Why did Trek stay at 26 episodes for so long?

[asp7485]

All the TNG era series continually produced 26 episodes a season (excluding season one of DS9 and VOY) until the third season on Enterprise - when the number went down to 24 per season. That seems a very high number of episodes to complete, when most shows began cutting back to 22 in the mid-90's or so. It was great to have so many episodes each year, but it seemed we got a fair amount of duds in every season along with the really good shows. Having fewer episodes in the season may have resulted in fewer duds - which might have made a difference on Voyager and Enterprise (and probably DS9 as well).

It also seems having 26 episodes a year made for some odd scheduling. Although Voyager's and Enterprise's seasons usually ran within the normal TV season (September - May), the TNG or DS9 season began in September, but often ran until June or maybe even early July. Perhaps it wasn't an issue because TNG and DS9 were syndicated, but it does seem odd to run the seasons so long when most shows like to have their big season finale during May sweeps.

Perhaps the producers wanted to make sure they got a high number of episodes each year so they could count on a good syndication package? There was probably some financial motivation behind doing such a high number of shows each year. It must've been challenging on the cast and crew to do so many, when some the hit shows - like ER - were doing 22.

Any thoughts?

-Aaron

 

[T'Cal]

Just a couple of guesses:

Twenty-six makes sense to me in that it allows for a first time showing and a rerun in a 52-week year. Also, isn't the magic number for a series to go into syndication 100 episodes? Twenty-six pushes it over by only four if the show ran for that many seasons, allowing it to be sold into syndication.

 

[Elder Knight]

In the "golden age," tv shows shot 39 episodes and only planned 13 summer reruns, ie., a quarter of the schedule. When they went to 26, it was already a cutback.

Sounds ridiculous now, when some shows only have a new episode during total eclipses.

 

[erastus25]

Just a couple of guesses:

Twenty-six makes sense to me in that it allows for a first time showing and a rerun in a 52-week year. Also, isn't the magic number for a series to go into syndication 100 episodes? Twenty-six pushes it over by only four if the show ran for that many seasons, allowing it to be sold into syndication.

Both of those reasons make a lot of sense to me.

I'm wondering if TNG and DS9 also benefited from being syndicated and not network, allowing production of as many episodes as TPTB wanted. Maybe the producers hoped that by producing four extra episodes they would get better ratings and more money from selling larger seasons in to syndication?