Sunday night was a big one for both Trekkies and CBS.

After "Star Trek: Discovery" finally premiered, and its audience didn't disappoint. Some 9.6 million people tuned in, and the numbers are only expected to get bigger. CBS Research predicts that total viewership for the premiere episode will surpass 15 million when data from the first seven days is taken into account.

The numbers are certainly impressive, but it will be interesting to see how the show fares when it is no longer offered on CBS. While the premiere was broadcast on TV, the show is exclusive to the network's subscription streaming service, CBS All Access. To watch future episodes, fans will have to sign up and pay a monthly fee to view them. Some people are extremely disgruntled, so it is unclear how many will put their money where their fandom is.

So far, "Star Trek: Discovery" is off to a good start, with CBS All Access seeing record numbers of members signing up. The show will be available to U.S. subscribers on the streaming platform on Sundays starting at 8:30 p.m. ET.

[via: Deadline]