All My Children" and "One Life to Live" will live on — on the Web. Disney’s ABC has sold the online rights to the two long-running soaps, which are scheduled to go off the air in September, as part of a deal with TV, film and music company Prospect Park, The Post has learned.
Sources said the daily dramas will pick up where they left off on a new, as-yet-unnamed, TV-focused online network once the soaps finish their four-decade run on ABC.
Prospect Park, founded in 2008, is run by executives Rich Frank, a former Disney Studios boss, and Jeff Kwatinetz. Both are executive producers of USA Network’s hit show, "Royal Pains."
The firm will take charge of the same cast, crew and talent — even soap star Susan Lucci as the villainous Erica Kane — and continue the story lines.
Prospect Park is said to be finalizing its current round of funding for its Hulu-style venture in the next month to 45 days. Other unnamed financial backers are involved. The financial terms couldn’t be learned.
The soaps are expected to be the first of a number of brand-name TV shows to eventually land at the site.
News of the deal will be a huge relief to soap fans who have been campaigning for ABC to keep them on air. The broadcast network said in April it was dumping them for much less expensive, unscripted programs, "The Chew" and "Revolution."
"All My Children" launched in 1970 and "One Life to Live" began life in 1968.
A Disney spokesman didn’t respond to a request for comment. Calls to Prospect Park were not returned.
First of all... I don't think they'd produce even a 30 minute show online-- let alone an hour. Secondly, the actors are leaving in droves-not ONE has ever mentioned this. Crews are being dismantled. If they EVER ARE online? They won't be "our shows"....or even close, imo. Go to Daytime Confidential to check out their comments about this. SID is saying be cautious as well.
Yeah good points Karen. And what about the people who don't have computers? That would suck for them!
ReplyDeleteI kept hearing about online soaps and tracked one down (forget the title, but it had Tristan Rogers and Mary Beth Huges etc), and got started. It was very intriguing, great stars, many favorites from past soaps, the acting was excellent--BUT it was impossible to follow in the 5 minute segments it ran. All this interaction would grab you, secrets, family questions, romantic tension--and Mary Beth did a monologue at some point that was amazing--yet I didn't stick with it because it would just get you involved and then it was over for that segment. Surely if they put this show on in 1/2 or hour long format it would be a hit. As it was, it was too broken up, too difficult to get past all the starts and stops. Why was it done like that? I have no idea. Do you know, Karen? There was lots of publicity about it at the time. Even Lane Davies was supposed to be on it (never caught him) and Jed Allen, two of my all-time favorite soap actors.
ReplyDeleteAnyway, trying to do a soap on line in 5 minute segments is ridiculous. I was not comfy watching from my computer chair--I spend enough time there working!
I want so much for One Life to continue, but this does not seem the satisfactory way. And, as you said, the stars are already out auditioning for new jobs, writers are regrouping--they'd have to act fast to get it together at all.
Karen...you need to do some deeper research.
ReplyDeletehttp://latimesblogs.latimes.com/showtracker/2011/07/all-my-children-one-life-to-live-to-get-an-internet-afterlife.html
"[Updated at 10:55 a.m.: ABC sent out an official release confirming the "exclusive multi-year, multi-platform" deal.
The programs are said to continue in the same format and length. Additional details of the new productions will come from Prospect Park.
“We are privileged to continue the legacy of two of the greatest programs to air on daytime television, and are committed to delivering the storylines, characters and quality that audiences have come to love for over 40 years," Frank and Kwatinetz said in a statement.
"‘All My Children’ and ‘One Life to Live’ are television icons, and we are looking forward to providing anytime, anywhere viewing to their loyal community of millions. ... We believe that by continuing to produce the shows in their current hour format and with the same quality, viewers will follow the show to our new, online network.” ]"
Yep, thanks, did that and made a new post. Looks like they'll be full format. Interesting. I want to see what happens to writers, crews..actors etc. It's going to get interesting!
ReplyDeleteI heard on the news that the soaps are going to saved, and will continue online. Although that is great news, but the computer chair is not that comfortable, especially when you have to sit on those chairs for an hour or two.
ReplyDeleteAlthough abc thinks that they are doing something good for the fans by saving the soaps online. But abc does not realize that they still will not get their viewers back. ABC still wants what they want and don't care about anything else, or anyone else. ABC you still will not get viewers to watch your other programming. You will still have problems and therefore have to cancel your other programming. Fans still not watch any new or old programming. Please listen to reason abc leave our soaps alone where they are, don't move them anywhere else. PLEASE SAVE OUR SOAPS ON TV.
I hear actors are leaving, going to other soaps. You made the biggest mistake abc by cancelling our soaps and selling them to be put online. While some fans think thats great, but watching your favorite soaps AMC,OLTL and GH on line does not make any sense iether. Please abc reconsider and leave our soaps on tv, where they will be watched in comfort. Sorry to burst your bubble abc, you need to be reasonable. Watching from the computer chair to the computer is at all not comfortable. Please just leave our soaps alone where they are. Before you lose all your actors, cast and crew.
ReplyDelete