cbs
Latest
Production on 'Star Trek: Discovery' is finally underway
Thanks to delays at the network, CBS' latest addition to the small screen Star Trek canon obviously didn't make its scheduled release date of January 2017. But there's some good news from the network today: production has officially begun on the set of Star Trek: Discovery.
CBS and Paramount settle lawsuit with 'Star Trek' fan film
It's been a wild ride for the folks behind the Axanar Star Trek fan film, but it's finally over -- the fan production group has settled its lawsuit with CBS and Paramount. The terms of the agreement aren't completely clear, but both parties have announced that the deal will allow Axanar productions to finish and release its fan film for free as long as a certain number of undisclosed "substantial changes" are made. Even better? According to Ars Technica, the settlement doesn't require the fan group to pay damages, either.
'Star Trek: Discovery' faces an indefinite delay
If you were banking on watching Star Trek: Discovery in May... well, we hope you have some contingency plans. CBS has confirmed to Hollywood Reporter that it's once again delaying the streaming-focused show, this time for an indefinite stretch. Production on the series is all set to start in late January, but the team says it wants to be "flexible" on timing to ensure the production is a success. "It's more important to do this right than to do it fast," the company says, adding that the internet saves it from having to meet a fixed TV season deadline.
'The Martian' author to make NASA TV drama with CBS
It's been a while since we've had a fictional TV series based around the present-day exploits of the folks at NASA. That's all set to change with the news that CBS has commissioned a pilot for a drama about the next generation of astronauts, entitled Mission Control. The show will focus on the personal and professional exploits of a group of young, would-be space cowboys on a "critical mission with no margin for error." The show has been written and created by Andy Weir, who rose to fame as the author of hit sci-fi novel The Martian.
Watch the first trailer for the CBS All Access 'Good Wife' spinoff
While we're all eagerly awaiting Star Trek Discovery on CBS All Access, it won't be the first exclusive to hit the network's streaming service. That would be The Good Fight, a spinoff of the Emmy-winning The Good Wife. CBS announced today that the show will be premiering on All Access on February 19th at 8pm ET, and it'll also air on the broadcast network at the same time. After that, new episodes will be available on CBS All Access exclusively every week. We've also got our first look at the show with a new trailer, which looks a lot like the original series, except with far less expensive sets.
Hulu adds CBS to its live TV service (Updated)
CBS is America's most-watched network, but it's resisted letting its channels onto platforms it didn't control. That's about to change with the news that it's signed up to Hulu's forthcoming live TV streaming service. CBS, as well as CBS Sports and Pop will be available on the burgeoning product, set to launch "in the coming months." Subscribers will also be able to watch much of CBS's content on demand, including hits like Big Bang Theory, NCIS and 60 Minutes.
CBS All Access will stream NFL games starting this weekend
Starting Sunday, December 4th, CBS All Access subscribers will be able to stream weekend and Thursday night NFL action through the service. The network announced today that it agreed to terms with the league on a multi-year deal for live access via its $6 monthly option (or the pricier commercial-free tier). The slate of games not only includes the Sunday schedule, but Thursday night action that CBS broadcasts as well as preseason and postseason slates.
Google rumor hints at 'Unplugged' streaming TV service
Since rumors about Apple's TV attempts are in their ebb phase, now it's time for Google to take the stage. In a pattern that seems very familiar, sources tell the Wall Street Journal, Reuters and CNBC that Google has cut a deal with CBS to include its channels in a streaming "skinny bundle." The rumored service is apparently planned for launch in 2017 under the name "Unplugged." While Apple's long-rumored service has yet to appear, we have seen similar efforts appear in the form of Dish Network's Sling TV, PlayStation Vue, and the upcoming DirecTV Now.
Candy Crush is becoming a game show
Candy Crush, the once ubiquitous mobile game behemoth that's now played almost exclusively by my aunt, is getting its own game show. CBS announced on Tuesday that it is teaming up with King Games and Lionsgate to produce the hour-long series. Details on game mechanics are still sparse but the network did explain that 2-person teams will "use their wits and physical agility to compete on enormous, interactive game boards." The series will be executive produced by Matt Kunitz, the guy behind Fear Factor and Wipeout, however there's no word yet on who will host or when the series will premier.
CBS All Access starts streaming on your PS4
Relax, American PlayStation fans, you don't have to worry about missing out on Star Trek: Discovery when your Xbox One-toting friends start watching. CBS has rolled out All Access on the PS4, giving you a way to check out the network's shows in between rounds of Battlefield and Rez. As before, how much you pay depends on your tolerance for ads. Spend $6 per month and you'll get "reduced" commercials, while $10 per month lets you watch in uninterrupted bliss. Whichever way you go, this is a big step for All Access. The streaming TV service is now available on virtually every major device platform, so you don't have to be picky about where and how you watch.
