Amazon is now the proud owner of its very own, historic Hollywood studio. The retail and streaming video giant closed its deal earlier this year to buy Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer for a cool $8.45 billion — and with it came the Stargate franchise.
So where is that new Stargate series that fans have been loudly rallying for, since 2018’s Stargate Origins Web series … or, more accurately, since Stargate Universe left the airwaves back in 2011?
Since the deal was first announced we’ve been operating under the assumption that Amazon will want to put the Stargate franchise — a high-profile brand with a built-in fan base — on its flagship video streaming service, Prime Video. So far Amazon is keeping its cards close to the vest on the future of this and several other MGM properties. When it finally does come, the next Stargate production might end up streaming in an unexpected place.
That’s because Amazon also owns Freevee (formerly IMDb TV), a free over-the-top streamer that has recently begun experimenting with its own original programs. Building up Freevee as an ad-supported service alongside Prime Video is a current priority at Amazon, and since 2020 its content department has operated from within Amazon Studios.
Amazon Freevee is available on a wide range of smart TVs, mobile devices, and set-top boxes like Roku. Much like competitor Pluto TV (which picked up the rights to Stargate in April), Freevee offers a range of classic and more recent shows on demand. It also has 24/7 channels with episodes airing in rotation.
On its own, of course, Freevee doesn’t have nearly the wide, global distribution that Prime Video enjoys. The service is available in the United States and the U.K., and just launched this week in Germany.
Some familiar sci-fi and fantasy shows that are on Freevee right now include Fringe, The X-Files, Amanda Tapping’s Sanctuary, LOST, Warehouse 13, Andromeda, The Outpost, and Space: 1999. Original series include Bosch: Legacy, a spin-off of the Amazon original that stars Titus Welliver; a continuation of the TNT drama Leverage in the Dean Devlin-produced Leverage: Redemption; and a remake of the classic Black Beauty.
Since there is a focus here on legacy content that is popular with audiences but no longer in production, there is some speculation among insiders that much of MGM’s own library will end up on Freevee — rather than locked behind the Prime Video paywall.
This strategy would not leave Prime Video out of the equation entirely, though. Freevee’s ad-supported content is also integrated with Prime Video in the “Free with Ads” carousel, which means that the majority of the flagship service’s 175 million users would — in theory — also have access to Freevee’s original series through the Prime interface they’re already familiar with, rather than having to download a separate app.
Before two rounds of rebranding, Freevee launched in 2019 as “IMDb Freedive.” Prior to the merger MGM was already a parter with the service, providing MGM-owned content such as Dead Like Me.
All three Stargate series (plus the movies) are currently streaming with ads on Pluto TV in the U.S.
Stargate SG-1, Atlantis, and Universe, however, have yet to materialize on the service. And it’s not clear if the current deal with Pluto TV — which we hear was struck only after the Amazon-MGM deal closed — would have to run its course first.
It’s also important to note that MGM currently produces original scripted and non-scripted shows for many different outlets, from Vikings: Valhalla (Netflix) to The Handmaid’s Tale (Hulu), from The Voice (NBC) to Survivor (CBS). If Amazon keeps MGM as a stand-alone production house, it’s entirely possible that a future Stargate show could be sold to a network or a streamer that Amazon doesn’t own.
That’s one of the biggest outstanding questions now, as the dust settles on the merger: Will Amazon’s own services get first dibs on new TV projects that are green-lit from this point forward? Or will MGM continue to operate as a content producer that is, relatively speaking, network neutral?
Realistically it’s going to take Amazon executives some time to fully evaluate MGM’s intellectual property, the current state of various global distribution contracts, and how a popular sci-fi franchise might support Amazon’s own strategy in the streaming video space. That includes both Prime Video and Freevee, which while integrated each have their own business model. If Amazon and MGM didn’t start these conversations already in 2021 (when the merger was announced but undergoing review from government regulators) then it might be 2023 before the companies are ready to make any announcements.
We’ll continue to report the very latest developments here at GateWorld!
