Poll How likely do you think it is that Prodigy will find a new home?

[StalwartUK]

Doesn't seem too likely to be honest.

Because Prodigy was originally made for Nickelodeon, unlike the others that were made for Paramount+ from the outset it always seemed a bit of a odd one out and I don't think they ever really knew how to market/sell it.

I think they already burned the bridges with Netflix after what happened with Discovery, maybe Amazon would be interested (I think they still have Lower Decks in some countries as well as Picard).

Best case Season 2 goes straight to DVD/Blu-ray, possibly as part of a complete series set. They may see it as a viable way to make their money back particularly if fans snap it up as the only way to get it and see it.

 

[James Cole]

Because Prodigy was originally made for Nickelodeon, unlike the others that were made for Paramount+ from the outset it always seemed a bit of a odd one out and I don't think they ever really knew how to market/sell it.

I think they already burned the bridges with Netflix after what happened with Discovery, maybe Amazon would be interested (I think they still have Lower Decks in some countries as well as Picard).

Odds will improve greatly if Paramount+ decides to let the earlier series be on multiple platforms... if someone gets secondary rights to say VGR, PRODIGY is an easier add on. And, in this case, season 2 is already complete so it wouldn't be a blind commitment.

 

[Wouter]

I think they already burned the bridges with Netflix after what happened with Discovery, maybe Amazon would be interested (I think they still have Lower Decks in some countries as well as Picard).

I don't think so. The Hagemans' have produced content for Netflix (Trollhunters), so they already have positive contacts there. Other ST series (the older ones, such as Voyager) are still available in international markers, like in Europe.

Odds will improve greatly if Paramount+ decides to let the earlier series be on multiple platforms... if someone gets secondary rights to say VGR, PRODIGY is an easier add on. And, in this case, season 2 is already complete so it wouldn't be a blind commitment.

Netflix does have international rights to Voyager, among other older series.

 

[Deks]

I am uncertain on this matter.
I'd love it to be picked up by Amazon for s2, but we'll have to see.

Scyfy network also cancelled The Expanse, remember?
And, after a bit of shopping around, that show was then picked up and renewed by Amazon (and received a bigger budget to boot to make extra seasons).

Also, ideally, if Prodigy does get picked up and does well, it could potentially be renewed for more seasons. Being cancelled by one network doesn't mean that the show cannot get renewed if another one picks it up.

In fairness, if Amazon considers doing that, a bigger budget may become available for the show for a prospective season 3, though Prodigy already looks pretty amazing as is, so, not sure if a bigger budget is absolutely necessary given its an animated series, but its possible if it expands in scope and popularity.

P.S. I wouldn't be too keen on Netflix picking it up because it has a track record of cancelling shows after a short run (and didn't it recently remove various Trek series from its streaming service?). Amazon I think would be a better home for Prodigy (as chances of it being renewed there for more seasons would increase - on Netflix, the show would probably only be streamed and S2 would become available yes, but unlikely it would get anything beyond that).

 

[Oddish]

Sometimes that's the difference, a show getting the time and opportunity it needs to find its audience. Back in the 80's, "Family Ties", "Cheers", and "St. Elsewhere" all struggled with low ratings initially, but they eventually became quite successful.

 

[ELCHawk]

I said likely. This is a Trek show and that will get viewers and subscribers.

 

[The Wormhole]

Best case Season 2 goes straight to DVD/Blu-ray, possibly as part of a complete series set.

IIRC, if Prodigy does not get picked up by anyone else, there can not legally be any merchandising, including DVDs and Blu-Rays otherwise Paramount's tax write-off becomes null and void.

Scyfy network also cancelled The Expanse, remember?
And, after a bit of shopping around, that show was then picked up and renewed by Amazon (and received a bigger budget to boot to make extra seasons).

That's not entirely accurate concerning The Expanse. When SyFy cancelled it, everyone was content to call it a day. There was no shopping it around, and indeed some of the sets were torn down and a deal was in place for Star Trek Discovery to acquire the Rocinante set. However, The Expanse was Jeff Bezos's favorite show and he bought the rights for Amazon to produce more seasons, which meant Disco could no longer acquire the Rocinante set, though the sets which were already torn down ended up staying that way. However the terms of the Amazon deal stated that Amazon was not allowed to make more seasons than SyFy did, which is why it had to end with season 6.

