Classic Stargate is making its return to COMET in the new year. The cable channel has announced that Stargate SG-1 will once again be airing on COMET starting Monday, January 16.
COMET is a linear digital and broadcast channel, which airs classic sci-fi and fantasy shows throughout the day. It is available from various cable providers; via a dedicated app on Roku, Apple TV, and STIRR; or free in a Web browser at CometTV.com (U.S. only). The live broadcast includes commercials.
The channel typically runs classic series in a strip format, with two or three episodes airing each weekday. Unlike similar online services like Pluto TV, COMET does not offer an option to stream specific shows or episodes on demand.
MGM (which owns the Stargate franchise) actually helped to launch the channel in partnership with Sinclair Broadcast Group back in 2015. MGM provides much of the channel’s film and TV content, though right now COMET is also featuring non-MGM favorites like Farscape, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and Quantum Leap.
What does this mean for Stargate’s availability on other services? The announcement conspicuously comes just days after Amazon’s Prime Video service announced that all three Stargate series will be leaving Prime at the end of December (after just four months). So does this mean that Stargate is leaving Prime Video to move over to COMET?
It’s likely that the two are not so directly related. There is no sign of Stargate Atlantis or Stargate Universe coming to COMET, for one thing. But more significant is the fact that COMET is not a subscription service and does not offer streaming video on demand. That puts it in something of a different category, as far as MGM’s content licensing.
SG-1 was on COMET as recently as 2021, which didn’t seem to interfere with MGM’s ability to also license the show to the likes of Prime Video, Netflix, and Hulu. COMET’s license is almost certainly non-exclusive — demonstrated by the fact that the other shows currently airing on the channel are also available on various streaming services.
So as Stargate SG-1 makes its return to COMET next month, we’re also still on the lookout for the franchise’s next streaming home. Whether that will be the newly rebranded MGM+ service (formerly Epix) — which relaunches January 15, just one day before SG-1‘s return to COMET — remains to be seen. MGM+ does offer both linear and streaming VOD content, and it’s possible that the studio may be eyeing Stargate and other corners of the MGM library to bolster the on-demand service at launch.
Stick with GateWorld for the latest! You can always find where the Stargate movies and TV series are currently available to watch in the U.S. on our “Where To Watch” page.
*** STARGATE ALERT! *** #STARGATE SG-1 RETURNS HOME JANUARY 16TH! Spread the word! #TV #SG1 #ScienceFiction #Free https://t.co/uSdnUi6AOV pic.twitter.com/DE5EvtYXOK
— Watch Comet (@WatchComet) December 19, 2022
I’ve honestly given up trying to figure out what Amazon/MGM is thinking at this point. I wonder if maybe they see the Stargate fan campaigns and think the fans will shut up as long as they just license the shows out wherever they can (it’s possible Netflix’s license expired because they didn’t like the viewing numbers and decided to pass on extending the license). With there being no concrete news announced on a new series, maybe this is something to tide fans over till they figure out if they can do a new show.
As someone who just recently started watching the franchise… because I figured it was going to be staying on prime for a while – screw them. I’ll just pirate it.
If you’re in the US, Pluto TV has the entire franchise except for the original movie on demand.
In Omaha, NE. This returns on FOX 42.4 on the noted day and date.