'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).

Galen Gering may have another offer.

TV GUIDE - The Suds Report

Passions (Global/NBC) – Galen Gering: Y&R-bound?

It was only a matter of time: Galen Gering (Luis) was spotted at Y&R's CBS studios. Word on the set is daytime's No. 1 soap is seriously interested in signing the hunky actor when Passions leaves the air this September.

Link

Wow, Y&R really dodged a bullet.

Rion, tone it down. This is not a victory. It merely puts your show on life support. Period. Yes, great that Passions is living on but how do you expect it to last when hardly anyone will see it in the broad scheme of things?

That NBC release is nice and I am glad it is still an hour but the key to that release was the MAJORITY of the cast. That means alot of them could still leave. Kerr will jump ship if that pilot gets picked up and we already know Andrea Evans was in talks with OLTL. Lindsey's contract is up and I still wonder if she will stay. I think Emily may consider jumping too.

As for GG, I think he is contracted until winter 2008 because I thought his new two year deal took effect when he returned from haitus. I may be wrong. If it took effect when he signed it in May 2005, it would be up next month and that would mean to me that he would jump ship too since he always has tense negotiations.

I just got told to "shut up" by Mason. Please reprimand him.

As for Passions, this is indeed a major victory. Only a true hater could turn Passions being picked up by another network into something bad. Passions LIVES ON. It is NOT ending on September 7. Therefore, this is indeed a victory.

Emily can't leave, her contract isn't up till next May. But I'd love for her to exit, Fancy's become a trampy b!tch in the past year.

Mason, question. Would you like for someone to tell you to shut up?

Probably not.

So, let's make this the last time you say it to someone else, ok dude?

Thanks.

Now, we return you to your regularly posted comments, already in progress.....

Passions has been SAVED. I fail to see why you want to limit my rejoice when the bitter haters can whine and complain as much as they want, ad nausem. If you don't like Passions, I don't get why you'd focus so much time hating it and talking about your hate.

Whatever. I didn't say anything everyone else wasn't thinking too.

Since Passions is moving to another venue, that would, for the most part, make it a "new" show and the actors' current contracts would end when the show ends on NBC. Just my guess.

Mason, one, how do you know what everyone was thinking?

And two, let's tone it down, ok?

No big deal. Let's get back to talking about Passions moving to DirectTV.

Since Passions is moving to another venue, that would, for the most part, make it a "new" show and the actors' current contracts would end when the show ends on NBC. Just my guess.

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.

Passions has been SAVED. I fail to see why you want to limit my rejoice when the bitter haters can whine and complain as much as they want, ad nausem. If you don't like Passions, I don't get why you'd focus so much time hating it and talking about your hate.

Rion, the victim routine is getting old. No one is hating on Passions. We are just being realistix.

Yes, the show got saved but what good is it for the majority of people who can't see it and are going to be cheated out of a real finale because the show is going on in a format that they can't follow it to? No one is hating.

Now, Mason was wrong but I will not have you making this all about poor you and poor Passions. I am happy for you and the fans but the pompous "I was right, you all were wrong" attitude needs to stop. I also would appreciate you not asking me or any other member of the SON staff to reprimand someone via posting that request in a thread. Let's keep that kind of stuff to PM's, ok?

Now let's stay on topic and be respectful or proper measures will be taken.

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.

But when Passions was cancelled in January, didn't NBC work out a deal to extend the contracts until September? Yes. If it were just a few actor contracts, I'm sure they would have mentioned that, but they made it seem as if they were doing new contracts for everyone.

I agree with those who say there is no big victory. Passions has bassically fallen off a cliff and the body hasn't been found...and on September 17th, the body will be found but it will be a recast. <---- My opinion.

I'm sorry, but when someone turns everything into a competition...

"I win, you lose. Eat it, suckers!"

...and they constantly take a condescending, vomit-inducing tone with everyone they disagree with, they deserve to be told to shut up. This thread is about discussing Passions/DirecTV -- not screaming "I told you so, losers! You were wrong! VICTORY IS MINE!" from the rooftops. That's incredibly childish, and one can only take so much.

But when Passions was cancelled in January, didn't NBC work out a deal to extend the contracts until September? Yes. If it were just a few actor contracts, I'm sure they would have mentioned that, but they made it seem as if they were doing new contracts for everyone.

I agree with those who say there is no big victory. Passions has bassically fallen off a cliff and the body hasn't been found...and on September 17th, the body will be found but it will be a recast. <---- My opinion.

That was probably for the cast members whose contracts would've expired this summer, like McKenzie Westmore's and other original castmembers. The contracts that expire after September are very likely still in play.

The press release wouldn't have said that the majority of the cast was returning if they didn't have deals in place already.

Passions did what Another World, Sunset Beach, and Port Charles couldn't: survive.

Passions gets to live on, and that's all that matters. It's not another casualty like those soaps I listed above.

No, it's another member of the small club of soaps that have been cancelled on one network and picked up by another. And we all saw how long The Edge of Night, and Search For Tomorrow lasted after they did it ...

I remember reading that some of the actors were asked to extend their contracts but I would think that the contracts would have to be re-negotiated once the show resumes taping? Remember they are redoing the budget as well so I imagine that would include contracts.

I'm sorry, but when someone turns everything into a competition...

"I win, you lose. Eat it, suckers!"

...and they constantly take a condescending, vomit-inducing tone with everyone they disagree with, they deserve to be told to shut up. This thread is about discussing Passions/DirecTV -- not screaming "I told you so, losers! You were wrong! VICTORY IS MINE!" from the rooftops. That's incredibly childish, and one can only take so much.

But then all you're doing is pandering to the haters, who are just a vocal minority after all. That's plain not right.