Star Trek Strange New Worlds, Discovery and Lower Decks renewed for further seasons.

by Thinus Ferreira

ViacomCBS's video streaming service has renewed Star Trek: Discovery for a 5th season, renewed the upcoming Star Trek: Strange New Worlds for a second season before the series starts, and has renewed the animation series Star Trek: Lower Decks for a 4th season.

Debut dates were also announced, with the second season of Star Trek: Picard that will start on 3 March and with Star Trek: Strange New Worlds that will launch on 5 May. 

"Four years ago, we made a promise to grow Star Trek into something it had never been before, and thanks to the incredibly hard work done by our many talented showrunners, writers, and directors, along with the extraordinary support of CBS Studios and Paramount+, we're keeping our word," says Alex Kurtzman, executive producer of the current Star Trek franchise for CBS Studios, in a statement.

"Now our current shows are set up for the future as we work to build Trek’s next phase of programming for years to come."

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds will star Anson Mount as Capt. Pike, Ethan Peck as Spock, and Rebecca Romijn as Una Chin-Riley aboard the Enterprise prior to the events of the original Star Trek series. The series is distributed by ViacomCBS Global Distribution Group.

ViacomCBS unwraps its Paramount+ video streaming service: Here are the 44 biggest announcements from Frasier and HALO to Rugrats and Trevor Noah.

by Thinus Ferreira

As the last of Hollywood's big studio-distributors to launch a global video streaming service, ViacomCBS has taken the wrapping off its plans for Paramount+ but with no news of a launch date for South Africa.

Paramount+ will include a library catalogue of 30 000 hours of shows and 50 exclusive and original new series that will debut over the next two years - including a Frasier and Rugrats series revivals and HALO - with 36 of these that will launch in 2021.

In a virtual investors' presentation done from inside a studio on Los Angeles' iconic Paramount lot, adopting the same style and format that Disney for Disney+ and Discovery Inc. used for Discovery+ the past few months, ViacomCBS executives unveiled its new Paramount+  - and with it the glut of content it plans to place on it. 

"We know how to make hits. ViacomCBS has been and remains a consistent hitmaker, across genres, across demographics, across formats and across platforms," said Bob Bakish, ViacomCBS president and CEO.

As with HBO Max, Disney+ and Star, Discovery+, as well as peacock, ViacomCBS didn't announce or say anything about a rollout date or timeframe for South Africa - Africa's most developed TV market.

Paramount+ will launch in the United States, Canada and Latin America on 4 March, the Nordics on 25 March and in Australia later in 2021.

ViacomCBS executives did however say that the plan is to aggressively launch Paramount+ globally and wants to have between 65 and 75 million global subscribers by 2024. 

That makes it highly likely that Paramount+ will eventually be made available in South Africa where it could also foreseeably be included as a tile on MultiChoice's latest DStv Explora Ultra decoder that already carries Netflix SA and Amazon Prime Video.

Paramount+ will cost $9.99 (R149.28), but a cheaper ad-supported version costing $4.99 (R74.56) will launch later this year. 

ViacomCBS said that Paramount+ will cost considerably less outside of America - very likely in order to aggressively compete with Netflix and Disney+ as the two top global subscription video-on-demand (SVOD) services.

"We're leveraging the massive global reach of ViacomCBS to distribute Paramount+. We have a deep history of relationships with multichannel video programming distributors (MVPDs) and telco partners in every major market around the world," the company said.

Nicole Clemens, the head of Paramount Television Studios, said that ViacomCBS is harnessing "Paramount's incredible library to create shows that come with a built-in fanbase for Paramount+. While we have no shortage of source material, we're being very selective and strategic in choosing what IP is best positioned for modern streaming consumers".

From a Grease prequel to a fatal attraction

Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies will be a TV series with both classic and new songs and a diverse cast as serve as a prequel to Grease. It will tell the story of how Frenchy's older sister Jane founded the Pink Ladies.

The film Flashdance is becoming a new drama series and will pick up from where the story left off but will be set in the present day. 

The film Love Story is also becoming a series from Josh Schwartz and Stephanie Savage who were responsible for Gossip Girl and The O.C.

Fans of The Italian Job and The Parallax View can also look forward to series based on these iconic films. 

Fatal Attraction is also being turned into a TV series for Paramount+, described as "a deep-dive reimagining of the psychosexual thriller" that starred Glenn Close and Michael Douglas. 

An intriguing series is The Offer as a fictional series, but based on real-life, detailing the mafia-filled drama behind the making of the film The Godfather. 

The Star Trek universe is expanding with Strange New Worlds with Anson Mount as Enterprise Captain Pike, while the kids animation series, Star Trek: Prodigy has abruptly moved from Nickelodeon to Paramount+. There will also be a second season of Star Trek: Picard.

The crime procedural Criminal Minds is also revived as a TV drama series and bringing the gang back together with the same showrunner, same breaking down of the criminal psyche and catching the bad guy. "Instead of a new case each week, it will be a single, fascinating case-story told over 10 episodes each season," said Nicole Clemens.

The Real Criminal Minds will be a "true crime" documentary series where a real FBI profiler analyses real cases and real criminal behaviour, illustrated by clips that viewers will remember from the series.

Paramount+ will also do a follow-up to the miniseries Waco as part of an anthology series entitled American Tragedy. Each season of American Tragedy will tackle difficult and complicated conspiracy-riddled moments in history.

The dramedy Younger is also moving to Paramount+ for its 7th and final season.

Paramount+ will also have 6666 (working title) as a spinoff from the Yellowstone drama series that will basically tell the story of how cattle ranches started and grew in America. 

"Founded when Comanches still ruled West Texas, no ranch in America is more steeped in the history of the West than the 6666."

"The 6666 is where the rule of law and the laws of nature merge in a place where the most dangerous thing one does is the next thing. The 6666 is synonymous with the merciless endeavour to raise the finest horses and livestock in the world, and ultimately where world-class cowboys are born and made".

Yellowstone is also getting a prequel series, Y: 1883. It will follow the Dutton family as they embark on a journey "west through the Great Plains toward the last bastion of untamed America. It is a stark retelling of Western expansion, and an intense study of one family fleeing poverty to seek a better future in America’s promised land — Montana".

Mayor of Kingstown will follow the McLusky family in Kingstown "where the business of incarceration is the only thriving industry. Tackling themes of systemic racism, corruption and inequality, the series provides a stark look at their attempt to bring order and justice to a town that has neither".

Land Man, also set in West Texas is described as "a modern-day tale of fortune-seeking in the world of oil rigs. The series is an upstairs/downstairs story of roughnecks and wildcat billionaires fueling a boom so big, it’s reshaping our climate, our economy and our geopolitics".

"I'm listening"

"One of the most successful comedy series of all time - Frasier - is coming back," Nicole Clemens said, exclusively to Paramount+.

" The new series will have everything you love about the original: Coziness, great writing, and of course a cast led by multi-Emmy winner, Kelsey Grammer. It's nostalgic and contemporary all at once."

In a statement released at the same time, Kelsey Grammer said "having spent over 20 years of my creative life on the Paramount lot both producing shows and performing in several, I'd like to congratulate Paramount+ on its streaming world entry. I gleefully anticipate sharing the next chapter in the continuing journey of Frasier Crane".