So unless Jeff Bezos is also a fan of Prodigy, don't expect Amazon to come swooping in to produce even more seasons of Prodigy like they did The Expanse. At most, we can probably on expect them to pick up season 2.

 

[Oddish]

So, Paramount has the capacity to keep us or anyone else from ever seeing S2 of Prodigy, just for a stupid tax write-off? That's just nuts.

 

[fireproof78]

That's business.

 

[Oddish]

Another reason for me to bid Paramount plus goodbye. I subscribed to it for Star Trek, and.. they're booting out Star Trek.

 

[tomalak301]

Another reason for me to bid Paramount plus goodbye. I subscribed to it for Star Trek, and.. they're booting out Star Trek.

I'm not going to bid it goodbye, but I'm going month to month from yearly. I have a feeling I won't need to pay for all 12 months of the year anymore, especially when there are only 2 series on currently after SNW and Discovery will be it's final season.

 

[Oddish]

One thing I also wonder is if they make the decision to keep S2 locked up forever, will someone go into the archives and steal it, then release bootleg copies? Given how many hardcore Trekkies there are, they could get a nice chunk of change for it. And even a person whose ethics are opposed to pirating data might find it eminently justifiable here.

 

[The Old Mixer]

All discussion of piracy stops NOW! I don't care if you condone it or not. Warnings will be handed out if it continues.

One thing I also wonder is if they make the decision to keep S2 locked up forever, will someone go into the archives and steal it, then release bootleg copies? Given how many hardcore Trekkies there are, they could get a nice chunk of change for it. And even a person whose ethics are opposed to pirating data might find it eminently justifiable here.

Warning for advocating piracy. Comments to PM.

 

[Wingcommanderdarkwolf01]

IIRC, if Prodigy does not get picked up by anyone else, there can not legally be any merchandising, including DVDs and Blu-Rays otherwise Paramount's tax write-off becomes null and void.

That's not entirely accurate concerning The Expanse. When SyFy cancelled it, everyone was content to call it a day. There was no shopping it around, and indeed some of the sets were torn down and a deal was in place for Star Trek Discovery to acquire the Rocinante set. However, The Expanse was Jeff Bezos's favorite show and he bought the rights for Amazon to produce more seasons, which meant Disco could no longer acquire the Rocinante set, though the sets which were already torn down ended up staying that way. However the terms of the Amazon deal stated that Amazon was not allowed to make more seasons than SyFy did, which is why it had to end with season 6.

So unless Jeff Bezos is also a fan of Prodigy, don't expect Amazon to come swooping in to produce even more seasons of Prodigy like they did The Expanse. At most, we can probably on expect them to pick up season 2.

Wait that's why the expanse ended?

 

[Wouter]

So, Paramount has the capacity to keep us or anyone else from ever seeing S2 of Prodigy, just for a stupid tax write-off? That's just nuts.

Certainly not those who have the S1A discs (Blu-ray or DVD). That's why physical media still has a unique selling point: P+, Apple, Microsoft, special interest groups and all that can't come into your house and take the discs away, unlike anything with Digital Rights Management (not counting the very mild form in Blu-Ray).

 

[Oddish]

So they can only take away 75% of the show instead of 100. How magnanimous of the pricks.

 

[Wouter]

So they can only take away 75% of the show instead of 100. How magnanimous of the pricks.

Probably more, considering there was supposed to be a season 3 (for the Hagemans, anyway) and maybe more. But still, they can't erase what you have physically, as long as it doesn't need an online key.

 

[StalwartUK]

IIRC, if Prodigy does not get picked up by anyone else, there can not legally be any merchandising, including DVDs and Blu-Rays otherwise Paramount's tax write-off becomes null and void.

The only real question then is why they're finishing up Season 2 and shopping it around instead of just burying it.

What a world we live in, where it's cheaper and easier for studios to purge shows instead of actually selling them.

 

[Wouter]

The only real question then is why they're finishing up Season 2 and shopping it around instead of just burying it.

What a world we live in, where it's cheaper and easier for studios to purge shows instead of actually selling them.

Probably because they still hope to be able to sell it for a price they consider worthwhile. The alternative is that they would have to pay for an early termination and that is more expensive that finishing production.

 

[Oddish]

Probably more, considering there was supposed to be a season 3 (for the Hagemans, anyway) and maybe more. But still, they can't erase what you have physically, as long as it doesn't need an online key.

If they had a third season written, even if it wasn't made, that just compounds the tragedy