Star Trek...Today - Episode 130

Star Trek...Today - Episode 130

Author: Bob Turner & Kelly Casto May 17, 2019 Duration: 28:38

Since 2009 there has been three new Star Trek movies, one new series with another four reportedly in development.

Yet enthusiasm for the franchise among die hard fans is low.  What's going on? We'll explore what is going on in Star Trek today in this episode.

What's Going on?

When it comes to connected TV and film universes, Star Trek was the first franchise to do it.  Not Marvel.

But that might not happen anymore.  And it all has to do with who owns Star Trek.  But trying to figure out which corporate entity owns the property can get a bit confusing.

And it's been that way from the beginning.

A lot of people think Gene Roddenberry and his production company Norway were the original owners.  They weren't.

The original owner was Desilu Studios and in 1968 Paramount Pictures, itself owned by Gulf + Western, purchased Desilu and Star Trek along with it.

In 1994, Viacom purchased Paramount for $9.75 Billion!  Star Trek was still controlled and operated by Paramount, the franchise essentially had a new owner.

This next fact seems unrelated, but it isn't.  In 2000, Viacom merged with CBS Corporation.

Interestingly, Viacom was created by  CBS back in 1952 as the network's syndication division. Then it was called CBS Films but was later renamed Viacom.

It was spun off into its own company in 1971.

Back to the year 2000, and Viacom was then owned by National Amusements.  The majority owner of that company was Sumner Redstone.

In 2005, Redstone decided to break Viacom apart into two companies, essentially undoing the 1999 merger. The entity known as Viacom became CBS Corporation. It owned all TV and radio divisions, along with Simon and Schuster publishing.

CBS would also own all of the television properties, including Star Trek.

The head of the new CBS Corporation was Les Moonves.

The second company created was a new version of Viacom.  It held Paramount studios, MTV and BET networks.

Viacom with Paramount, retains the Star Trek feature film library, and according to some, the rights to make new feature films.

But the exact terms of the rights, and who can do what are not clearly known.  And this is where things get a bit murky. But you needed this background to follow and understand what's happening today.

 


Dive into the fascinating decade when Star Trek lived on without a single new episode airing on television. Hosts Bob Turner and Kelly Casto guide 70s Trek: Star Trek in the 1970s through a detailed exploration of how a cancelled series refused to fade away. This podcast digs into the people who kept the flame burning-the original cast finding new voices in animation and convention halls, the writers and artists expanding the universe in novels and comics, and the passionate fans who created a blueprint for modern fandom. Each discussion connects the dots between the show's internal creative shifts and the wider cultural currents of the seventies that it both reflected and influenced. You'll hear about the specific efforts, from fan-led letter campaigns to Paramount's strategic decisions, that slowly built the momentum leading to a theatrical rebirth. It's a story of resilience and reinvention, examining not just what happened but how it felt to be part of that enduring phenomenon during those years. For anyone curious about the hidden history between the original series and "The Motion Picture," this podcast offers a rich, conversational deep dive into the community and commerce that made a comeback inevitable. Join Turner and Casto as they unpack the legacy of a show that was technically off the air, yet somehow more alive than ever.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 50

70s Trek: Star Trek in the 1970s
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