When I first read this I thought it was a horrible joke.. but sadly it's not.. StarTrek.com is no more. You can read more here...
StarTrek.com Eliminated by CBS/Paramount
We were shocked to learn that CBS/Paramount has dropped the ball and will let their official Star Trek Website go by the wayside. Here is the official Press Release from StarTrek.com:
Goodbye from the STARTREK.COM Team. Sadly, we must report that CBS Interactive organization is being restructured, and the production team that brings you the STARTREK.COM site has been eliminated. Effective immediately.
We don't know the ultimate fate of this site, which has served millions of Star Trek fans for the last thirteen years.
If you have comments, please send them to editor @ startrek.com - we hope someone at CBS will read them.
Thank you for your loyal fandom over the years. It has been a pleasure to serve you.
What is it with corporate heads? Why don't they get it? Paramount, within just a year, will be releasing the biggest Trek film since "Star Trek: The Wrath of Khan" & "Star Trek: The Undiscovered Country" and they decide to eliminate their main source of online communication with fans across the world.
Well, stay tuned to Slice of SciFi as we will endeavor to continue keeping you up-to-date on all that is happening in the Star Trek universe. And, our fondest wishes for the staff at StarTrek.com, hopefully, they will soon find gainful employment elsewhere.
Wow, this is horrible. I know it costs money to maintain a website but they can't be hurting for money that badly!
With a new movie coming out?!
Didn't this get reported a year or two ago as well? I wouldn't worry too much - yet. I'm sure something will remain or they will relaunch a bigger and better site.
I suspect they're building a new site; maybe they're outsourcing it now to a company like 2advanced (an awesome flash design firm). With a new movie coming out, it's possible they want the aesthetics to match the look and feel of the new movie...
It would be to bad if it goes away. I agree with the movie coming out, they would want to keep some sort of presence online. The great thing about startrek.com is that it holds so much information about the entire Star Trek franchise, if it just because a site for the new movie with some trailers, and information on the new movie, I think that would be a let down.
Quote from: jedijeff on December 15, 2007, 06:43:57 AM
It would be to bad if it goes away. I agree with the movie coming out, they would want to keep some sort of presence online. The great thing about startrek.com is that it holds so much information about the entire Star Trek franchise, if it just because a site for the new movie with some trailers, and information on the new movie, I think that would be a let down.
I know, aside from just wanting an official Star Trek site to always be up... I obtain a lot of RPG resource material between startrek.com and alphamemory.com.
I am not sure I understand this at all. Yes, there is a development cost for keeping the site up and Yes, there is a cost for the bandwith but it makes no sense with a new movie coming out.
Once again, corporate must protect every dollar that its CEO gets. <.< ..................
On the bright side we could make Treksinscifi.com the main website for all information. :)
heh heh
Hey, its an idea.
King Linksr
I'm hoping like some of you have said.. they are re-launching the site.. bigger and better... guess we just have to wait and see.
I guess this shows what value Star Trek is to CBS. We better hope the new movie does well because otherwise it may be a long time before there is any Star Trek again.
Kevin
I have to hope that they plan on relaunching with a new, improved version of the site... maybe "Startrek.com-E." ;)
I like having an "official site" around; it attracts folks who are actually involved with the films, TV shows, and books. In fact, I've had the opportunity to interact with my second favorite Star Trek author on their message boards. ;D
Quote from: Ktrek on December 15, 2007, 03:33:13 PM
I guess this shows what value Star Trek is to CBS. We better hope the new movie does well because otherwise it may be a long time before there is any Star Trek again.
Kevin
Star Trek is VERY important to CBS. They wouldn't of bought the property a few years ago if it wasn't. They are remastering all the TOS episodes. Just released season one on HD-DVD. Have a movie in 2008, etc. There is more than meets the eye going on here. They have a plan. We just don't know what it is - yet.
