'Passions' heads to DirecTV

Segments to begin airing this fall

By JOSEF ADALIANNBC is closing in on a deal that will keep sudser "Passions" alive via an unusual outlet: DirecTV.

In what would be its biggest-ever original programming initiative, satellite provider is set to acquire original episodes of the soap opera from NBC U TV Studio. Segs would likely begin airing this fall, after the sudser ends its run on NBC.

There will be some changes, however.

Instead of five days per week, "Passions" will air only four times per week. It's also expected the show's budget will be reduced further to accommodate the different business model.

Neither NBC nor DirecTV would comment, but insiders said a deal could be finalized by week's end. It's unclear how much DirecTV will pay NBC, but a typical sudser costs a little more than $1 million per week to produce for network TV.

DirecTV has been edging further into the original content business, airing several first-run skeins on what it calls the 101. It's unclear if the company will program "Passions" on that channel or use the sudser as part of a larger programming initiative.

Peacock said earlier this year that it was canceling "Passions" after an eight-year run on the net (Daily Variety, Jan. 15).

from everything I've gathered from your posts Rion, you live in Canada do you not? How are you planning on obtaining Passions?

Stay positive, guys! This is a very good thing for the cast, crew, and FANS of Passions!!

Everyone will just have to switch to DirecTV. Simple as that.

While I am sure some will Rion, it will be very little.

What about the people who can't afford it or don't feel like completely changing their current lifestyle just for one show? I mean, Passions has alot of young fans and it's unrealistic to think they can afford to pay for this. Plus, we don't know what will happen as far as cast changes and plotlines so that could impact how many even consider making such a committment. That is why this is such a difficult thing to happen. On one hand, a soap got saved and that gives us all hope but, on another, if this fails, it may discourage from future attempts to help other soaps and I would just hate to see Passions and it's fans lose out because the show moved to a outlet with limited accessibility and they can't see a real finale and so on.

I think the best course of action is to give fans a proper finale and start fresh on DirecTV. That is the only thing that I think can satisfy long term fans at the moment. This way, if this fails which I am a hard time beleiving it won't, at least most fans got a finale.

Some of us CAN'T switch to DirecTV simply because we can't get a clear signal. Too many trees in the way.

I don't hear anything good from customers of theirs either. Verizon bundles phone, DSL and DirecTV, and all I hear from customers that bring up the subject on calls are "and I'm STUCK with this DirecTV THING" ...

Edited April 25, 200718 yr by Drew

Kenny, don't really care if you are or aren't.

Just kidding.

Kinda.

Anyway, back to Passions......

Ooh, careful there. Bordering on off topic.

Back to Passions!

Is DirecTV offered everywhere, or only in certain areas?

Edited April 25, 200718 yr by Kenny

I'd rather have Passions move to DirecTV than die an early death on NBC. It is not Passions' time to go yet. At least let it have a full ten year run.

Edited April 25, 200718 yr by RionPassions

NOOOOO! Happy for Passions and that NBC at least has made more effort than they did in the past to save soaps, but I don't get DirectTV! And I'm not going back to it, either.

As much as I want to be positive I can't really. I mean, there's the issue of who's coming back, how many people already have or who would actually switch to DirectTV for Passions, and it would be hard to move some fans from networks or who actually would know. Hopefully NBC would make it public on TV or something for those that might not have the internet.

I hope the ratings for it go well, and seriously wonder how it would be on DirectTV. I think JER would still write it....

Another thing that worries me for Passions about DirectTV is that it while offers okay service will not be good in storms or if it's hard for the satellite to recieve a signal. Take this for someone who had DirectTV for FIVE years, and even had I think three different versions. When a storm was there, we could not get reception. That right there could hurt Passions a little. Also, which this depends on where you live, but alot the satellite shall have issues. Or it did when I have it, but when I did I lived in the middle of a field.

Well this is quite disappointing. Don't get me wrong, I've learned to love Passions just as much as the next guy, but among ALL of the shows that have been canceled over the past 10 years, Passions is not one that deserved to be saved IMO. I guess it's all a matter of budget. You can pretty much expect the high paid actors to be cut or bumped to recurring.

The bright side about this is that it gives soap fans hope and a truth. Hope that daytime is not a dying genre and the truth is that there are other options available if network tv decides to turn their back on the soaps.

Well this is quite disappointing. Don't get me wrong, I've learned to love Passions just as much as the next guy, but among ALL of the shows that have been canceled over the past 10 years, Passions is not one that deserved to be saved IMO. I guess it's all a matter of budget. You can pretty much expect the high paid actors to be cut or bumped to recurring.

The bright side about this is that it gives soap fans hope and a truth. Hope that daytime is not a dying genre and the truth is that there are other options available if network tv decides to turn their back on the soaps.

I agree with your entire post. I couldnt have said it better.

The bright side about this is that it gives soap fans hope and a truth. Hope that daytime is not a dying genre and the truth is that there are other options available if network tv decides to turn their back on the soaps.

Yeah, but is it worth all the grief in having to change cable companies just to see your favorite soap? What if different soaps are picked up by diffent companies? It's more of a hassle than it's worth just to get to see your daytime lineup -- it won't be the same.

Better than nothing though, I suppose.

I have no doubts that the budget will come into play as to who will remain with the show and who will not. Some will be asked to stay and some will be asked to leave.

So... since Passions will eventually not be considered a traditional network soap, do you think the major media outlets (like SOD) will continue their coverage of the show once it moves?

I have no doubts that the budget will come into play as to who will remain with the show and who will not. Some will be asked to stay and some will be asked to leave.

So... since Passions will eventually not be considered a traditional network soap, do you think the major media outlets (like SOD) will continue their coverage of the show once it moves?

Yes.

They already devote pages to American Idol and anything else that resembles a "soap". Sellouts.

I have no doubts that the budget will come into play as to who will remain with the show and who will not. Some will be asked to stay and some will be asked to leave.

So... since Passions will eventually not be considered a traditional network soap, do you think the major media outlets (like SOD) will continue their coverage of the show once it moves?

Who knows. SOD didn't even cover the daily primetime telenovas on MyNetworkTV. Pathetic....

I have no doubts that the budget will come into play as to who will remain with the show and who will not. Some will be asked to stay and some will be asked to leave.

I can't see any of the following staying for sure

Kim Johnston Ulrich

Ben Masters

Tracey Ross

Rodney Van Johnson

Galen Gering

Who knows. SOD didn't even cover the daily primetime telenovas on MyNetworkTV. Pathetic....

Why shouldn't they have covered a 5 night a week soap opera in their soap opera magazine?

These are the only actors I see as being a safe bet to stay on the show (assuming they're still on when PASSIONS ends its NBC run):

Juliet Mills

Eric Martsolf

McKenzie Westmore

Danica Stewart

Silvana Arias

Dylan Fergus

Ben Malecki

Adrian Bellani

Mark Cameron Wystrach

Charles Divins

Adrian Wilson

Unfortunately, it's mostly the worst actors on the show that I think will be staying for sure.

Edited April 25, 200718 yr by Mason