Advertisers care mainly about 18-35 year olds, and now that streaming has ads that key demographic is important for the survival of the franchise.
Besides if the franchise hadn’t expanded its fanbase in the 90s it wouldn’t be viable now. And let’s face it, it’s not that significant outside North America. Gone are the days when US audiences were adequate for survival.
They expanded it by making quality shows. Also isn’t your first line contradictory since this is aimed at a younger demographic?
I was replying to the sarcastic remark directly above that posits that Trek has an adequate fanbase to sustain the franchise.
Prodigy’s been an investment in reaching younger fans and building an audience for the future.
Starfleet Academy’s target audience is later teens and young adults. Basically, ‘the key demographic’ as reported by Nielsen in the US.