Master Chief on the move

In an eye-popping announcement ViacomCBS also announced that its science-fiction drama series HALO based on the hugely-popular video game that would have been on Showtime is abruptly shifting to Paramount+ as an exclusive where it will launch in early-2022.

While HALO if it remained on Showtime would likely have been acquired by M-Net (DStv 101) similar to shows like Billions, it now seems as if HALO is getting locked out from international distribution similar to Disney+ shows.

HALO, filmed in Budapest where Netflix's The Witcher also shot, stars Pablo Schreiber in the role of the iconic Master Chief and Natascha McElhone playing both Dr Catherine Halsey, the creator of the Spartans soldiers, and Cortana, the most advanced AI in human history who could save the human race.

HALO is clearly Paramount+'s answer to Disney+'s The Mandalorian.

"The upcoming HALO series will weave intimate personal stories with incredible action and a lavishly imagined vision of the future," said David Nevins, Showtime Networks CEO. 

"HALO has been in production in Hungary and I can tell you it's visually stunning, totally thrilling; and significantly it offers true 4-quadrant general audience appeal. We all believe that HALO is going to be a defining show for our super-service. We see this as another example of us marshalling the finest resources of the company in service of Paramount+".

From Dexter to Ray Donovan

Paramount+ is also doing a The Man Who Fell to Earth series that will star Chiwetel Ejiofor based on the iconic science-fiction novel and film. "It tells the story of a man who arrives on Earth and reveals more about human nature than humans ever could," said Nicole Clemens.

Guilty Party is a dark comedy with Kate Beckinsale as a journalist who gets in over her head when she tries to salvage her career by investigating the story of a young woman in jail for murdering her husband. 

BET's The Game is revived with a mix of original cast and new players. It will offer an examination of black culture through the prism of American pro-football. 

The famous fixer Ray Donovan is returning, this time in a feature-length movie to wrap up the TV series, and possibly setting up a movie franchise. 

Michael C Hall also made a brief appearance during the investors' presentation with the series Dexter that is being revived as a limited series about the serial killer. The revived Dexter will however stay on Showtime.

Tyler Perry is producing All The Queen's Men for the BET+ streaming service - a new drama series revolving around the female owner of a strip club in Atlanta and her group of male strippers.

Trevor Noah working daily - and now weekly

South Africa's Trevor Noah hosting The Daily Show on Comedy Central (DStv 122) is expanding his workload and appeared at the investors' presentation to announce that he is doing The Weekly Show With Trevor Noah - an initial 6 episodes that will be available on Paramount+ and that he will also be producing.

In The Weekly Show with Trevor Noah he will talk to people "behind the headlines".

Amy Schumer is returning to her original sketch comedy series and will be doing 5 Inside Amy Schumer TV specials for Paramount+. The comedy series Reno: 911! is revived with Reno: 911! The Hunt for QAnon based on the original series.

The MTV animation characters Beavis & Butt-head are coming to Paramount+ in a new and as-yet-untitled feature film, as will a film based on the Comedy Central series Workaholics.

The Nirvana drummer and Foo Fighters frontman Dave Grohl is making a non-scripted series for Paramount+ based on his mother's book with the 6-episode programme that will tell the stories of the special relationship between successful musicians and their mothers. 

Paramount+ will also roll out several new MTV Unplugged specials and is also reviving its music documentary series, Behind the Music.

Crazy kids

Meanwhile the original voice cast of the kids animation series Rugrats is returning for a revival series on Paramount+.

"Rugrats is one of the most iconic cartoons recognized by fans around the globe, and this original version is one we are taking great care and pride in creating for a brand-new audience," said Ramsey Naito, president of Nickelodeon Animation. 

ViacomCBS is creating Avatar Studios that will be entirely dedicated to creating content based on the animation series Avatar: The Last Airbender and The Legend of Korra. with new series and films that will be created telling these stories further.

Get ready for a Dora the Explorer live-action series based on the iconic character and aimed at an older kids audience aged 6 to 11, as well as an iCarly revival series in which the original cast members Miranda Cosgrove, Nathan Kress and Jerry Trainor join new friends for a look at their characters' present-day lives, adventures and comedic mishaps.

Kamp Koral: SpongeBob’s Under Years is the first-ever SpongeBob SquarePants spinoff series with the new series that will take viewers back to when the iconic characters of Bikini Bottom met for the very first time in a summer camp like no other.

The Fairly OddParents is a live-action revival of the long-running Nickelodeon animation series.

Reality

RuPaul’s Drag Race is getting a singing competition spinoff at Paramount+ entitled Queen of the Universe in which drag queens from all around the world will compete to see who sings the best.

The Real World reality series is also being revived with the original cast and will now be entitled The Real World Homecoming: New York as a "multi-episode docuseries".

The reality series Road Rules is also being revived in which strangers are dropped in a far-flung location, have to live in motorhomes and complete challenges as they drive from location to location.

The Challenge: All Stars will see former contestants of the reality series Real World and Road Rules return to compete again.

The tattoo reality series Ink Master that was cancelled last year is also being revived and will now continue on Paramount+, with the reality dating series Dating Naked that was cancelled in 2017 that is also being brought back for new episodes for the streaming service.

'HIT IT.' Star Trek Strange New Worlds picked up as series with Anson Mount, Rebecca Romijn and Ethan Peck as Captain Pike, Number One and Spock.

by Thinus Ferreira

Yet another new Star Trek series has been ordered to a first season pick-up, this time Star Trek: Strange New Worlds with Anson Mount as Captain Pike, Rebecca Romijn as Number One and Ethan Peck as science officer all reprising their season 2 Star Trek: Discovery roles for the new spin-off.

ViacomCBS' video streaming service CBS All Access that will be rebranded within months, has ordered Star Trek: Strange New Worlds to series, set a decade before Captain Kirk commanded the USS Enterprise.

No starting date nor episode count has been announced for Star Trek: Strange New Worlds.

"Fans fell in love with Anson Mount, Rebecca Romijn and Ethan Peck's portrayals of these iconic characters when they were first introduced on Star Trek: Discovery last season," says Julie McNamara, executive vice president and head of programming at CBS All Access, in a statement announcing the new series.

"This new series will be a perfect complement to the franchise, bringing a whole new perspective and series of adventures to Star Trek."

Anson Mount in a video message says "We're going to get to work on a classic Star Trek show that deals with optimism and the future".



Star Trek: Strange New Worlds will be produced by CBS Television Studios, Secret Hideout and Roddenberry Entertainment and is the third live-action Star Trek series following Star Trek: Discovery on Netflix that will have a third season later this year and the recent Star Trek: Picard.on Amazon Prime Video that has been renewed for a second season.

An animation series, Lower Decks is being produced for Nickelodeon.

The series premiere of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds was written by Akiva Goldsman with the story by Akiva Goldsman, Alex Kurtzman and Jenny Lumet. All 3 of them will serve as executive producers, alongside Henry Alonso Myers, Heather Kadin, Rod Roddenberry and Trevor Roth.