Rico is correct. When "Enterprise" got canned, I think ST.com went down as well. And for sure, CBS totally understands the value of the Trek franchise and I would imagine we will see a new ST movie site shortly. They are clearly looking to create anew audience for Trek and need a new look and tone for the site. I'm sure it will peeve us old schoolers but it's the only way Trek can survive another 30 years. :vulcan
Quote from: Ktrek on December 15, 2007, 03:33:13 PM
I guess this shows what value Star Trek is to CBS. We better hope the new movie does well because otherwise it may be a long time before there is any Star Trek again.
Kevin
It was only three years ago, after Nemesis' failure and ENT's cancellation, that everyone was claiming Trek was dead. Now we're getting ready for another movie.
Trek is a big asset to CBS; it'll be a lot harder to kill than people think.
It looks like the site isn't going anywhere. New content is still being added, and the message boards are still active.
Quote from: StarTrek dot comKeep the conversation going on StarTrek.com boards
CBS Interactive, which oversees StarTrek.com, is reorganizing the way it does business to align the division's workforce with its new vision that focuses on building communities online.
CBS Interactive remains absolutely committed to StarTrek.com and to growing the site along with its users by directly tapping into and utilizing the passionate fan base that has supported the site.
It has been your support and contributions to the lore of Star Trek that are what make StarTrek.com a vibrant place to be. To that end, we encourage you to keep the conversation alive and flowing using our message boards.
StarTrek.com Cuts Jobs
CBS Interactive has eliminated the jobs of a half-dozen full-time and part-time production staff members who worked at StarTrek.com, which has been the official Star Trek Web site for the past 13 years. The site remains active.
On Dec. 14, a large banner on the site read "FAREWELL!" and a news story said that all jobs "had been eliminated. Effective immediately," and added, "We don't know the ultimate fate of this site."
But by Dec. 17, that had been replaced by the headline "Keep the mission going on StarTrek.com boards" and a CBS Interactive official statement said the site would remain operating.
"CBS Interactive, which oversees StarTrek.com, is reorganizing the way it does business to align the division's workforce with its new vision that focuses on building communities online," the statement said. "CBS Interactive remains absolutely committed to StarTrek.com and to growing the site along with its users by directly tapping into and utilizing the passionate fan base that has supported the site."
The cuts were apparently made as part of a cost-cutting and staff consolidation measure at CBS that resulted in approximately 20 people their losing jobs at CBS.com and CBSNews.com.
Marc Wade, former director of production for StarTrek.com, declined comment; calls to CBS spokesperson Dana McClintock were not returned at press time. --Ian Spelling
I guess it's possible that the staff of Startrek.com lost their jobs for being supportive and favorable of the writers strike. If so, that's too bad because they are not TV or movie writers and should not be penalized for what side they take but I suspect this has a lot to do with it. CBS sure wasn't very considerate of the holiday season being here either but at least the staff should be able to apply for unemployment until they find new work. As talented as they all are I doubt that will take very long.
Kevin
Quote from: Ktrek on December 18, 2007, 09:12:11 PM
I guess it's possible that the staff of Startrek.com lost their jobs for being supportive and favorable of the writers strike. If so, that's too bad because they are not TV or movie writers and should not be penalized for what side they take but I suspect this has a lot to do with it. CBS sure wasn't very considerate of the holiday season being here either but at least the staff should be able to apply for unemployment until they find new work. As talented as they all are I doubt that will take very long.
Kevin
Where in the world do you come up with that? Cost cutting at CBS can certainly be a result of the writers strike, but how can you suggest that their being fired was a result of their support for the writers strike?
I truly doubt that supporting the writer's was an issue at all. This has been planned for quite some time and CBS I'm sure has it well thought out. Again, it's a sad thing, but there are companies that have let go thousands of employees around where I live especially. And in that scheme, this is a very tiny drop in the bucket.
Quote from: Rico on December 19, 2007, 07:13:03 AM
I truly doubt that supporting the writer's was an issue at all. This has been planned for quite some time and CBS I'm sure has it well thought out. Again, it's a sad thing, but there are companies that have let go thousands of employees around where I live especially. And in that scheme, this is a very tiny drop in the bucket.
This just....sucks. I mean, cmon, firing the entire staff? A bit much if you ask me.
King Linksr