Star Trek & Yellowstone: Solving Streaming & Network TV Challenges

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The popularity of Taylor Sheridan’s Yellowstone universe highlights a frustration many Star Trek fans have with the current state of the franchise. Paramount+ will soon only have two Star Trek shows remaining, as both Star Trek: Starfleet Academy and Star Trek: Strange New Worlds are set to conclude with their final seasons in 2027. This leaves the future of Star Trek on television uncertain.

Even though Star Trek has been a key part of Paramount Skydance for 60 years, Taylor Sheridan is now the biggest force in Paramount+’s television programming. While the original Yellowstone series finished airing on Paramount Network in 2025, Sheridan’s various shows are incredibly popular on Paramount+, with Landman being one of the most-watched programs on TV.

The world of Yellowstone is expanding with new shows building on the original story starring Kevin Costner. CBS’s Marshals has integrated the character Kayce Dutton (Luke Grimes) into its established police procedural format. And in May, The Dutton Ranch, focusing on Beth Dutton (Kelly Reilly) and Rip Wheeler (Cole Hauser), will debut on Paramount+ as a continuation of the Yellowstone narrative, effectively acting as season six.

Star Trek Can Solve A Big Problem By Following Yellowstone’s Spinoff Formula

This isn’t about reimagining Star Trek as a Western, though creator Gene Roddenberry did draw inspiration from the popular Western genre, famously describing Star Trek as a “wagon train to the stars.” Instead, Star Trek could learn from Yellowstone‘s success in creating diverse content for both streaming and traditional television.

For a long time, fans of Star Trek have complained about one thing regarding the shows on Paramount+: there just aren’t enough episodes per season. They miss the longer seasons – 26 episodes – that were common in the 1990s and early 2000s, when Star Trek was produced by Rick Berman and shown on traditional television through syndication and the UPN network.

A frequent complaint about the Star Trek shows on Paramount+ is that they don’t have enough episodes, but this also points to a bigger problem with how Star Trek is being made for streaming services. Many dedicated fans feel the newer shows prioritize visuals over strong storylines, and don’t measure up to the more thoughtful and plot-focused Star Trek series of the past.

The way Yellowstone uses both streaming and regular TV might be a solution for Star Trek‘s future. If Star Trek faces a slowdown after 2027, as some fans fear, perhaps it could come back with two different shows: one for streaming on Paramount+, and another made for traditional network television.

Paramount Skydance is considering a new direction for Star Trek, and that could mean changes for current executive producer Alex Kurtzman and his production company, Secret Hideout. After ten years with Kurtzman leading the franchise, Paramount Skydance might be looking for a fresh creative vision and a different approach to Star Trek stories.

Paramount owns the rights to popular shows and movies like Taylor Sheridan’s Yellowstone and the Star Trek franchise, as well as the CBS television network. Both Star Trek: Discovery and Yellowstone have previously aired on CBS. Now, with the success of Marshals – which had 13 episodes in its first season – CBS might consider a new Star Trek series with a longer run of 22 to 26 episodes. At the same time, Star Trek will continue to be available on Paramount+ with a 10-episode season.

Why Star Trek On Streaming & Network Is The Best Of Both Worlds

Having a Star Trek show on Paramount+ alongside another Star Trek series on CBS could really benefit the entire Star Trek franchise, similar to how Yellowstone‘s Marshals and The Dutton Ranch will work together as complementary shows.

As a longtime Trek fan, it feels like CBS is giving us something that really captures the spirit of the original series – those classic, self-contained episodes where the crew explores new worlds and solves problems of the week. But I love that the shows on Paramount+ are taking risks! They’re going for a more modern, cinematic feel with ongoing storylines and aren’t afraid to try completely new ways of telling a Star Trek story. It’s great to have both approaches – something familiar and comforting, and something bold and experimental.

Both shows would be part of the Star Trek universe. Viewers can pick their favorite, or enjoy both, allowing for different interpretations of what Star Trek should be. Similar to how characters from Marshals and The Dutton Ranch are expected to appear in each other’s shows, these two Star Trek series could also share storylines and characters.

Having a Star Trek series on CBS would make the show accessible to a wider audience, as it hasn’t been since Star Trek: Discovery began in 2017. A traditionally broadcast Star Trek series could attract new fans who can try out the latest adventures without a subscription. Paramount+ can still focus on producing higher-budget, more complex Star Trek shows.

Alex Kurtzman significantly expanded the world of Star Trek, bringing in storylines that unfolded over multiple episodes, humor, animated series, and more inclusive representation of LGBTQIA+ characters. He also revisited the traditional style of standalone episodes. However, all of his shows were limited to just 10 episodes each due to the requirements of Paramount+’s streaming service.

Offering various versions of Star Trek across both Paramount+ and CBS allows the franchise and its viewers to enjoy a wide range of content. This approach gives everyone the best of both worlds.

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2026-04-08 13:09