"This is a dream come true, literally," says Akiva Goldsman. "I have imagined myself on the bridge of the Enterprise since the early 1970s."

Alex Kurtzman says "When we said we heard the fans' outpouring of love for Pike, Number One and Spock when they boarded Star Trek: Discovery last season, we meant it. These iconic characters have a deep history in Star Trek canon, yet so much of their stories have yet to be told."

"With Akiva and Henry at the helm, the Enterprise, its crew and its fans are in for an extraordinary journey to new frontiers in the Star Trek universe."

TV CRITIC's NOTEBOOK. 'Make it (no longer) so': The trend of further content fragmentation continues as the best TV shows from CBS Studios International will no longer all necessarily be on DStv and M-Net - and that's a bad thing.

"Make it so", is the iconic catchphrase that Captain Jean-Luc Picard would say in Star Trek: The Next Generation but when the upcoming new drama series starring Sir Patrick Stewart eventually makes a debut for South African viewers, it won't be on a "normal" TV channel like M-Net (DStv 101) on MultiChoice's pay-TV service but on Amazon Prime Video's streaming service.

Fair warning: This is going to be a very "inside baseball"-ery type of column about television, and really only of interest to South African TV executives and hardcore TV lovers who understand and want to understand the why of it, and what it really means in a broader sense for the future.

However, the distilled take-away from it is that Picard Star Trek TV series going to Amazon Prime Video instead of to M-Net (where I was 99% sure I would be) is a very bad omen - part of the start of trend of international distributors' best content no longer automatically going to, and being on MultiChoice's DStv or its range of M-Net packaged-and-run channels.

That is bad for the South African TV lover. Although competition is good, MultiChoice and M-Net were a bit of a "one-stop TV shop". Now, more and more, consumers will have to pay more if they want to continue to see everything, with multiple pay-TV subscriptions to not just services like DStv, but also multiple video streaming services.

Let's start. While the SABC almost two decades ago simply gave up on trying to compete and acquire a wide range of American TV shows with some premium titles mixed in, the South African public broadcaster was supplanted by e.tv as a free-to-air broadcaster and especially M-Net because they had bigger budgets and more money to spend.

It meant that the M-Net channel (and later its other M-Net channels) managed to pick up the bulk of (and the bulk of the best) shows, always having almost the entire range of available American TV shows.

These shows were and are distributed - all part of specific collections of series - by a handful of American studios through their international distribution divisions, for instance CBS Studios International. Think Dr Quinn Medicine Woman, Oprah, Judge Judy, Dr Phil, and JAG and NCIS and on which channels you've watched those shows over the years.

A lot of them were on the SABC, until one by one, drop after drop, they disappeared from the SABC and series popped up on e.tv and M-Net. Now a systemic migration is again taking place and this time putting M-Net in the worrying position that the SABC ended up in.


A broken model
Part of the fun and personal joy/game as a TV critic and journalist has been and continues to be to take highly-educated guesses - without having any background information - as to where new American TV series would land in terms of South African broadcasters and channels.

After a while - and knowing the distributors, their catalogues, and South African operators and channels - it's been possible to predict with a very high level of accuracy and over years where a remake of 90210 or Empire, Dynasty, Arrow, The OC or Desperate Housewives would land even before a broadcaster made an announcement or you saw a schedule.

No longer. That high-level of TV stormfront prediction - the predictive model - is broken. It still works but it doesn't work as well as it used to.

This is due to the addition and growth of multiple global video streaming services like Netflix and Amazon Prime Video now also competing for shows.

Meanwhile MultiChoice is making and allowing completely irrational and vampiric moves of content not based on any specific rhyme and reason when stealing shows from M-Net (DStv 101) for its Showmax streamer and weakening M-Net's offering.

Both of these new unpredictable elements within the model have dramatically diluted the predictability and guess-work of where what American shows would end up as first-run series.

Still with me? Well done!


A starship in TV's coal mine
Back to Star Trek. The newly-revived franchise did Star Trek: Discovery but that show was literally produced in conjunction with Netflix right from the beginning.

That means that while Star Trek: Discovery is on CBS's own streaming service CBS All Access in the United States, Netflix acquired the global rights, which is why Star Trek: Discovery is carried on Netflix South Africa.

After that CBS decided to to another live-action TV drama, the upcoming Picard Star Trek series, also produced by CBS Television Studios. This one however, CBS decided to distributed through CBS Studios International.

That immediately meant that the chance fell to very small that this series would also be on Netflix. It did however dramatically increased the chance that the new Picard Star Trek series would be on M-Net right?

After all, The Good Fight, produced by CBS, also for CBS All Access, and also distributed by CBS Studios International is on M-Net (DStv 101).

The same water, going into the same pipe, at the same front-end, should all come out at the same other end, right?

Predictive models and journalistic guesses use past behaviour and actions to extrapolate possible future outcomes. The most likely outcome to me was that the new series had an extremely high likelihood to end up on M-Net.

Over the past while I actually specifically asked M-Net about the Picard Star Trek series several times and to be kept up to date if there was an acquisition from CBS Studios International. I was ready and wanted to to break the news about it first.

But it was a wrong guess although from correct available information. On Monday I had to report that the show will be on Amazon Prime Video.

It's altogether worrying new trend data.

With the Picard Star Trek series going to Amazon Prime Video the danger signal it sends is that MultiChoice's DStv and M-Net (although it won't happen soon and won't happen suddenly) over the long-term, is running the risk of becoming the "new SABC".

If M-Net isn't extremely careful it could become the new second-tier content platform in exactly the same way that M-Net took over the mantle from the SABC - existing in a level above the SABC but its best stuff stripped and consumers opting to go straight to video streaming services for the most premium shows.

How many of the premium-level Game of Thrones type shows in future are going to be on M-Net? Will it be "Showmax first" that already looks as if its being positioned as "the new M-Net" with best shows now going there first?

For how many additional video streaming services will South African consumers and viewers have to pay as well just to see everything (of even just one franchise)?

That is why Star Trek is a good example of a starship in the TV coal mine of what's to come.

If you want to see Star Trek: Discovery you need to pay Netflix South Africa. If you want to see the Picard Star Trek series you will need Amazon Prime Video. If you want to see the new Star Trek animation series you will need to pay MultiChoice for DStv to get the Nickelodeon (DStv 305) channel that will carry that particular series.

It's too much - both literally in money terms, and figuratively in terms of consumer psychology and attention economy.

The poor consumer is going to have to pay an increasingly hefty price in subscribing to multiple content platforms, and then face the increased friction hurdle of trying to keep up with content discovery as they try to figure out what show is actually where.

That is something that even the journalists covering TV nowadays has a harder time trying to puzzle out than ever before.

New Jean-Luc Picard Star Trek TV series baldly going to Amazon Prime Video globally.

Amazon Prime Video has picked up the global rights for the new as-yet-untitled Star Trek Jean-Luc Picard series, with Star Trek: Discovery that will remain on Netflix outside of the United States.

It means that South African and African viewers will continue to watch the Star Trek: Discovery on the Netflix streaming service and which has been renewed for a third season, with the upcoming series with Sir Patrick Stewart reprising his iconic role that will become available on Amazon Prime Video.

