Writer's Strike Thread

[Ryan]

You have to lose money before you make money Chris. When you're first venturing into anything new there is a risk of failure. However, you have to try and try again. CBS streaming their soaps is a major first for daytime. Why? Because no one else is doing it. PSNS may have been the first to do it, but CBS is the first to have their entire line-up on there.

There are people who don't have SOAPnet because either they can't afford it, or it may not be available in their area. It's well known that people spend a lot more time online. They are saying that the internet is the future of entertainment. It's going to take more work from the networks before their online soaps are turned into something more.

The fact of the matter is, soaps aren't dead just yet. People need to do whatever it is to try and generate more interest in the genre. Night Shift was a great success. It was something that was "new" and I'm sure they'll try more. The potential is endless for the things they can do, as long as there is an audience and people willing to work hard.

I don't watch Coastal Dreams because the show doesn't interest me. It doesn't seem like something I'd want to watch (plus Danica annoys the hell out of me). Maybe if they come out with something different I'll check it out. No, you may not get uber big name acts to lead the online soaps, but it's a start. Coastal Dreams is the closet thing we've had to a new daytime soap since PSNS.

[Chris B]

They had SoapCity and that failed, despite having great content, including bonus classic episodes. I'm not saying the CBS streams are a complete failure, but not near the level of success of what primetime shows gets. If anything, it'll always be a bit of extra money, but not much. The real market is DVD, which they refuse to try. Dark Shadows has been a huge success, but we still get nothing.

I don't think the internet is the future of entertainment, just an extension. I certainly don't see it helping soaps in their present state. The internet stuff is geared towards young people and soaps have an old audience. Because of this, they'll continue to create youthful soaps like Coastal Dreams to keep fantasizing about getting those teen viewers. We aren't going to get an internet Y&R or PSNS or OLTL.

I'd say it's much more important for people involved in soaps to focus on what's happening on TV. Get quality writers, producers, innovative and cost effective production techniques (like GL/ATWT's outdoor studios), etc. so viewers will return. And instead of hiring another writer for a tie-in book (with short-term revenue potential), produce DVDs! If the books (which cost the same as DVDs) can top best seller lists, DVDs could too. You can air promos during the shows and at fan club events.

[Khan]

ICAM, Ryan, with everything you've said.

For some reason, it irks me when Carolyn Hinsey talks about the writers "walking away" from their jobs. I don't know why, but it does.

OTOH, Chris, were the first several soaps to premiere on television all that wonderful, or successful with the public? It took a few FIRST HUNDRED YEARSes before we got SEARCH FOR TOMORROW.

[Khan]

If the current soaps are hesitant to try DVD's, it might be b/c, the number of eps they'd have to re-produce would be cost-prohibitive, to say the least. Yes, DS-on-DVD has been a success...but they were on the air only five years, and for 1225 episodes. Since soaps run (more-or-less) five days a week, 52 weeks a year, with no hiatuses, when would be the right time to release a "season" or year's worth of episodes on DVD? And what would happen to the ratings while viewers are off "catching up" on all those shows from before?

[Sylph]

I don't think Hinsey's comments are that ridiculous. People keep saying the internet is the future of soaps, but I think that is a load of crap.

Broadband won't overtake TV, execs say

NEW YORK -- A survey of media execs predicts that broadband will continue to make significant inroads in the next five years but that the majority of eyeballs (and money) will remain on traditional TV.

The "Digital Video Barometer" survey of more than 270 industry executives find that 90% believe that Internet distribution will account for at least 40% of all video content by 2012. Twenty-three percent believe the Internet will account for 60% of content while 9% think that the Internet will have 80% of video share.

But most don't think TV is going away anytime soon. Two-thirds thought TV would have at least 60% of all video consumption in five years.

"Most of the dollars are going to go into television even then," said Peter Winkler, chief marketing officer at Teletrax.

Fifty-five percent of the people who responded said digital rights management should go out the door in favor of tagging while still distributing freely.

The survey, conducted by Myers Publishing LLC, was underwritten by video monitor Teletrax. The results were released at a panel discussion "Economics of the New Television Marketplace" on Tuesday that featured execs from Turner Broadcasting, NBC Universal, Digitas and Google.

From Hollywood Reporter.

[stenbeck212]

I don't think Hinsey's comments are that ridiculous. People keep saying the internet is the future of soaps, but I think that is a load of crap.

We will never see any of the current soaps exclusively on the internet.

