The current issue of TV Guide includes an article by Stephen Battaglio indicating that the chief reason that the UPN network renewed the most recent Star Trek series, Enterprise was a per episode price cut from $1.7 million to $800,000.  The price cut enabled UPN to move Enterprise from a highly competitive Wednesday night slot to the ratings desert that is the network's Friday night schedule.  According to TV Guide, without the price cut Enterprise would not have been back for a fourth season.

Although Paramount may try to keep production costs down on Enterprise's fourth seasonal voyage, the studio will hardly be able to cut its costs in half.  Paramount agreed to the cut in order to keep Enterprise viable for syndication (where shows that have in the vicinity of 100 episodes tend to make a lot more money) and to keep the Trek brand current.