CBS Studios International is the distributor of the Picard series and signed a contract with Amazon Prime Video to have the series, which doesn't have a starting date yet, on its streaming platform in 200 countries and territories outside of America.

Episodes of the Star Trek Jean-Luc Picard series will become available on Amazon Prime Video globally within 24 hours of its premiere in the United States.

The new series is set in the future, years after the last of the of Star Trek: The Next Generation films, and will revolve around the character questioning certain later life choices.

The series is being produced by CBS Television Studios together with Secret Hideout and Roddenberry Entertainment, with Alison Pill, Harry Treadaway, Isa Briones, Santiago Cabrera, Michelle Hurd and Evan Evagora who have already been cast.

The Picard Star Trek series is executive produced by Stewart, Alex Kurtzman, James Duff, Akiva Goldsman, Michael Chabon, Heather Kadin, Rod Roddenberry and Trevor Roth, with Aaron Baiers of Secret Hideout serving as co-executive producer.

Hanelle Culpepper will direct the first two episodes of the series which will make her the first woman to direct a pilot or debut episode of a Star Trek TV series in its 53-year history.

Brad Beale, Vice President, Worldwide Content Licensing for Amazon Prime Video, says "We’re thrilled to partner with CBS to bring the newest edition of the storied Star Trek franchise to our international Amazon Prime Video customers".

"With the incredible Sir Patrick Stewart returning as the beloved Jean-Luc Picard, we’re excited we can give Trek fans both old and new the opportunity to see him back in action. It’s a terrific addition to our already robust catalogue of exclusive Amazon Prime Video content."

Armando Nuñez, president and CEO of the CBS Global Distribution Group, says "For 50 years, the Star Trek series have been a global sensation, spanning generations and audiences of all ages. It’s an honour to welcome Sir Patrick Stewart back for what is sure to be another world-class extension of the historic franchise".

"We look forward to working with the team at Amazon Prime Video to bring this next chapter of the incredible Star Trek franchise to its passionate international fan base."

Alex Kurtzman says "There’s only one word that can begin to describe Sir Patrick Stewart as Starship Commander Jean-Luc Picard, and that’s ‘legendary’. We are thrilled beyond measure to have him back in command, bringing the optimistic messages of Star Trek to audiences around the world.


ALSO READ: TV CRITIC's NOTEBOOK. 'Make it (no longer) so': The trend of further content fragmentation continues as the best TV shows from CBS Studios International will no longer all necessarily be on DStv and M-Net - and that's a bad thing.

Santiago Cabrera and Michelle Hurd cast in upcoming new Star Trek Jean-Luc Picard series.

Santiago Cabrera and Michelle Hurd have been cast in the upcoming as-yet-untitled Star Trek Jean-Luc Picard series.

No specifics have been given about their characters and it's not yet known whether the series, like the existing Star Trek: Discovery will eventually be made available on Netflix worldwide and Netflix South Africa outside of the United States.

The new Star Trek series will be available exclusively on CBS All Access in the United States and will be distributed concurrently internationally by CBS Studios International.

The series is being produced by CBS Television Studios in association with Secret Hideout and Roddenberry Entertainment.

Santiago Cabrera and Michelle Hurd were both cast as series regulars alongside Patrick Stewart in the series that will explore the next chapter of Jean-Luc Picard.

Santiago Cabrera recently appeared for 2 seasons in the suspense thriller Salvation and was in HBO's Big Little Lies opposite Reese Witherspoon and Nicole Kidman seen on M-Net (DStv 101).

Michelle Hurd was the character of Shepherd in Blindspot on 1 Magic (DStv 103).

The new untitled Star Trek series features Patrick Stewart reprising his iconic role as Jean-Luc Picard, which he played for 7 seasons on Star Trek: Next Generation. The new series will follow this iconic character in the next chapter of his life.

Alex Kurtzman, James Duff, Akiva Goldsman, Patrick Stewart, Michael Chabon, Heather Kadin, Rod Roddenberry and Trevor Roth are executive producers and Aaron Baiers from Secret Hideout will serve as co-executive producer.

Viacom's Nickelodeon working on a deal with CBS Studios for an animation, youth-centred, Star Trek series.

Viacom's Nickelodeon (DStv 305) is working on a deal with CBS Studios for an animation, youth-centred Star Trek series.

CBS Television Studios' Star Trek: Discovery currently in its second season and rolling out new episodes weekly is available on Netflix South Africa.

Several other new Star Trek series are currently in pre-production, including an as-yet-untitled one revolving around Captain Picard with Patrick Stewart reprising his Star Trek: The Next Generation role; and Lower Decks as as animation comedy series for adults; and Section 31 that will involve the character of actress Michelle Yeoh.

The new possible animation series for Nickelodeon will be done by CBS Television Studios, Alex Kurtzman's Secret Hideout, and the writer-brothers Kevin and Dan Hageman.

CBS announces yet another new spin-off Star Trek series in development focusing on the adventures of Michelle Yeoh's Captain Georgiou joining Section 31.

CBS in the United States is working on yet another new Star Trek series, the latest a spin-off from Star Trek: Discovery that will focus on the exploits of Captain Philippa Georgiou, who was played by and will continue to be played by Michelle Yeoh.

The second season of Star Trek: Discovery will start on 17 January in the United States on the CBS All Acces streaming service, with episodes that will once again roll out weekly globally outside of America and Canada on Netflix.

The Michelle Yeoh spin-off will revolve around Philippa Georgiou's adventures after the events of Star Trek: Discovery's first season, that will see her become involved in Starfleet's nefarious and secretive Section 31 intelligence division, first introduced during the 1990's spin-off series, Star Trek: DS9.

The latest series will be produced by CBS Television Studios, Secret Hideout and Roddenberry Entertainment with Bo Yeon Kim and Erika Lippoldt as writers.

"Michelle has shattered ceilings, broken boundaries, and astonished us with her grace and gravitas for decades," says Alex Kurtzman, Star Trek executive producer in a statement.

"As a human, I adore her. As an actor, I revere her. Erika and Boey are remarkable, exciting writers who bring a fresh perspective to the world of Star Trek, and we're all thrilled to explore the next wild chapter in the life of Captain Philippa Georgiou."

"I'm so excited to continue telling these rich Star Trek stories," says Michelle Yeoh. "Being a part of this universe and this character specifically has been such a joy for me to play. I can't wait to see where it all goes – certainly, I believe it will go 'where no woman has ever gone before!'"

Besides Star Trek: Discovery entering its second season on Netflix, the new as-yet-untitled Michelle Yeoh Captain Geogiou series there is also an upcoming new as-yet-untitled series featuring the later life of Captain Jean-Luc Picard after the events of the last films of Star Trek: The Next Generation, with Patrick Stewart again playing the iconic role.

There is also a planned half-hour adult animated comedy series Star Trek: Below Decks in development.

Not available on Netflix South Africa are 5 Star Trek: Short Treks episodes serving as prequel vignettes to the second season of Star Trek: Discovery.

MAKE IT SO. Patrick Stewart returning to headline a new Star Trek TV drama series as Jean-Luc Picard that will be set 20 years after the end of Star Trek: The Next Generation.

