'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).

I'd take one or two or years than zero.

ITunes will still cost people but I agree with you in that cable is best KMan. The one thing to take from this is that NBC at least tried to save it and made a deal to give it a chance. The only downside is that alot of people can't see it. I am also fearful of thsi bombing and other soaps not getting a chance at being saved in the future. This experiment could prevent other outlets from picking up soaps and so on. I hope it works. I also hope that maybe NBC will keep the online episodes up somehow.

I'd take one or two or years than zero.

I agree. If Passions makes it another two years before going off, I'll be happy. It deserves a nice, even ten-year run.

I also wouldn't mind paying $1.99 an episode to download Passions from iTunes or something. I do believe Passions will be accessible to people who don't get it for free in an official capacity, but it's unlikely that it will be free because that would go against having it on DirecTV and having people pay for that service.

Keep in mind Passions may continue to air on Global in Canada, so if you live close enough to the border, you might be able to see it for free!

I also wouldn't mind paying $1.99 an episode to download Passions from iTunes or something.

That would get a little pricey, and I doubt that 80% of the viewers have the money or will pay -- especially for a show like Passions, where nothing happens.

That would get a little pricey, and I doubt that 80% of the viewers have the money or will pay -- especially for a show like Passions, where nothing happens.

The cult fans like me would pay. If you truly want to see the show, you'd pay. You'd do whatever the f*** it takes to see it.

I think this is a victory for all soap fans. No matter what you think about Passions, we should consider this a positive move because we don't want this genre to die.

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.

Ryan, I agree.

I sure hope Andrea Evans goes ahead and returns to ONE LIFE as Tina as has been rumored.

I hope Andrea stays as Rebecca, BUT I wouldn't mind it if she and Gwen were finally written out. They are the two most evil characters on the show.

The cult fans like me would pay. If you truly want to see the show, you'd pay. You'd do whatever the f*** it takes to see it.

I would pay to see it too. However, I'm not paying $1.99 per episode. That's a lot of money. I wouldn't mind paying $4.99 up to $9.99 per month for Passions for streaming video episodes or a download.

But they are still produced by the same overall company. The only thing that will change is the network it airs on. The current contracts will stay in place.

I hope you're right, Ri. I want my favorite "Passions" actors TRAPPED in their current contracts!!!

(FYI: I've changed my mind. I may JUST get DirecTV, especially with the great offer JUST for "Passions" fans! Oh, I feel so special; so footloose and fancy-free!!!)

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.

I agree; in fact, I always that Mac prophecied it when she said, in 1999, that she would stay on the show at least 10 years.

Liza Huber posted this on her forum.

Hi Everyone!

I want to let you all know that Passions has been picked up by Direct TV!!! We are all very excited!!!

much love - Liza

Edited April 26, 200718 yr by nassaunew

How disappointing! I really wish the show was getting canceled. There goes all of the storyline resolutions I was hoping for after eight years!

I was going to watch this summer and see how it all ends. Now, I clearly won't be.

Looks like the PSNS cancellation party will have to be postponed a year. Tear.

The Hollywood Reporter

DirecTV has 'Passion' for NBC

By Nellie Andreeva

April 26, 2007

DirecTV is getting into the scripted series business and NBC Universal Television Studio is becoming a content provider for satellite platforms.

DirecTV and NBC Uni TV said Wednesday that the NBC Universal-produced daytime drama "Passions" will move to DirecTV's original programming channel, the 101, after it ends its eight-year run on NBC on Sept. 7.

"Passions," DirecTV's first scripted series, will premiere on the satellite service Sept. 17.

While continuing to produce "Passions" for NBC didn't make sense because of the show's low ratings, it works great for DirecTV, said Marc Graboff, president of NBC Universal Television, West Coast.

"The studio gets to continue to produce it, and its core audience of devoted fans gets to continue to watch it," he said.

NBC Uni TV has found a way to "produce the show effectively" by reducing the budget, accomplished mostly by going from five episodes a week on NBC to four on DirecTV.

While the majority of the cast and crew are expected to continue on the series, the revenue from DirecTV still "more than covers" the studio's costs, Graboff said.

What's more, the pact, a first between a major TV studio and a satellite provider on a scripted series, feels like a test deal for the future, he said.

"I can see shows that are too narrow for the broad network tent but make sense to continue on other platforms finding a future there," Graboff said.

Link

Liza Huber posted this on her forum.

Hi Everyone!

I want to let you all know that Passions has been picked up by Direct TV!!! We are all very excited!!!

much love - Liza

Wow, that sounds VERY encouraging! Hopefully Liza stays with the show. I think this suggests she would.

To those who think the actors wouldn't, I refer back to Rebecca Budig (haha, I know, but still)'s classic quote: that she stayed in soaps because it was a steady paycheck, and frankly (at the time) she didn't want the grand fame of moviestars.

I think many "Passions" actors could feel the same way. After all, nothing's really changing for them, right? For those that keep their jobs, I mean. Just the venue it's airing on. They still go to the same studio, earn a decent paycheck (certainly far more than the national median income) and have some laughs.

Honestly, if they stayed with it on NBC for THIS long, they're not the kind of people who bolt and look for bigger and more flashy things.