wasn't clear, there's reason why the series can't be syndicated on cable or free TV after it's been streamed. That is to say in addition to being streamed not in place of it.

Sure. And eventually CBS will probably sell the show into syndication. But they will want a very long window between CBSAA and syndication to prevent people from waiting. If I remember correctly, Stargate SG1 was in syndication a season or two behind what was airing on SyFy.

Bear in mind that SG1 was showing on Showtime first, and SyFy bought the exclusive rights for syndication, and then continued the show when Showtime opted to not.

Something similar could happen, but that depends on All Access numbers, as viewing habits have changed.

 

[AviTrek]

Maybe my post wasn't clear, there's reason why the series can't be syndicated on cable or free TV after it's been streamed. That is to say in addition to being streamed not in place of it.

Sure. And eventually CBS will probably sell the show into syndication. But they will want a very long window between CBSAA and syndication to prevent people from waiting. If I remember correctly, Stargate SG1 was in syndication a season or two behind what was airing on SyFy.

Bear in mind that SG1 was showing on Showtime first, and SyFy bought the exclusive rights for syndication, and then continued the show when Showtime opted to not.

Something similar could happen, but that depends on All Access numbers, as viewing habits have changed.

I'm referring to after it was on SyFy and syndication was on local broadcast stations.