NEW “STAR TREK” TELEVISION SERIES COMING IN 2017!
The Next Chapter of the Legendary “Star Trek” TV Franchise Will Premiere on the
CBS Television Network, Then Move to CBS All Access Digital Subscription ServiceAlex Kurtzman, Co-Writer and Producer of the Blockbuster Films
“Star Trek” and “Star Trek Into Darkness,” to Executive ProduceCBS Studios International to Distribute the Series Globally
For Television and Multiple PlatformsSTUDIO CITY, CALIF. AND NEW YORK, N.Y. – Nov. 2, 2015 – CBS Television Studios announced today it will launch a totally new “Star Trek” television series in January 2017. The new series will blast off with a special preview broadcast on the CBS Television Network. The premiere episode and all subsequent first-run episodes will then be available exclusively in the United States on CBS All Access, the Network’s digital subscription video on demand and live streaming service.
The next chapter of the “Star Trek” franchise will also be distributed concurrently for television and multiple platforms around the world by CBS Studios International.
The new program will be the first original series developed specifically for U.S. audiences for CBS All Access, a cross-platform streaming service that brings viewers thousands of episodes from CBS’s current and past seasons on demand, plus the ability to stream their local CBS Television station live for $5.99 per month. CBS All Access already offers every episode of all previous “Star Trek” television series.
The brand-new “Star Trek” will introduce new characters seeking imaginative new worlds and new civilizations, while exploring the dramatic contemporary themes that have been a signature of the franchise since its inception in 1966.
Alex Kurtzman will serve as executive producer for the new “Star Trek” TV series. Kurtzman co-wrote and produced the blockbuster films “Star Trek” (2009) with Roberto Orci, and “Star Trek Into Darkness” (2013) with Orci and Damon Lindelof. Both films were produced and directed by J.J. Abrams.
The new series will be produced by CBS Television Studios in association with Kurtzman’s Secret Hideout. Kurtzman and Heather Kadin will serve as executive producers. Kurtzman is also an executive producer for the hit CBS television series SCORPION and LIMITLESS, along with Kadin and Orci, and for HAWAII FIVE-0 with Orci.
“Star Trek,” which will celebrate its 50th anniversary in 2016, is one of the most successful entertainment franchises of all time. The original “Star Trek” spawned a dozen feature films and five successful television series. Almost half a century later, the “Star Trek” television series are licensed on a variety of different platforms in more than 190 countries, and the franchise still generates more than a billion social media impressions every month.
Born from the mind of Gene Roddenberry, the original “Star Trek” series debuted on Sept. 8, 1966 and aired for three seasons – a short run that belied the influence it would have for generations. The series also broke new ground in storytelling and cultural mores, providing a progressive look at topics including race relations, global politics and the environment.
“There is no better time to give ‘Star Trek’ fans a new series than on the heels of the original show’s 50th anniversary celebration,” said David Stapf, President, CBS Television Studios. “Everyone here has great respect for this storied franchise, and we’re excited to launch its next television chapter in the creative mind and skilled hands of Alex Kurtzman, someone who knows this world and its audience intimately.”
“This new series will premiere to the national CBS audience, then boldly go where no first-run ‘Star Trek’ series has gone before – directly to its millions of fans through CBS All Access,” said Marc DeBevoise, Executive Vice President/General Manager – CBS Digital Media. “We’ve experienced terrific growth for CBS All Access, expanding the service across affiliates and devices in a very short time. We now have an incredible opportunity to accelerate this growth with the iconic ‘Star Trek,’ and its devoted and passionate fan base, as our first original series.”
“Every day, an episode of the ‘Star Trek’ franchise is seen in almost every country in the world,” said Armando Nuñez, President and CEO, CBS Global Distribution Group. “We can’t wait to introduce ‘Star Trek’s’ next voyage on television to its vast global fan base.”
