If Star Trek is going to HBO Max, what’s the point of Paramount+?

Star Trek is sending its films to HBO Max for a while, so why bother with Paramount+?

The whole point of streaming services is to provide entertainment for a monthly price. Most, if not all, streaming platforms are propped up by a tentpole franchise. Disney+ has a lot, being Marvel, and Star Wars, HBO Max has DC Comics, Peacock has the WWE, Amazon has free shipping and Apple+ is lucky we let it exist.

Give us more Ted Lasso and shut the hell up.

For Paramount+, it’s Star Trek. Sure, they have some other content, most notably the iCarly revival and Yellowstone, but that’s it. And to be fair, Yellowstone is losing its luster. So it’s mostly doubling, tripling, and quadrupling down on Star Trek.

Now, Star Trek is everywhere. All five of the first live-action series air back to back to back to back to back every Sunday through Friday on Heroes and Icons, while The Next Generation has a 24/7 streaming channel on Pluto TV. Both of those outlets are free, however. If you want the on-demand goodness that Trek has to offer, from past shows to the movies to the new content, you’d have to go to Paramount+.

Until now. Paramount+ is once again leasing out parts of the Star Trek catalog to a rival outfit in HBO Max. This has many, including myself wondering, what is the point of Paramount+ then?

Star Trek is the biggest reason to get Paramount+ for many

Paramount+ has no real reason to exist if it isn’t the exclusive home for Star Trek. It makes no real sense, beyond monetary, why Paramount+ would lease out their films. If you’re trying to cater to Trek fans and you’re trying to show them this is where it pays to be, then why give way a portion of what fans want?

The films. All of the original series and TNG films are now on HBO Max, with Star Trek: Beyond on AMC at the moment. Meaning Paramount+ only has Star Trek 2009 and Into Darkness for Trek fans to watch.

The problem is, despite all of Paramount+’s proclamations, it doesn’t offer much. If you’re an NFL fan or a lover of soccer, you’re covered. But that’s it. It would make more sense for them to keep the Trek films on its site while merging with its other site, Showtime.

Both are owned by ViacomCBS, and both provide separate catalogs. If any other streaming platform was going to carry Star Trek films, you’d think it’d be Showtime, not HBO Max.

If they’re not going to be the exclusive home for all things Star Trek, Paramount+ should start leasing out everything. Give a first-run show to Nickelodeon, or SyFy. Give a movie or two to Peacock. Break free from just Bad Robot and let other studios develop their own Trek.

If you’re not going to keep it all in-house, let other voices have a say in making a show or film.