Alex Kurtzman to bring Star Trek back to the small (and tiny) screens
by Doc on Nov.02, 2015, under Television
With Star Trek ready to celebrate its 50th year in 2016, CBS has finally pulled the trigger on a new Star Trek series. But it won’t be for a traditional TV network, or even syndication.
The untitled series will debut on the CBS broadcast network sometime in January 2017, that will only serve as a launching pad to CBS All Access, it’s recently launched streaming service.
Details of the show have not been released, but it is known that it will not feature the classic characters, who are still involved in the film franchise.
Alex Kurtzman, who has been shepherding the film franchise, will executive produce the new series for CBS Television Studios, with Heather Kadin from Kurtzman/Orci Paper Products, the shingle Kurtzman and long time producer partner Roberto Orci set up at CBS Studios. Orci is not expected to be involved.
According to David Stapf, CBS Television Studios President, “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. 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.”
Unfortunately this trend towards streaming services could leave the world of television fractured. Having to pay for streaming services piecemeal at $6-10 a pop is going to get complicated and confusing, and potentially more expensive than traditional cable.