'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 still say NBC should have shopped the show to Comedy Central. *sigh*

All I have to say is Lindsay Hartley and Emily Harper: RUN FOR YOUR LIVES!

Yup. As a comedy, the show's great. As a soap? Not so much.

The show is its own identity crisis.

Yup. As a comedy, the show's great. As a soap? Not so much.

The show is its own identity crisis.

I don't know about that. yeah, the show's funny but can traditional audiences (non-soap watchers) appreciate a soap opera that is funny, every so often, and tongue-in-cheek, with traditional soap themes? It's not like the comedy is every minute like a sitcom or one-camera comedy. It's slapstick, it's ironic, it's comedy that comes from NEEDING to know, intimately, the show's characters and storylines. I think something like that works better as a soap opera. I know the first two years were the best example of soap opera (with a twist) that I'd ever seen and they got me immediately hooked after the first week. Hell, the first episode! It doesn't have that much comedy in it, is what I'm saying. Unless the show were retooled, I just don't see it on Comedy Central.

I don't know about that. yeah, the show's funny but can traditional audiences (non-soap watchers) appreciate a soap opera that is funny, every so often, and tongue-in-cheek, with traditional soap themes? It's not like the comedy is every minute like a sitcom or one-camera comedy. It's slapstick, it's ironic, it's comedy that comes from NEEDING to know, intimately, the show's characters and storylines. I think something like that works better as a soap opera. I know the first two years were the best example of soap opera (with a twist) that I'd ever seen and they got me immediately hooked after the first week. Hell, the first episode! It doesn't have that much comedy in it, is what I'm saying. Unless the show were retooled, I just don't see it on Comedy Central.

Okay, I worded it wrong.

The show is a dramedy, but it's marketed and promoted as a soap opera. That's where the problem lies. The show isn't promoted or marketed right. NBC keeps airing commercials for Passions as just another soap... when it's anything but. Promote it as the dramedy that it is! Throw the 'funny' scenes in commercials to grab the right audience (just as you would a comedy), rather than throwing the dramatic scenes in commercials and getting a viewer to tune in who ends up totally confused as to what the show is supposed to be.

The marketing and promotion for the show is all wrong. They're advertising it and selling it as something that it completely isn't, and that's why it's not receiving the full audience that it should. Because of the wrong promotion, they're getting the attention of soap opera viewers when it's written for dramedy viewers, and that's why a perfectly "potential" show continuously scrapes the bottom of the ratings. They're trying to catch a catfish with the wrong lure. On a network like Comedy Central, it would be much more embraced by people because it would be marketed correctly.

Edited April 25, 200718 yr by Kenny

Okay, I worded it wrong.

The show is a dramedy, but it's marketed and promoted as a soap opera. That's where the problem lies. The show isn't promoted or marketed right. NBC keeps airing commercials for Passions as just another soap... when it's anything but. Promote it as the dramedy that it is! Throw the 'funny' scenes in commercials to grab the right audience (just as you would a comedy), rather than throwing the dramatic scenes in commercials and getting a viewer to tune in who ends up totally confused as to what the show is supposed to be.

The marketing and promotion for the show is all wrong. They're advertising it and selling it as something that it completely isn't, and that's why it's not receiving the full audience that it should. Because of the wrong promotion, they're getting the attention of soap opera viewers when it's written for dramedy viewers, and that's why a perfectly "potential" show continuously scrapes the bottom of the ratings. They're trying to catch a catfish with the wrong lure. On a network like Comedy Central, it would be much more embraced by people because it would be marketed correctly.

OH, GOD, I AGREE. with everything!!! I've LONG wondered why NBC didn't do spots like "A typical day in harmony...is no typical day!" and show all the crazy crap that happens, lol. Don't use the deep voiced NBC guy, save that for "Days!" use the must See TV Thursday guy and market the show as, like you said, a dramedy. I think many of the kinds of promos "The Office" gets are along the lines of what "Passions" SHOULD get. The marketing is all wrong.

I still say NBC should have shopped the show to Comedy Central. *sigh*

All I have to say is Lindsay Hartley and Emily Harper: RUN FOR YOUR LIVES!

I couldn't agree more. Lindsey and Emily are too good for the show and this is their chance to go elsewhere and be BIG. I don't expect them to stay anyway. I think the big names will not want to be in DirecTV, where attention is harder to get.

Unfortunately, I doubt "Whitney" will stay; unless we get a horrid recast; because Brook Kerr didn't have faith and already jumped on a pilot for HBO or Showtime whichever it was.

Didn't have faith? These actors are not on Passions just to be on Passions, they are trying to further their careers, and definitely - a satelite only market, with a slashed budget and cut airings is not going to offer that. And isn't DirecTV not even the big satelite providor in the US? Isn't it Dish Network?

I really can't see how this is supposed to succeed. The main audience of Passions is not of age or buying authority to get DirecTV just to get Passions. And a large chunk of the adult audience I encounter through work (where you can hear Passions in the background of the phone calls), can barely afford to pay on time their 14.95 DSL ...

I really can't see how this is supposed to succeed. The main audience of Passions is not of age or buying authority to get DirecTV just to get Passions. And a large chunk of the adult audience I encounter through work (where you can hear Passions in the background of the phone calls), can barely afford to pay on time their 14.95 DSL ...

Off topic I know, but I dream of the day $14.95 DSL is available where I live........

Off topic I know, but I dream of the day $14.95 DSL is available where I live........

continuing the OT-ness

I wish people would realize that in order for the company to be able to give them DSL at such a ridiculously low price, they have to cut back somewhere, before they call me in supervisor escalations bitching about why half the tech support is in india or the phillippines. Granted, those people are still idiots and I spend all day cleaning up their messes -- but what do you expect when you pay next to nothing??

Unfortunately, I doubt "Whitney" will stay; unless we get a horrid recast; because Brook Kerr didn't have faith and already jumped on a pilot for HBO or Showtime whichever it was.

didnt have faith? She got smart! Her HBO show is a HUGE oppurtunity for exposure and work that she will never get from her dead end position at Passions. The character of Whitney and her story has been stale for quite some time and Im happy she's moving on to greener pastures

Ahem!

To all those naysayers that said Passions was DEAD come Sept 7th, Come on out of the woodwork

Well, I didn't say it, but now Ii just might comment that it will have a somewhat longer lifespan, but in the end it will get cancelled. I would invest a million dollars a week in some other program. This is just a waste of money.

Well, in order for this deal to have been reached must mean that SOMEONE'S STICKIN' AROUND! The question is, WHO? And as Toups so nicely pointed out, we don't know the details yet. Stay tuned!

Edited April 25, 200718 yr by Vanguardian

Well, we have to know that Juliet Mills is sticking around. Without her, there pretty much is no PASSIONS.

, I can't believe this, LoL. I don't have DirectTv, I've got DishNetwork, so I guess it doesn't really matter to me. How many people can be expected to watch when it's a show that's limited to ONE cable/satillite company?

ETA: Maybe at least, they'll still air the eppys online as well, via the new site? I at least wanna see what this is gonna be like...

Edited April 25, 200718 yr by mateo22

"Whitney" has been a central character from the beginning but at this point, who needs her? If her husband's gayness remains constant then Whit might as well pack up and along with Miles, head for the hills! Chad goes on being his true gay self and HIS storyline goes on without her! But I would love if Brooke stayed.