Star Trek Should Boldly Go Back To Network TV

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For the first time in a long time, the future of Star Trek is uncertain. To regain its popularity, the iconic sci-fi series should consider returning to traditional network television. Since its 2017 debut with Star Trek: Discovery, the latest era of Star Trek has only been available on Paramount’s streaming platforms (originally CBS All Access, now Paramount+).

Streaming has made watching TV more convenient, but it also creates new problems. Paramount+ has tried many different approaches, but the Star Trek series doesn’t seem to be thriving in the streaming world. Things don’t look good right now, but there is a way to fix the issues facing the franchise.

How Network TV Could Save The Star Trek Franchise

While streaming was an interesting try, Star Trek truly thrives on traditional network television. For the first half-century of the show’s history, it aired on regular TV channels, and the way it was made was completely influenced by that format. Streaming provides more creative flexibility, but it also means losing some of what made Star Trek special.

Creating a show with high production quality is expensive, and it’s also risky to move away from a successful format. While Star Trek isn’t a typical police or hospital show, it fundamentally follows a procedural structure. The characters operate within a clear chain of command and use established methods to resolve issues each week.

Traditional network television shaped Star Trek by making it follow a case-of-the-week format, which helped bring science fiction to a wider audience. One advantage of this traditional approach is having many episodes and a regular broadcast schedule. If CBS were to create a new Star Trek series and air it on network TV, it would likely reach a much larger audience than if it were only available on a streaming service.

Unlike traditional TV, streaming encourages active engagement, which is especially helpful for shows with many seasons like Star Trek. Even during its most popular years, series like The Next Generation, Deep Space Nine, and Voyager included some weaker episodes. These weren’t necessarily bad for the show overall—they actually gave viewers more opportunities to watch and find the episodes they enjoyed.

While a predictable format might feel restrictive, it can also build a loyal audience. Viewers are more likely to keep watching if they know what to expect. Classic Star Trek series used a consistent formula, yet still managed to create outstanding episodes. Though streaming allows for more creative freedom, the recent Star Trek shows haven’t benefited from a lack of focus.

Star Trek Isn’t Just For The Die-Hard Fans

While dedicated fans love Star Trek, the show’s success isn’t based on them alone. Like any popular series, it also needs to attract more casual viewers to boost ratings. When Star Trek was on network television, millions watched each week, and most of them weren’t the intensely devoted fans you’d find at conventions.

The recent push to broaden Star Trek‘s appeal through streaming actually backfired, largely because of the streaming model itself. Putting the newer Star Trek shows on Paramount+ meant only existing fans were likely to subscribe. It’s hard to convince new viewers to pay a monthly fee for a show they might not even enjoy.

As a longtime Star Trek fan, I’ve noticed something. While shows like Discovery and Strange New Worlds are great, they don’t quite grab you the way the older series did – you weren’t likely to accidentally land on a compelling episode while flipping channels. I think a big part of that is how we watch TV now is so different from back in the ’90s. But honestly, I believe Star Trek could really thrive again if it went back to being on a major network. It feels like the franchise is trying to please only the most dedicated fans these days, when it should be aiming to reach a much broader audience.

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2026-03-29 02:01