CBS All Access offers its customers more than 7,500 episodes from the current television season, previous seasons and classic shows on demand nationwide, as well as the ability to stream local CBS stations live in more than 110 markets. Subscribers can use the service online and across devices via CBS.com, the CBS App for iOS, Android and Windows 10, as well as on connected devices such as Apple TV, Android TV, Chromecast, Roku players and Roku TV, with more connected devices to come.
The new television series is not related to the upcoming feature film “Star Trek Beyond,” which is scheduled to be distributed by Paramount Pictures in summer 2016.
CBS
HA! says
Wow CBS must be very hard up for programming.
rey says
They are making a huge mistake. If the series is any good, this obvious profit motive is motivated by greed. It will insult the fan base. How many episodes on the original and the next generation series were about greed. They have clearly missed the point. This act may cause the fans to walk away.
The Next Generation got a lot of bad press when was about to start and after it started. Many fans complained but quickly changed their minds and it when on for many seasons. CBS is hoping for the same result but it has already started to fail.
Shane says
Why do you think they have made a mistake ?? They are going to have a new series with new actors and new story arc and from all reports a new galaxy with no ties to other movies or series. So again i ask why is this a mistake ????
Hirsty says
Don’t think it’s good it’s completely separate from all other series. The whole point of Trek is it’s continuity and the history. A separate timeline can work in a movie but not a series.
TJ says
I agree with you completely Shane.
Ron says
It is a cup of coffee. i would pay $6 just for Star Trek, but I get the other 7500 shows each month with it. I like using my ROKU, and I cut my cable bill over $200 with it. Its a win-win. Live long and proper!
Helen says
I already watch the old episodes on Hulu, along with many other NEW shows. This new series is not for the fans, but for profit. How sad!
Jerry says
Every TV show, movie, film, etc… is made for profit. Do you think they spend all that money to make these things just to make the fans happy? Its up to the fans to trey to get the most out of what they watch, and if they TRY they will probably like it. Its the studios job to make as much money as they can so they can make more later. But there are some, like purists, who don’t want reboots or special editions or spin offs or whatever for some reason. These people tend to talk out of their azzes about things they know nothing of and start negative buzz before it even starts. Stupidity in the extreme IMO.
Beverly McPherson says
My husband and I have always been fans of all the Star Trek series. But we are currently paying for cable, Amazon Prime and Netflix, therefore we would sadly have to walk away from this one no matter how good it might be. Stupid move CBS.
Helen says
I totally agree!
Jerry says
I’m excited about this new Trek. I have enjoyed all the Trek TV shows and films. I watch everything online already because its so much cheaper than cable. NetFlix, Hulu and the network sites have pretty much everything covered for a fraction of the price of cable. So its possible, if there are enough others out there doing the same that this new Trek will do fine even though its not on cable. Here’s hoping.
S. W. Burgess says
Advertising revenue substitution is the motive.
If you, the mere consumer, want to avoid all the distractions and commercial interruptions, then you pay the tab for alternative access.
Still, I believe it is a cheap and pecuniary action on the part of the network anyway. People are paying for a variety of media outlets these days, and this is just one more added to the list.
But it does allow CBS to make as much as possible from the copyright and distribution side, which is the bottom line for them anyway..
Too bad they’ve forgotten: They are a television network, not a money generator for a 50 year old trademark franchise.
That’s why the premiere episode will be shown on network TV: get the Baby Boomers for one shot, and see how many are willing to pony-up for the rest. The younger fans have been paying for everything they watch since they were born — they don’t even know the difference, right?
Star Trek? Who cares? Capitalism takes the future, one way or another.
Norbert Henn says
Don’t like the fact that it is not on broadcast TV…but is still cheaper than cable. If it was on cable, would hope Amazon Prime would have access (eventually). If cable were only access, would have to stick to watching reruns of the older series. I think they came close to destroying the franchise with the movie reboot…not a fan. Might have different opinion if not a great fan of the original cast.