
Following its cancellation by NBC, Star Trek: The Original Series was virtually forgotten by Paramount. However, in syndication, it became the most watched scripted rerun for over a decade. When Paramount sought to challenge Star Wars with a space franchise, they returned to Star Trek, which spawned ten films and established the first modern “cinematic universe.” Additionally, it was a mainstay on television for an unparalleled 18-year stretch, including two shows that served as the cornerstone for the United Paramount Network. Before owning CBS, this was achieved. When launching their streaming service, Paramount+ (originally CBS All Access), Star Trek was again their primary choice. However, as the studio approached bankruptcy due to this investment and a string of box office failures, they looked for a buyer. It seemed logical that a company focused on producing high-quality films and TV would be interested. A recent report indicates that this assumption might have been misguided.