Make it so: Patrick Stewart (78) is returning to headline a new Star Trek TV drama series as his iconic character of Jean-Luc Picard, that will be set 20 years after his last Star Trek film, Nemesis, in the Star Trek: The Next Generation universe.

The new and as yet unnamed Star Trek TV series will be produced by CBS Television Studios for the CBS All Access subscription video-on-demand (SVOD) service in America, meaning that the series will very likely also become available at its debut on Netflix South Africa, similar to how the new Star Trek: Discovery starting its second season in early-2019 is available on Netflix worldwide outside of the United States.

An episode order and debut date for the new Patrick Steward-led series that will "tell the story of the next chapter of Picard's life" has not been announced and no scripts have been written yet, but it's the latest in a growing number of new Star Trek television productions from CBS Television Studios.

In June CBS Television Studios expanded its Star Trek: Discovery franchise contract with the series' co-creator and executive producer Alex Kurtzman into a new 5-year deal that will include several possible miniseries, animation and spinoffs, and Alex Kurtzman at Comic-Con 2018 in San Diego in July revealed during a Star Trek: Discovery panel that the first miniseries will be entitled Star Trek: Short Treks.

The new Jean-Luc Picard centred series will not be one of these miniseries but a fully-fledged drama series, taking place in the universe of Star Trek: The Next Generation and the USS Enterprise that ran for 7 seasons and the 4 movies that followed afterwards. The series will be set 20 years after the last film in that universe, Nemesis.

"With overwhelming joy, it's a privilege to welcome Sir Patrick Stewart back to the Star Trek fold," says Alex Kurtzman in a statement.

"For over 20 years, fans have hoped for the return of Captain Jean-Luc Picard and that day is finally here. We can't wait to forge new ground, surprise people, and honour generations both new and old."

In a statement he released on social media, Patrick Stewart says "I will always be very proud to have been a part of Star Trek: The Next Generation, but when we wrapped that final movie in the spring of 2002, I truly felt my time with Star Trek had run its natural course".

"It is, therefore, an unexpected but delightful surprise to find myself excited and invigorated to be returning to Jean-Luc Picard and to explore new dimensions within him. Seeking out new life for him, when I thought that life was over."

"During these past years, it has been humbling to hear many stories about how The Next Generation brought people comfort, saw them through difficult periods in their lives or how the example of Jean-Luc inspired so many to follow in his footsteps, pursuing science, exploration and leadership."

"I feel I'm ready to return to him for the same reason – to research and experience what comforting and reforming light he might shine on these often very dark times. I look forward to working with our brilliant creative team as we endeavor to bring a fresh, unexpected and pertinent story to life once more."

It is an unexpected but delightful surprise to find myself excited and invigorated to be returning to Jean-Luc Picard and to explore new dimensions within him. Read my full statement in the photo. #StarTrek @cbsallaccess Photo: @shervinfoto pic.twitter.com/8Ynuj3RBNm

— Patrick Stewart (@SirPatStew) August 4, 2018

The new Star Trek series will be executive produced by Patrick Stewart, Alex Kurtzman, James Duff who recently joined Star Trek: Discovery as executive producer, as well as former Discovery executive producer Akiva Goldsman, Michael Chabon and Eugene "Rod" Roddenberry, son of Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry.


'Something very, very different with the same passion as before'
The announcement was made to coincide with the latest Las Vegas Star Trek Convention where Patrick Stewart made a surprise appearance after which applause erupted with a standing ovation.

Patrick Stewart revealed that when he was approached to return for a new series, and took a meeting, he knew that it was an offer to which he would sadly have to say no.

Afterward the meeting with producers, he said, "I have spent a lot of time recently watching Star Trek: The Next Generation. And gradually it became clearer and clearer to me, that the power of that show, the success of that show, the benefits that it gave - I have never grown tired of people who stop me in the street or in a restaurant, who say to me 'Your show changed my life".

"Jean-Luc Picard is back. However he may not be a captain anymore. He may not be the Jean-Luc that you recognise and know so well. It may be a very different individual - someone who has been changed by his experiences."

"20 years will have passed - which is more or less exactly the time between the very last movie, Nemesis, and today."

"We have no scripts as of yet. We're just talking, talking, talking storylines. It will be - I guarantee you, something very, very different. But it will come to you with the same passion and determination and the love of the material and love of our followers and fans - exactly as we had it before."

CBS Television Studios expanding the revived Star Trek TV franchise into mini-series, animation and possible spin-offs with new 5-year deal with Alex Kurtzman.

CBS Television Studios is expanding the revived Star Trek television franchise into mini-series, animation and possible spin-off series.

The revived Star Trek television franchise currently revolves around Star Trek: Discovery on CBS All Access and seen on Netflix around the world outside of the United States, like Netflix South Africa.

The current Star Trek: Discovery co-creator and executive producer Alex Kurtzman has signed a new 5-year deal with CBS Television Studios to develop the spin-off series and other content.

"There is a very short list of writer-producer-directors that every film and television studio wants to be associated with, and Alex and his Secret Hideout team are always at the top," says David Stapf, president of CBS Television Studios in a statement.

"His talent, taste and ability to shepherd a successful project is unparalleled. Alex has done remarkable work for our studio, dating back seven years to the launch of Hawaii Five-O, and we are thrilled that he will be partnering with us for a long time to come."

Alex Kurtzman says "CBS has allowed us the great pleasure of reintroducing the world of Star Trek audiences new and old, and we are very excited to keep working alongside them to expand that world."

Not only is Star Trek Discovery kinda trash, so apparently is the lazy international TV press who cover it.

I keep watching the 15-episode first season of Star Trek: Discovery on Netflix in South Africa (as well as probably the most revolting after show ever - After Trek with the incompetent Matt Mira), hoping, hoping, hoping that it will all get better.

Twelve episodes in, and (sadly) Star Trek: Discovery is still largely trash.

So apparently is the international press covering it.

In September 2017 I noted this American TV Guide article about an idiot journalist who, during a Star Trek: Discovery press junket pressed a button on the captain's chair during the on-set press tour in Toronto as part of a set visit - and the alarm it caused when it worked.

Now, besides the American press who were taken to Canada for a Star Trek: Discovery set visit by CBS, Netflix that has the international rights to the show beyond the United States, took international journalist covering television to the Star Trek: Discovery for a set visit as well.

Of course Netflix didn't want any journalists from Africa or South Africa, and Netflix didn't bother or wanted to include any press from Africa or South Africa as part of the international set visit.

Netflix did however take journalists from countries like France, Germany, Poland and several other places like Colombia for a guided Star Trek: Discovery set tour in late August 2017.

Now keep in mind that this is a set visit, so stories from these journalists who were flown to Toronto, Canada by Netflix and stayed at the Park Hyatt hotel should be about the Star Trek: Discovery set visit that took place 5 months ago.

Here at TVwithThinus central I read widely, and haven't seen a single story about the Star Trek: Discovery set visit by foreign press until one article popped up today!

(The interesting article is in French but you can use Google translate, or hopefully this already translated version.)

