Star Trek: Discovery’s release is just around the corner. Will it give a huge boost to CBS All Access, and how will CBS keep all those new Trekkie subs once the show is done?



Chapter 1: Are you a Trekkie? (1:25)

I am a Trekkie, though I don’t do cosplay and head to the conventions. Will is not a Trekkie and isn’t eagerly awaiting Discovery’s delivery.

Chapter 2: Star Trek Discovery and CBS All Access (1:45)

Star Trek: Discovery, set 10 years before the original Star Trek will have its premiere on CBS broadcast channels countrywide on September 24th. The first two regular season episodes will be available to stream on CBS All Access immediately afterward. All subsequent episodes will be released each Sunday exclusively through All Access.

CBS All Access has about 1.5 million subscribers after 3 years of availability. I didn’t think that was a spectacular performance. Will disagrees, and says he thinks it’s done pretty well.

If the show is any good, I believe it will power All Access subscribers up to the numbers target set by CBS chairman Les Moonves for 2020. The challenge for CBS is stopping the Trekkies from bingeing on Star Trek and bolting from the service when it’s done. I’m not optimistic CBS is doing enough to hold on to very many of them.

Will isn’t as optimistic about Discovery’s impact on All Access subscribers.

Chapter 3: CBS All Access a risky strategy (11:30)

I think CBS’s online strategy is risky. It threatens existing distribution through pay TV and CBS affiliates.

Chapter 4: CBS affiliates and All Access (17:00)

I don’t think the affiliates get a very good deal in CBS All Access. Certainly, the live feed of many local affiliates is accessible from within the app. But I doubt many use it. When watching on-demand there is no identifier for the local affiliate, and also now way to access local affiliate content on-demand. Again, Will didn’t agree. He thinks the affiliates could well look on All Access as a very good deal.