To what extent did the business model of network television enable Star Trek: The Original Series to appeal to such a wide range of audiences? In ways did that same model constrain it?
Without the network television model Star Trek would never have been made as there wasn't an alternative to that model at that time. Because the original pilot was considered too cerebral the team behind Star Trek had to rethink how they told their stories and make it wider ranging in it's appeal. Star Trek was given a chance that I dont' think any other show ever got - to remake itself to be more appealing.
But network television is a double edged sword and likely to dump successful shows on what feels like a whim to the viewing public and this is what happened to Star Trek. It's sad to think that if demographics were looked at sooner than this show may well have continued - but if it had we possibly wouldn't have got the ongoing shows and movies that have flourished since the show went off air originally.
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