Where are the articles from the "journalists all over the world" and TV critics who went? The internet should be full of them. And more importantly, why on Earth run a set visit story 3 episodes before the end of a season like the journalist admits is happening?

It should have happened in December before the show started or during the early episodes of Star Trek: Discovery.

Where are the interviews with the cast that undoubtedly must have happened (since interviews with one, two or more cast members and producers are always included as part of the effort publicist make when putting together a press junket for media flying in)?

Besides Star Trek: Discovery just not living up to expectation, is Netflix also not living up to expectation and blatantly dissing South Africa and Africa's press. And how bad is the press who did get a great opportunity who ended up doing nothing or way too late? 

In some mirror universe of course, none of this happened. Yet, sadly, I'm stuck in the one where it did.

Now, can I interest you in some fear ganglia? Apparently it's a delicacy.

First trailer for troubled Star Trek Discovery has Vulcans, new-look Klingons and an alien bred to sense death 'and I sense it coming now'.

The first official trailer has been released for the production troubled Star Trek Discovery with the repeatedly delayed rebooted TV series coming later this year, that has seen its episode order bumped up from 13 to 15 episodes.

The science fiction drama series, filmed in Toronto, Canada and that has been besieged by delays and numerous production setbacks will start later this year - as yet with an undetermined starting date - and roll out with one episode per week on the streaming service CBS All Access in America, and on Netflix in the rest of the world.

On Wednesday during its annual upfront for advertisers, CBS screened the first official trailer for Star Trek Discovery, and announced that the show is adding a companion aftershow, Talking Trek, that will be broadcast concurrently to the latest iteration that will take place in the timeline a decade before the original Star Trek with Captain Kirk and Spock.

In the new Star Trek Discovery produced by CBS Television Studios, Commander Burnham (Sonequa Martin-Green) is the main character.

She is the first officer aboard the starship USS Discovery with Captain Lorca (Jason Isaacs).

Included in the new trailer are new blue uniforms, Vulcans, Klingons who have undergone yet another appearance change in their look, Michelle Yeoh as Captain Georgiou of the starship Shenzhou, and an alien shipmate whose race has been "bred to sense death" and that senses death "coming now".

Star Trek Discovery will be the first new TV series since Star Trek Enterprise was cancelled in 2005.

Production drama with impossible deadlines sees new Star Trek: Discovery launch inevitably postponed by months from January to May 2017.

It was inevitable and now the wholly unrealistic launch date of January 2017 of the latest new Star Trek: Discovery has finally been pushed out by months to May 2017.

After CBS and executive producer Bryan Fuller a few months ago announced mind-boggling production dates - saying that filming would start in September - this month - on Star Trek Discovery, it quickly became obvious that the unrealistic deadlines would never be met.

Without any proper Discovery ship designs - let alone actual ship and bridge sets construction (and up in Toronto, Canada where it would be filmed) - with no confirmed cast, with no female lead, with only 3 episodes' actual scripts, artistic issues like the shockingly bad new ship demo that producers suddenly said is not the final version and is being redesigned, and with no established editing and special effects departments, the insane Star Trek: Discovery announcements about when it would do what, started to feel like Hlaudi Motsoeneng's hot air SABC proclamations.

Also remember that Star Trek: Discovery isn't Bryan Fuller's only project - like Hlaudi Motsoeneng constantly darting off to Venda, Durban and Cape Town - Bryan Fuller is also furiously working on other shows like American Gods with divided attention.

With actual filming that had to start now in Toronto while basically very little else exists, CBS and the production company had no choice but to pull the plug on the already chaotic behind-the-scenes production madness to announce a postponement.

And chaotic behind the scenes at Star Trek: Discovery it surely is, although CBS is keeping a lid on what is really going on.

TV's business is also - very importantly - almost more than anything else it is a scheduling business (once again: Hlaudi Motsoeneng's SABC3's local content order is a flopsies because the forced scheduling caused a washout).

CBS plans and schedules better than the SABC. So when it sat down and planned Star Trek: Discovery to start shooting in September and then broadcast a first episode in early January, it did that, working on mapped out production schedules.

So clearly day-to-day deadlines and production deadlines went very wrong and now CBS and the TV show had to backtrack.

It's a big problem, since CBS wanted to use Star Trek: Discovery to launch and relaunch its CBS All Access video-on-demand (VOD) service in America, with Star Trek: Discovery that is being distributed in the rest of the world on Netflix.

Instead of starting in January 2017 as fakely and unrealistically promised, Star Trek: Discovery has now been pushed out by 5 months to May 2017.

Earlier this month, producers already started the process of tempering and trying to adjust down the expectations of the show - which means that they knew they would have a crap product given the production deadlines.

In fact, Star Trek: Discovery might still be - but hopefully won't - be bad, since the producers seemed to hint that the budget isn't as big to fully realise the vision of what Star Trek viewers expect the show to be.

It seems as if producers want Star Trek viewers to tone down their expectations and rather expect a Star Trek: Discovery that's close to the trash-bad Star Trek: Enterprise than the smoother high brow Star Trek: The Next Generation and Star Trek: DS9.

Star Trek: Discovery executive producers Alex Kurtzman and Bryan Fuller now say in a statement the show must be delayed by months to mid-2017 "to achieve a vision we can all be proud of".

"Bringing Star Trek back to television carries a responsibility and mission: to connect fans and newcomers alike to the series that has fed our imaginations since childhood."

"We aim to dream big and deliver, and that means making sure the demands of physical and post-production for a show that takes place entirely in space, and the need to meet an air date, don't result in compromised quality," they say in a statement.

The producers reveal that they misjudged what it would take to ramp up the production machine on the new iteration of the science fiction series that will have a 13 episode first season and suddenly got to a point where they realised it's not possible to film Star Trek: Discovery starting in September.

The actual filming of Star Trek: Discovery will now only start in November - two months later.

"Before heading into production, we evaluated these realities with our partners at CBS and they agreed: Star Trek deserves the very best, and these extra few months will help us achieve a vision we can all be proud of".

CBS TV Studios president David Stapf says in the same statement announcing the Star Trek: Discovery postponement: "They are building a new, very ambitious Star Trek world for television, and everyone involved supports their vision for the best timing to bring to life what we all love on the page".

Star Trek turns 50, with all the episodes from all the series now available on Netflix, as well as William Shatner's documentary, Chaos on the Bridge.

Gene Roddenberry's Star Trek turns 50 years old today, marking half a century of boldly beaming viewers up to a science fiction television and film odyssey that continues to show what a better future for mankind could look like.

Sadly there's no Star Trek special pop-up channel from MultiChoice and M-Net on DStv like last year's Star Wars channel.

Such a DStv channel from MultiChoice would have been wonderful, given that South African and African viewers haven't yet seen the recently remastered in high definition (HD) episodes of Star Trek, Star Trek: The Next Generation and Star Trek: Enterprise (that was filmed in HD but broadcast before the M-Net Series channel went HD) on TV.

A Star Trek pop-up channel in HD would have been able to fill two months worth of airtime, given all of the remastered in HD movies, and the multiple seasons and long episodes lists stretching from the original Star Trek's first episode "The Cage" to when Captain Janeway finally got her crew home at the end of Star Trek: Voyager.

