When Do You Believe Star Trek Will Die (Again) ?

[Saleel Majeed]

The view that Star Trek is so incredibly successful being the driving force behind 5 concurrent television series is misplaced when one understands the demands on any streaming service attempting to gain market share. Paramount needs CONTENT. It would be odd if they didn't mine one of their most successful IPs for content to bulk out their service. They were always going in this direction.

But understand , these companies are running at a loss in order to hit long-term targets. That said , these companies aren't completely dim-witted ; if they lose in the streaming wars , they need marketable IP to off-load to recoup costs.

While Paramount+ subscription numbers have had an appreciable uptick , they still aren't in the ring with Netflix / Disney / Amazon. Paramount+ - nay - Paramount itself , might be on borrowed time. You only need to look at Viacom's languishing stock price to see investor confidence is not buoyant.

Unlike other larger , more successful franchises , Trek does not resonate in popular culture; Trek doesn't trend (not to anywhere near the degree Wars / Marvel and other franchises that tap public awareness do). Trek's fanbase is not expanding , with the new shows' bulk viewership comprised of the "will watch anything Trek" crowd.

What matters is that these shows look expensive and polished to prospective investors. It is all about product - and they need more of it.

So my question to you is: how much time do you give it? Are you a fan and want this to continue - hopeful there is plenty of track left for it to run? Or are you more cynical and see Paramount keeling over by mid-decade with Star Trek sold to the highest bidder?

 

[Colonel Kira's Left Tit]

While I cannot directly answer your question regarding the prospective time of death, I couldn't care less if it all ended tomorrow. It's entertainment, not a religion, though a lot of fandom seems to think of it as the latter. And that creeps me the fuck out.

 

[Eggs Mayonnaise]

My question is, will Paramount let it die before trying to suck some reboot life out of DS9 and VOY. DS9 continues to be the neglected stepchild of the franchise, even in this era of reboot fever. I'd like them to try to abuse those two corpses before throwing in the towel.

 

[CaptainWacky]

Probably never: Paramount don't have much else, they're going to keep pushing Trek. I don't have INSIDE INFORMATION on the streaming numbers but they keep ordering new Trek shows so they must be relatively happy. Maybe they'll make a Mission Impossible tv show some day and cut back on Trek. Hopefully Strange New Worlds runs for a long time and maybe gets extended episode orders once the lesser shows finish.

They seem determined to get another movie out too, even if they're really bad at actually signing the actors to contracts and making it happen.