'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).

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

Rion, do you realize that people would be on your side so much more often if you didn't take such a condescending tone to everything? Just as nobody likes a sore loser, nobody likes a sore winner, either.

You have interesting points of view, and you always have facts and information to back up your claims. You're a great debater. And I'm telling you, people would listen to you so much more if you would just choose to get your point across in a different way. As soon as you go overboard, people roll their eyes and immediately write you off. Subtlety goes a long way.

My guess, however, is that you choose the alternative because it ruffles people's feathers. And when that happens, people pay attention to the Passions threads that would otherwise go unnoticed. You're so much like JER, it's scary.

Edited April 25, 200718 yr by Kenny

Ok. Look. If everyone - and I do mean EVERYONE - can't treat each other with respect, then the thread will be closed. That should not happen, because there are posts from posters who have decided to talk about Passions moving to DTV.

That means, no one will tell ANYONE ELSE to shut up. Period. It also means that no one will throw "We win, you lose" back in anyone's faces.

This is the last post on this subject. After this, warning will be issued, ok?

Good deal.

NOW, can we PLEASE get back to talking about this news?

The bottom line here, is you're taking a show that is targeted towards early teens, and moving it to a satelite exclusive platform, on a providor that's not the most popular (and that people here in Canada can't even be bothered to steal from! It's all Dish Network), and that's not convenient to switch to because of contacts people have with their existing cable and satelite providors.

The show is not going to last long on this outlet, it doesn't have a chance to grow any new audience members - only loose them in this change. And the show's not going to have the 8 months it did this time to prepare a finale. It will maybe have a couple months, if it's not just pulled all together since you have the freedom on a satelite channel that you don't have on a major Network of replacing the show with reruns of Full House.

Edited April 25, 200718 yr by Drew

Ok. Look. If everyone - and I do mean EVERYONE - can't treat each other with respect, then the thread will be closed. That should not happen, because there are posts from posters who have decided to talk about Passions moving to DTV.

That means, no one will tell ANYONE ELSE to shut up. Period. It also means that no one will throw "We win, you lose" back in anyone's faces.

This is the last post on this subject. After this, warning will be issued, ok?

Good deal.

NOW, can we PLEASE get back to talking about this news?

Yes, father. Am I going to bed hungry tonight?

LoL, kidding... really. Kind of.

Anyway, getting back on topic. If Lindsay Korman bolts, the show will die even quicker. She is Passions, IMO. She's the Marlena Evans, or the Erica Kane. It simply can't survive without Theresa Lopez-Fitzgerald.

Excellent points Drew. The fact that Passions will not be anywhere near as accessible as it is now could very well have an adverse effect on it.

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

But why? I've never been impressed with Galen.

As for Lindsay being the heart of Passions, insert another actress and have her chew scenery and you've got yourself a new heartbeat.

But the show is on life support as far as I'm concerned. This announcement only prolongs its fate.

Edited April 25, 200718 yr by Q Steph

Lindsay was going to have another child if Passions stayed on the air. Passions is staying on the air. Therefore, Lindsay will stay and have her next child.

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.

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

Yeah, not gonna happen.

Kenny you are right on. If Lindsey leaves, it's done. No actor usually defines a show but she does. She actually rose above Juliet Mills in that she was featured far more and was the show's central character. Losing her would be a major blow to an already volitile and risky situation.

I just don't see how this will work. It's just not realistic to think that cutting it off to so many fans is going to benefit the show. I mean, it's even going to have a hard time getting new fans.

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

Just kidding.

Kinda.

Anyway, back to Passions......

that is very true.

Another thing, no one who doesn't want to stay on Passions is going to be forced to. Their contract is with NBC Daytime. And even if NBC Universal somehow tried to apply it to satelite, anyone who truely wants out can argue this change goes against the terms they originally signed on to do the show for.

But really ... the show's only going to be able to afford to pay the actors playing Paloma, Simone, nuMiguel, nuFox, Spike, and Jessica.

Excellent points Drew. The fact that Passions will not be anywhere near as accessible as it is now could very well have an adverse effect on it.

That's true...LOL would you advertise your products on a show only available on DirectTV?

The only way I could see the show lasting is if they revamped it. Create 13 hour long episode arcs that are not written by JERk where so much happens in the hour and air them once or twice a week. Sex it up...think Nip/Tuck, Dirt, Sopranos. Have it available OnDemand, streaming and iTunes...make it accessible to those who don't have DirectTV.

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

I think, and this is coming from someone who does not watch Passions, that maybe one quarter of the cast may be gone, just for it to stay on for any length of time.

But, I don't see it going past 6 months to a year. After that, it still maybe gone.