Luckily there's Netflix, with all of the Star Trek series and their episodes - and in the new remastered HD where it exists - that's now available on Netflix South Africa.

Also included and available on Netflix for South Africa and Africa for the first time to watch is the recent documentary film by William Shater, Chaos on the Bridge, that's a definite must-see for any Star Trek fan.

The hour-long documentary from 2014 has William Shatner, who played Captain James T Kirk in the original series, as host and narrator, looking at the tumultuous behind-the-scenes drama during the start and first two seasons of the second series, Star Trek: The Next Generation as he interviews the cast, Paramount Studios executives, crew and writers.

Chaos on the Bridge reveals a lot of fascinating secrets about Star Trek and Star Trek: The Next Generation:

1.Denise Crosby who played Tasha Yar: "We didn't have a lot of perks. I used to go and steal food from the craft table of Cheers. It made you feel like the illegitimate bastard in the backlot."


2.Patrick Stewart who played Captain Jean-Luc Picard: "I thought there was a lack of concentration and focus on the set."


3.Patrick Stewart said the problem with Star Trek is there isn't enough "effing and effing" - "fighting and fornicating".


4.According to John Pike, president of Paramount Network Television Patrick Stewart almost left the show because he said he was "creatively unsatisfied". John Pike with a poker face set up a meeting in the cafeteria and lied, saying "just bear with us for a few more weeks, we've already set up the script to write your character out. One thing I don't want is my lead actor unhappy". Patrick stayed.

5.According to Maurice Hurley, co-executive producer, ego's kicked in, like cast members refusing to say certain lines. So he suggested that they fire them all, blow up the Enterprise in the story and start anew with a story of finding a new crew.


6.Michael Okuda, scenic art supervisor: "This is a low-budget television show and it had enormous expectations. Star Trek has always been a low-budget production. And has always had enormous expectations."


7.It would have been a one-hour pilot episode, but the studio wanted a 2-hour pilot episode. Gene Roddenberry didn't want to do a 2-hour episode. DC Fontana wrote the original script for "Encounter at Farpoint". Gene then added the character of Q, fleshed out that addition to the story, and then said it's his script, put his name on it and got residuals as writer for the episode.


8.Ronald D. Moore, writer: "If we had not shifted from plot to character in the third season, the show would have continued. But I don't think it would have broken through the way it did. It would have been that other series they did of Star Trek. There would not have been a DS9 or Voyager."


9.Rick Berman, producer: "Most science fiction that we experience today has a relatively dismal view of what the future is going to be like. Gene Roddenberry was obsessed with the idea that the future was going to be better."


The latest Star Trek series, Star Trek: Discovery will start in January on Netflix worldwide.

Netflix beams up CBS Studios International's new Star Trek series; grabs international licensing rights and will add entire Star Trek TV library by end of 2016.

Netflix is where South African viewers will have to watch the new Star Trek TV series from early 2017, with Netflix that has grabbed the exclusive international licensing rights for the new drama series.

While the expectation was that either M-Net or Naspers' subscription video-on-demand (SVOD) ShowMax would secure the 13-episode first season from CBS Studios International, its Netflix that grabbed the international rights.

While CBS All Access will show Star Trek in America, Netflix will be the home of Star Trek in 188 countries. Each episode of the new Star Trek - no cast or time period setting has yet been announced - will be available globally within 24 hours after an episode is shown in The United States.

Unlike most Netflix series where whole seasons and series are available for binge-watching, Star Trek will roll out a new episode weekly for online streaming.

Besides grabbing the new Star Trek, Netflix in a statement says that by the end of this year all 727 existing episodes of the iconic Star Trek television library - Star Trek: The Original Series, Star Trek: The Next Generation, Star Trek: Deep Space 9, Star Trek: Voyager and Star Trek: Enterprise will be available on Netflix around the world.

Both Star Trek: The Original Series and Star Trek: The Next Generation that were remastered into a new high definition (HD) version, as well as Star Trek: Enterprise will be available on Netflix in HD.

Filming on the new Star Trek with Alex Kurtzman and Bryan Fuller as co-executive producers will start in September in Toronto, Canada, with the first episode show in January 2017.

"The launch of the new Star Trek will truly be a global television event," says Armando Nuñez, president and CEO of CBS Studios International.

"Star Trek is already a worldwide phenomenon and this international partnership will provide fans around the world, who have been craving a new series for more than a decade, the opportunity to see every episode virtually at the same time as viewers in the United States."

"Thanks to our world-class partners at Netflix, the new Star Trek will definitely be 'hailing on all frequencies' throughout the planet."

"Star Trek is one of the most iconic shows in television history and we're thrilled to partner with CBS to bring the beloved series to Trekkies around the world," says Sean Carey, the vice president of Global Television at Netflix in the statement.

"The newest chapter of the story promises to continue the rich tradition of adventure and is sure to excite fans everywhere Netflix is available".

New Star Trek drama series to start filming in September in Toronto; episodes will be rolled out week by week; will M-Net or ShowMax grab it for South Africa?

The new Star Trek drama series that will start with one episode in late 2016 and then roll-out in early 2017 will not release the entire season's episodes in one go for binge-streaming but will release one episode per week.

With the SABC that's done with buying broadcasting licences of current international programming and further scaling back on the few older international titles it has, the onus basically falls on either M-Net or ShowMax to secure the new series that's sold internationally by CBS Studios International.

M-Net has a good and established relationship with CBS Studios International and is also broadcasting original streaming shows from Netflix and Amazon like House of Cards, Transparent and Mozart in the Jungle; Naspers' ShowMax meanwhile has also grabbed original programming like ITV's Jekyll & Hyde.

In America the as yet untitled Star Trek series with Bryan Fuller as co-creator and co-executive producer will be streamed on CBS' subscription video-on- demand (SVOD) service CBS All Access, but will be shown on normal television in the rest of the world.

In a conference call with journalists CBS on Tuesday revealed that the new Star Trek series will start filming in September in Toronto, Canada.

Episodes of Star Trek will also be released and become available on a weekly basis, instead of making the entire season available at once like the Netflix model.

"It will be episodic, week-by-week," said Les Moonves, CBS CEO.

Bryan Fuller named showrunner and co-creator of the new Star Trek TV series; will help with 'returning Star Trek to its roots'.

Bryan Fuller will be the co-creator and showrunner of the new Star Trek TV series that will start in January 2017.

The veteran writer and producer who used to used to write 22 episodes for Star Trek: Deep Space 9 and Star Trek: Voyager will serve as the executive producer alongside Alex Kurtzman.

"My very first experience of Star Trek is my oldest brother turning off all the lights in the house and flying his model of a D7 Class Klingon Battle Cruiser through the darkened halls," says Bryan Fuller in a statement.

"Before seeing a frame of the television series, the Star Trek universe lit my imagination on fire. It is without exaggeration a dream come true to be crafting a brand new iteration of Star Trek with fellow franchise alum Alex Kurtzman and boldly going where no Star Trek series has gone before".

"Bringing Star Trek back to television means returning it to its roots, and for years those roots flourished under Bryan's devoted care," says Alex Kurtzman about Bryan Fuller.