How to watch tonight's US presidential debate
So you're determined to watch the first of 2016's US presidential debates, but you don't subscribe to TV... or you live in a country that won't have a live broadcast. What to do? Relax. This year, there are more choices than ever for watching online, and not just in the US. We've rounded up the main internet viewing sources for Clinton versus Trump, including the kind of commentary you'll get. Whichever option you choose, you'll probably want to keep our guide to the candidates on hand when things kick off at 9PM Eastern -- the odds are that the grand speeches and spirited arguments won't answer all your technology policy questions.
After Math: The final frontier
We saw some significant developments in the field of space exploration this week. Jeff Bezos unveiled his latest heavy lift rocket. The Gaia satellite has mapped its billionth Milky Way star. China launched another piece of its Heavenly Palace into orbit. And Galaxies just can't seem to stop exploding. Numbers, because how else are you going to accurately measure your insignificance against the infinite voids of space?
CBS delays streaming 'Star Trek' debut until May 2017
CBS said its new Star Trek series would debut in January, but since it's September and we still haven't even heard about the cast, that date seemed to be in doubt. Today CBS confirmed a delay, essentially swapping debut windows between Star Trek: Discovery and its upcoming spinoff of The Good Wife, which will both be available exclusively in the US on the streaming CBS All Access service (outside the US and Canada, it will be on Netflix).
Bloomberg: Amazon wants live sports streaming rights
Bloomberg believes that Amazon is considering buying the rights to a variety of live sporting events as a way of bringing more people into Prime. According to the site's anonymous sources, the firm has made discreet enquiries about picking up licenses for global sports including tennis, golf, soccer and car racing. The company is believed to have a beady eye on domestic sports like baseball and basketball, although knows that traditional broadcasters have that sewn up for the next few years.
CBS All Access commercial-free option costs $4 more a month
CBS announced that its All Access streaming service was making the leap to Xbox One last week and now the network has another subscription option. If you like to watch the likes of Madam Secretary, Blue Bloods and more without the interruptions of commercials, you can pay more to get rid of them. CBS now offers a $10 monthly subscription that will allow you to stream all of that on-demand content commercial-free. That's $4 a month more than the regular option that has been available since late 2014.
CBS All Access hits Xbox One
If you have been patiently waiting to try CBS All Access on your Xbox One, there's good news. CBS has announced that its streaming service is now available on Microsoft's console. It's perfect timing for Xbox fans, as the anticipated January, 2017 premier of the All Access-exclusive Star Trek series is only months away.
CBS and Showtime have two million internet-only subscribers
While CBS is busy licensing content to Netflix for display outside of the US and Canada, here its own streaming services are off to a good start. On today's earnings call, execs said CBS All Access and the streaming version of Showtime have combined to reach more than two million subscribers, with the number "about evenly split" between the two.
Apple Music signs up 'Carpool Karaoke' as a new show
On The Late Late Show with James Corden the "Carpool Karaoke" segment has seen visits from a number of celebrities, and now Apple wants in. It's signed an exclusive deal with CBS to produce a 16 episode series where celebrity guests ride along with the host (still TBA), visit "meaningful" places, sing songs and surprise fans. This is apparently the kind of thing Eddy Cue meant when he said Apple was only interested in developing content that could be complementary to Apple Music.
'Star Trek: Discovery' gets its first teaser at Comic-Con
At last, CBS is offering a glimpse of what its streaming-oriented Star Trek series will be like... if only just. The broadcaster used its San Diego Comic-Con panel to reveal that the show will be titled Star Trek: Discovery, and will revolve around the adventures of the crew of its namesake, the USS Discovery (no doubt inspired by the Space Shuttle of the same name). While the teaser trailer below shows only the starship in question, it's enough to confirm that the visual language of Star Trek will remain intact when Discovery premieres in January.
Netflix will air the new 'Star Trek' series outside the US
Netflix has announced that it'll be the exclusive home of the brand-new Star Trek TV series, and will broadcast the show globally next year. When it was announced, CBS revealed that only the first episode would air on TV, with the rest of the episodes exclusive to the network's own streaming service. But since CBS has no digital footprint outside the US, Netflix will bring the show to the rest of the world -- except for Canada. If you live in the great white north, you'll be able to get your Trek fix via Bell Media. It wasn't long ago that Netflix also won the rights to all six existing Star Trek shows, which will be available in 188 countries around the globe. Each episode will arrive on the service within 24 hours of its arrival in the US, mirroring the distribution strategy for other high-profile shows where spoilers are a constant threat.