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 |  | New TV Frontiers Ahead for Science Fiction
By Jo-Ann Parks
special to space.com
posted: 03:58 pm ET
07 January 2000
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Television science fiction exploded in the 1990s, which began with a few obscure shows on the air and ended with a host of solid programs spread out over networks, cable, and syndication
Television science fiction exploded in the 1990s, which began with a few obscure shows on the air and ended with a host of solid programs spread out over networks, cable, and syndication. It was an amazing decade, but what will the next ten years be like?
| | | At least in sheer volume of material, the 1990s was Star Trek's prime decade, but today the franchise is at a crossroads. [more] | 
Babylon 5 was never a big hit, but its innovative writing and inexpensive production helped break the perception that only Star Trek could survive in the television marketplace. [more] |
The biggest success of science fiction television in the 1990s may be The X-Files, but where do Mulder and Scully go from here? [more] |
The X-Files found a home on the then-young Fox network in the early '90s, but Fox now seems to share the original Big Three networks' traditional lack of friendliness to SF.
Having apparently forgotten that its star program needed two seasons to build up impressive ratings, Fox has cancelled shows at record speeds in recent years, as have the other networks. Since very few SF shows have ever been instant hits, it's a trend that doesn't favor the genre.
However, the steady growth of cable has proven to be a blessing for SF shows. Cable's lower average ratings and focus on specific audiences favors a niche genre like SF, and cable channels have been more willing to give programs the time and freedom they need to find an audience.
Showtime has had enough success with original programming like Stargate SG-1 and The Outer Limits that in 1999 the channel launched Showtime Beyond, an all-SF spin-off. The Sci-Fi Channel has also moved towards airing its own original programming, though most of this actually involves importing already-aired British or Canadian SF shows.
The 2000s will probably see heavy competition between several all-SF cable networks. Only one or two is likely to survive, but they will probably be the major pipeline of new SF TV programming.
Unless the internet is, of course.
Putting the "space" in cyberspace
The internet took off in the 1990s, especially among SF fans, who found e-mail, newsgroups, and web sites to be perfect for sharing their interest in their favorite programs.
The best way to share those interests is still being worked out. SF fans are eager to build web pages about their favorite shows, but franchises like Star Trek and The X-Files have aggressively defended their intellectual property from possible copyright violations.
What one side calls necessary legal protection, the other side calls bullying. The resulting anger and bad publicity does neither side any good.
In the meantime, cable, the internet and other communications services are rapidly converging. Numerous media companies are already exploring how to deliver TV-style programming along with written content over the internet. In the 2000s, fans may go to web sites to watch their shows as well as talk about them.
Next stop: the future
All and all, the future of SF television looks excellent. It's attracted the interest of mainstream audiences and media, and while the future of the Star Trek franchise and The X-Files is uncertain, a host of new shows are in development.
Most importantly, more creative people are working in the genre, and there are more places to show their work than ever before. Science fiction blasted its way out of a corner in the 1990s, and while there are many changes ahead, it's not likely to be forced back anytime soon.
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