Would you watch a new Stargate series on Freevee? What do you think of the shows having unskippable ads? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
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I Would watch new Stargate on any platform anywhere, but much prefer, at least till it gathers momentum, a new tv series rather than a new film
The current rumor going around is that they want to scratch the entire canon of the series and start a new series based just off the first movie starting the original cast.
This rumor is not true.
I am a big Stargate fan and I would watch a new Stargate series on Freevee. I have Netflix and cannot afford to pay for extra streaming services. So rather than waiting years for it to come to terrestrial channels or satellite, I would put up with the ads.
Gib Stargate
I would watch a new Stargate series anywhere. Commercial television had unskippable adds for decades, so that's nothing new. I would prefer to be able to skip ads though.
I agree on everything. I'd love a new stargate with or without commercials
Really quite tired of the continued balkanization of TV viewing. It should be filmed and aired by Prime, in the same spirit (and perhaps with some of the same people working behind the scenes) as The Expanse.
I agree. Even though I would like a new Stargate series. I'm not going to pay for another streaming service. Nor download anymore apps. There are too many streaming services. I'm not going back to ads. Placing a new Stargate show on a c-list streaming platform is only going to set it up to fail from the very start. A new Stargate series should be an Amazon Prime original.
While I would watch it, I hope it does not go to Freevee. I watched Bosch on Prime, and just finished the sequel series, Bosch Legacy, on Freevee. It is clear that the budget for the show was greatly reduced from what it was when it was on Prime. I would think for a show that has a certain amount of special effects and location shooting, that Stargate would be much better off with the budget of a Prime show vs a Freevee show.
I would rather it not be on any other
streaming programs other than starzs since I prescribe to starzs instead. I don't like any of the other streaming channels but if I had to make a choice I would most likely pick the syfy channel commercials or not. If the program is good and not too cheesy I'll watch it and if the story line has a bit of bite to it and it isn't boring.
Seriously who cares what channel or platform its on we would watch it. We've been telling mgm for god knows how many years if you make it we will watch
I grew up watching TV with ads. It isn't that bad.
I think having other options available would be a nice change. Dishing out for 15+ different services just for a couple shows that get lost in the shuffle is not something I've been a fan of over these last several years. I feel that Freevee would be a great option, if not for a second run release, kind like of what the Orville is doing. Prime (or another major streamer) should have first dibs (especially for the budget). If looking at the Orville's run, it was on Hulu, but now the entire series is going to be available on Disney+. Something a la syndication in a way. IDK just a thought...
Lol, anything moving to Disney+ is not a la syndication. It's just Disney cannibalizing content it owns onto its main streaming platform.
I think a franchise like Stargate deserves a big budget that the Amazon Prime Video platform can provide. The Wheel of Time series was just bad, and The Expanse was pretty good yet it seems that show got cancelled, so a franchise like Stargate, if done right, would be excellent for helping to keep more eyes on Amazon video content.
Okay that's fair and true but still would like to see an option where if it is going to stream on a big paid streamer, at least have another option (ad-supported or not) to be able to see it as a second run.
I agree the budget is a big issue. I also agree that there are better streamers out there that could possibly do a better job at giving the quality that Stargate should get (I've never been a fan of Prime personally). On the flip side I'll take a show any day with a smaller budget but good story telling.
I hate it when shows get all flashy and have zero substance. The harder they hype it up as a "big-budget" it makes me more wary of the actual content quality. But then again I don't know if that really has to do with the budget or rather the decision making, or a combination of both...
You got a point in that aspect. I liked Andromeda, banalyon 5, and fire fly. I wish they would bring them back and increase the storyline instead of cutting them short Like they did. Even Stargate universe didn't end right and I think they need to bring it back so they can explore newer worlds and help them finely find a way home like Stargate atlantis.
I think at least a second, syndication-esque run on a platform like Freevee or PlutoTV would be a neat option. After its first run on Prime (or whatever main streamer who picks it up), a second chance run on another platform (ad-supported or not) would work nicely. Look at the Orville. They streamed season 3, New Horizons, exclusively on Hulu, and now they are releasing the entire series onto Disney+. It may be comparing apples to oranges, but this model, or something similar, may solve the budget worry/issue and give a chance for as many Stargate fans to enjoy a new series. Just a thought.