MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY
It was always expected that free streaming for all Star Trek properties would eventually go exclusive to Paramount+. Star Trek is one of CBS/Paramount’s largest and most lucrative franchises. The streaming model is the way of the future; it is unsurprising that CBS/Paramount would want to lock in such a lucrative franchise into their own streaming service so that they can benefit from having sole streaming access to it.
Although this is an expected move, it is likely to be a highly controversial one. Many fans are still upset over the new fan movie roles that CBS/Paramount has put into place due to the Axanar lawsuit, a lawsuit CBS/Paramount filed because the makers of Axanar raised over one million dollars using intellectual property owned by CBS/Paramount. Many of those fans are upset that the newer shows are already exclusive to the Paramount+ streaming service, and some have called to boycott the streaming service and even to pirate the new Trek series rather than give CBS/Paramount any more money.
Fans can still purchase the series in both disc or streaming formats as an alternative to streaming. The Original Series was given a special Steelbook release earlier this year, and although CBS/Paramount has repeatedly said that the cost is prohibitive, fans are still hoping for a remastered BluRay release for both Deep Space Nine and Voyager.
Paramount+ also recently launched a 24/7 Star Trek live channel. The channel shows episodes of Star Trek: Discovery, Star Trek: Picard, Star Trek: The Next Generation, and Star Trek: Enterprise.
“Even in the era of on-demand, there is clearly a strong consumer appetite for reimagined linear channels that provide effortless, lean-back entertainment,” said Tom Ryan, President/Chief Executive Officer, ViacomCBS Streaming announcing the Star Trek channel and others. “Inspired and informed by the winning model Pluto TV pioneered and popularized, these highly curated channels underscore the power of our unified streaming organization and serve as a product differentiator in the SVOD space, by offering subscribers yet another way to experience and discover programming on Paramount+.”
