>>10486368By the mid 90's, cable was expanding. Channels were spinning off like crazy to justify increased cable fees. The number of channels ballooned into the hundreds and various channels and networks began making thier own content. Paramount had started DS9 as a Next Gen replacement using the syndication model. By the time Voyager came along, Paramount was ready to take a second run at creating their own network with the Star Trek show as its flagship. DS9 kind of got orphaned. It when from a six o'clock Saturday time slot to being stuck on late night just before the infomercials started on most independent stations to technically fulfill their syndication contracts. And when DS9 ended, Voyager was exclusive to PTN. Treck went from being on literally thousands of channels across the country on multiple independent or semi independent affiliates to being on one small network you might or might not get. So, little Johnny wasn't getting to see the Trek Crew doing their thing. Trek kind of faded from public consciousness. As to modern toys. The old Mego toys sold well, partly because the Original Series had bright colors and lots of physical action to go along with the more adult moral dilemmas. The Movie era never really got that many toys, even though they were kind of in the same era as Star Wars. There was some action, but not a lot, and colors were muted and somber, and not very toyetic. Next Gen returned to bright primary colors and action along with the moral dilemmas. DS9 went somber again and was shoved off into a timeslot Hell where most kids couldn't watch it. Voyager had more of the Next Gen asthetic, but it was on a tiny network a lot of people couldn't see. And Enterprise was dark and impossible to find for a lot of folks. So, of the new shows, which ones would make a decent toy line?
