New Star Trek TV series coming to Netflix almost everywhere in the world

The new Star Trek TV series will be available to watch via the streaming service Netflix in almost every country on the planet, and within 24 hours of the US release!

Netflix announced today they have secured international distribution rights to the series, which will through them will be available in 188 countries - Those not covered by the Netflix deal are the US and Canada, and the handful of countries Netflix is not available in for political reason (China, Syria, North Korea, and Crimea).

Here's how Netflix announced the news in a press release:

Netflix and CBS Studios International today announced a landmark international licensing agreement for the new “Star Trek” television series. Netflix will be the exclusive premiere home of “Star Trek” in 188 countries (excluding the US and Canada). Each episode of the new series will be available globally within 24 hours of its U.S. premiere.

Additionally, all 727 existing episodes of the iconic “Star Trek” television library – including “Star Trek: The Original Series,” “Star Trek: The Next Generation,” “Star Trek: Deep Space Nine,” “Star Trek: Voyager” and “Star Trek: Enterprise” will be available on Netflix around the world by the end of 2016.

The all-new “Star Trek” will begin production in Toronto in September for its January 2017 premiere. The iconic and influential global franchise will return to television for the first time since 2005 with a new ship, new characters and new missions, while embracing the same ideology and hope for the future that inspired a generation.

“The launch of the new ‘Star Trek’ will truly be a global television event,” said Armando Nuñez, President and CEO, CBS Studios International. “‘Star Trek’ is already a worldwide phenomenon and this international partnership will provide fans around the world, who have been craving a new series for more than a decade, the opportunity to see every episode virtually at the same time as viewers in the U.S. Thanks to our world-class partners at Netflix, the new ‘Star Trek’ will definitely be ‘hailing on all frequencies’ throughout the planet.”

“‘Star Trek’ is one of the most iconic shows in television history and we’re thrilled to partner with CBS to bring the beloved series to Trekkies around the world,” said Sean Carey, Vice President of Global Television at Netflix. “The newest chapter of the story promises to continue the rich tradition of adventure and is sure to excite fans everywhere Netflix is available.”

As previously announced, in the US the new show will be available exclusively thought CBS's own streaming service, CBS All Access, with just the first episode all aired on TV, on the CBS Television Network.

Also newly announced today is a seperate arrangement for Canada, which so far is the only territory where the series will air on TV as well as being available to stream, as StarTrek.com detailed:

The Bell Media rollout for the new Star Trek series in Canada will mirror the launch in the United States. The first episode will premiere on Canada’s most-watched broadcast network, CTV, on the same night as CBS. All remaining episodes will initially be televised on Bell Media’s cable networks, Space (in English) and Z (in French), and then later exclusively on CraveTV, Bell Media’s streaming video-on-demand service. The Star Trek television library will return to Space (in English) and debut on Cinépop (in French), and will also be found among CraveTV’s leading lineup of premium television series.

Outside the complicated arrangements in North America, I think this is fantastic news for the series, which will have a single accessible home around the globe, and be available promptly after the US release. With Netflix already a major player in the streaming world, it should also ensure a huge built in audience too!

The new Star Trek series is due to start in January next year. To keep track of all the latest details from the new show, visit my Star Trek (2017 TV series) Guide page.