"His encyclopedic knowledge of Star Trek canon is surpassed only by his love for Gene Roddenberry's optimistic future, a vision that continues to guide us as we explore strange new worlds".

"For the past 50 years Star Trek has been a groundbreaking franchise that not only changed the landscape of television, but made a significant impact on pop culture," says David Stapf, president of CBS Television Studios.

"When we began discussions about the series returning to television, we immediately knew that Bryan Fuller would be the ideal person to work alongside Alex Kurtzman to create a fresh and authentic take on this classic and timeless series".

"Bryan is not only an extremely gifted writer, but a genuine fan of Star Trek. Having someone at the helm with his gravitas who also understands and appreciates the significance of the franchise and the worldwide fan base was essential to us".

The 50th anniversary of the Gene Roddenberry's science fiction series is coming in September this year and has seen several different series and movies over the past five decades.

CBS Television Studios will produce the new Star Trek series that will be streamed on CBS' subscription video-on- demand (SVOD) service CBS All Access, but it will be sold internationally concurrently by CBS Studios International.

That means that South African viewers will most likely see the new Star Trek iteration on M-Net or M-Net Edge (DStv 102) on MultiChoice's DStv, or on the Naspers' SVOD service, ShowMax,or Netflix early in 2017.

The new Star Trek TV series is however not related to the upcoming new Star Trek film, Star Trek Beyond, that will be distributed by Paramount Pictures and which is already being panned by fans.

With the 50th Star Trek anniversary, its also possible that one of the two planned pop-up channels from M-Net Movies for MultiChoice's DStv that's being worked on, could be a Star Trek channel showing all the films and the episodes of the various TV series.

Star Trek: The Next Generation for instance was remastered in high definition (HD) and its 7 seasons haven't yet been seen on television in South Africa in its restored glory.

Stream us up Scotty: Star Trek boldly going where its gone - and not gone before - back to television with a new TV series, done in a new way.

The iconic TV series Star Trek is boldly going where its both gone before and not: back to television where its been, but in a new way for a new series.

With the 50th anniversary of the Gene Roddenberry science fiction series happening in 2016 and which has seen several different series and movies over the past five decades, CBS Television Studios will produce a new Star Trek series that will start in January 2017.

In America the as yet untitled Star Trek series will be streamed on CBS' subscription video-on- demand (SVOD) service CBS All Access, but it will be sold internationally concurrently by CBS Studios International.

That means that South African viewers will most likely see the new Star Trek iteration on M-Net or M-Net Edge (DStv 102) on MultiChoice's DStv, or on the Naspers' SVOD service, ShowMax early in 2017.

"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, CBS Television Studios president in a statement.

"Everyone here has great respect for this storied franchise and we're excited to launch its next television chapter."

The new Star Trek will be set on a starship with "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," says CBS Television Studios in a statement.

CBS is emphasising that the new Star Trek series will not be linked to the current new Star Trek movie series released by Paramount Pictures with the third film in the latest reboot that will be in cinemas just over a month from now.

The setting of the new TV series has not yet been revealed and no casting for characters has taken place.

"Every day, an episode of the Star Trek franchise is seen in almost every country in the world," says Armando Nuñez, the president and CEO of CBS Global distribution. "We can't wait to introduce Star Trek's next voyage on television to its vast global fan base."

Alex Kurtzman will serve as executive producer who co-wrote the new Star Trek movies, Star Trek (2009) and Star Trek Into Darkness.

Some fans are concerned, since Alex Kurtzman is also the executive producer of the more mundane procedural TV dramas, Hawaii Five-0, Scorpion and the new Limitless and are wondering whether the setting, writing and dramatic story lines will be able to once again evolve the TV series franchise.

Another concern is whether the new starship Enterprise - or whatever the latest spaceship might be called - will fly on TV in a new television era.

Gene Roddenberry's optimistic science fiction show has always at heart envisioned a positive future of mankind; that despite setbacks there's hope for mankind and science to overcome war, poverty, conflict and differences while exploring the stars.

That's in stark contrast to the TV fare viewers seem to love most watching now.

The core vision of Star Trek stands in stark contrast to the nihilistic nomansland of the living dead permeating TV now.

Dominating television with a depressing depiction of the future and the past, viewers can't get enough of huge ratings hits in a present where apocalyptic shows ranging from The Walking Dead to Game of Thrones reign supreme.

The original Star Trek ran for three seasons from 1966. It was successfully revived with Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987 - 1994), the critically loved but darker in tone and more serialised Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (1993 - 1999), Star Trek: Voyager (1995 - 2001) which ran out of steam and the almost universally loathed Star Trek: Enterprise (2001 - 2005) which hugely damaged the franchise and meant the end of Trek on television.

A possible new Star Trek series has since been kept off television due to extremely intricate rights issues behind the scenes in a Paramount Viacom rights dispute, making it very difficult to revive it as a TV show.

After CBS split from Viacom in 2006, Star Trek's licensing and merchandising rights are split over two companies. CBS has the rights to make TV series, while Viacom through Paramount has the rights to the film series.

That means that when making different Star Treks, although its essentially the same "creation", they're actually competing against each other.


Some South African Star Trek TV facts:
■ The original Star Trek was shown on TV1. The show has been originally remastered and released in high definition (HD) on Blu-Ray. The brand-new HD version was quietly broadcast in 2014 on FOX. Neither DStv, nor StarSat nor FOX International Channels (FIC) told pay-TV subscribers about it.

■ Star Trek: The Next Generation's last 4 of its 7 seasons have never been seen on television in South Africa. SABC3 announced on television in the early 90's that the channel is falling too far behind, that the series, although about the future, is old and that the show has more Zulu than English viewers - as if that was a bad thing.

■ The former BopTV channel of the former Bophuthatswana showed the entire Star Trek: The Next Generation' with some South African viewers living close enough who could catch the terrestrial signal.

■ Star Trek: The Next Generation has since also been originally remastered and released in HD on Blu-Ray. The spectacular HD version has never been been broadcast in South Africa.

■ Star Trek: DS9 suffered the same fate. TV1 showed only the first two seasons after discarding the show set on a space station. The last 5 seasons were never shown, and the series has never been shown on any other TV channel or pay TV channel available in South Africa since. The series has not been remastered in HD.

■ Star Trek: Voyager which has not been remastered in HD, was shown on SABC3 - all 7 seasons.

■ All four seasons of Star Trek Enterprise was broadcast in standard definition on the discontinued channel M-Net Series. The show which spelled the end of the Star Trek series franchise in 2005 has never seen its episodes which were all filmed in HD, broadcast in HD in South Africa.
UPDATE: A reader correctly reminds me and points out that Star Trek: Enterprise got another airing: It was also broadcast in 2014 on FX on StarSat in SD.

■ Here's an idea to live long and prosper! Following the successful Star Wars pop-up channel from M-Net Movies a few months ago on MultiChoice DStv, a possible Star Trek channel in HD in 2016 to celebrate the 50th anniversary would be a great idea: Enough movies exist, all in HD.
There also enough Star Trek episodes across 5 series to surpass even the most robust Tribble population with hundreds of episodes that have never been broadcast in South Africa and that now exists in glorious HD.