New Star Trek TV series coming in 2017 – and it’s a streaming exclusive
After the pilot airs on network TV, the rest will be available via CBS All Access
It’s happening: Star Trek is finally coming back to television for the first time since Star Trek Enterprise concluded in 2005. Only, like many classic series getting a fresh shot these days, it’s destined for a streaming platform.
And that platform is CBS All Access, the service based around the prominent United States television network’s offerings. All Access already has every single episode of all previous Star Trek series on its roster for US$5.99/month, and starting in January 2017, it will also exclusively play host to the brand new Star Trek show.
However, the show will begin with a traditional network debut: CBS says the first episode will air on its flagship network before the rest streams through All Access. There’s hope for international audiences, however, as the official announcement says it will “be distributed concurrently for television and multiple platforms around the world.” Which means it might hit another service in other countries, or simply air on a network.
Next summer’s Star Trek Beyond film – the third featuring the current cast and creative forces – will mark the series’ 50th anniversary, but CBS says the new series isn’t directly related to it. "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," reads the announcement.
Still, the show will share some creative talent with the recent movies: Alex Kurtzman, who co-wrote and produced the last two Star Trek movies (but dropped off the new one), will executive produce the show via his Secret Hideout studio. He also executive produces current CBS shows Scorpion, Limitless, and Hawaii Five-0.
"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," says David Stapf, president of 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."
[Source: Star Trek]
Read More › Star Trek Beyond hits cinemas in 2016
Andrew Hayward
Freelance Writer 
