3:55 p.m. | Updated LOS ANGELES – After some classic soap opera twists – union spats, outraged fans, squishy financing – a Hollywood production company, Prospect Park, on Monday confirmed that the canceled “All My Children” and “One Life to Live” would live on in cyberspace. For real this time.
Prospect Park, run by Jeff Kwatinetz, said production would resume in February on the serial dramas, both of which ended epic runs in recent months after ABC decided the costly programs had dim futures. When new episodes will be made available – via theOnlineNetwork.com – is not clear. Mr. Kwatinetz and his business partner, Rich Frank, also declined to say which cast members might return.
But Prospect Park has solved the union and financing problems that torpedoed the soap-saving effort after it was first announced last fall. The company on Monday confirmed that new agreements are in place with the major actors’ union, SAG-AFTRA, and with the Directors Guild of America.
The “necessary financing” is also set, as is the involvement of Agnes Nixon, the creator of both soaps. The Online Network also named three other senior executives.
This is about more than saving soap operas, which have a relatively small but intensely loyal fan base. It is a bold bet that the Web — because of the proliferation of broadband, Internet-enabled TVs and the iPad — is now a practical way to funnel traditional shows to viewers.
If the popularity of streamed 30-minute and 60-minute shows on Netflix and Hulu is any indication, consumers are ready to move beyond using the Web for bite-size video, Mr. Kwatinetz and Mr. Rich are gambling.
“I know it’s been a long journey, but the timing is actually fortuitous as TV viewing is evolving rapidly in our direction,” Mr. Kwatinetz said in an interview. “The adoption of online TV in the last year has begun to move exponentially as viewers start to realize the immense advantages digital distribution affords. But all of that is unmatched compared to the relentless fan support. Since they didn’t give up, either did we.”
Article source: http://mediadecoder.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/01/07/canceled-abc-soaps-to-be-reborn-on-the-web/?partner=rss&emc=rss