But this isn't about exclusivity. It's about capitalizing on the expansion of media, and generating income from every branch of it. Hinsey is certainly ridiculous for not even knowing that soaps are airing on the web. So you're right, the internet isn't the future. It's now.

Whether soaps make it in this format or that format is not a concern of this strike. Did you know there are plans to release The Doctors on DVD? If that happens, the outcome of the negotiations will determine if writers get a cut of the sales revenue.

That's all this has ever been about, pennies. But no amount of money is inconsequential to the writers as long as they've earned it.

[DaytimeFan]

Carolyn Hinsey has to be one of *the* worst examples of a soap 'journalist'...she is a corporate hack who kisses the proverbial ass of every network. Her NY Daily News column is equally hilarious, she demonstrates what an absolute moron she is in discounting the importance of DVD and Internet distribution. I absolutely detest Hinsey and her 'opinion', people like her are the ones ruining the soap industry as she has a valuable platform and she consistently abuses it.

As far as I can tell the only soap journalist with a little integrity left is Cindi Rinehart who works for KOMO TV (ABC's affiliate) in Seattle. Even though Cindi has to be careful about trashing ABC since she's employed by the network she still does it all the time and has done so for many years.

[Chris B]

I don't think anyone has ever suggested full season sets for long running soaps. For example, in the UK, mega-popular soap Coronation Street was released in volumnes focused on the decade. Each decade had 8 episodes per year. They began with their most popular decade, then went back to the older stuff. Other overseas soaps have released a single boxset with the best episodes from a decade, or themed wedding's, primetime episodes, etc. Even The Bold and the Beautiful released a DVD set with the best episodes from the past 20 years, only it's not available in America. Someone posted pictures of the sets in another thread.

I agree with you that the internet is an expansion, but it isn't the future or now, IMO. Just an expansion. Viewers are not going to trade in their HDTV's to watch all of their shows on a tiny laptop screen. Can you imagine watching all your shows online, plus chatting with your friends, surfing the web, going to SON, etc? It would be a total headache. Besides, the numbers would never be good enough to justify any of the 9 soaps on air right now (with original episodes).

I'm the person who emailed the company releasing The Doctors, so yes, I do know that. I'm speaking more towards current soap operas, which is the market I feel is being wasted. Starting DVD releases with cancelled soaps is a risky move. It proved successful with Dark Shadows, but I'd release General Hospital or As the World Turns before The Doctors or Capitol. They need to create an audience for soaps on DVD first.

I agree that the writers deserve their pennies, I just don't think pennies are worth sacrificing an entire genre. This will benefit the soap writers who will have to eventually move to primetime and film. Had soaps done what the people striking want them to do, they'd be off the air until the strike is over. That is insane because we all know the history of soaps when they take long breaks. As poor as the quality is, viewers are just watching for a reason to tune out. That would be it and so I agree with Hinsey on that point.

[Toups]

So which is it, none or some? She contradicts herself here.

ATWT, GL, DAYS, B&B, PSNS and classics such as EON, AW, SFT, TEX are all on the web. Soon, the ABC soaps and Y&R could be available online.

GH: Night Shift is going to be released on DVD, Dark Shadows is on DVD, and possibly the Doctors will be on DVD.

Does Hinsey even know anything about what's going on with the soaps? It seems like she doesn't do any research and she's suppose to be a journalist?

[Ryan]

Of course not. But hey....It's only my opinion

[stenbeck212]

I agree with you that the internet is an expansion, but it isn't the future or now, IMO. Just an expansion. Viewers are not going to trade in their HDTV's to watch all of their shows on a tiny laptop screen.

Who's asking them to? They'll have a choice of venue. It's that simple.

Well, Hinsey doesn't exactly get bent out of shape about the things that justifiably cost soaps their viewers. Why should we take the blame for leaving a show that sucks? The soaps don't exist in their own industry bubble in these matters. They are subject to the same rules as fledgling series like Bionic Woman or Cane, so why would they get yanked off the air any quicker than those programs? When the primetime shows run out of scripts, they'll be in turmoil too. But it's not the writers' responsibility to make sure soaps stay on the air. Maybe if crackpot execs hadn't interfered and ruined the genre, there'd be no concern about soaps on hiatus. Let's point our fingers at the right people. Better yet, let's compare Brian Frons and Ron Carlivati's salaries. That would illuminate the problem.

[Ryan]

Let's also not forget stenbeck, that the networks would rather make a money by having the shows appear on their website, than have fans clip their episodes and let people download them for free, with them making no money.

The networks know about those fan boards and sites that do that. That's part of the reason why they wanted to have them on their own website.

[brimike]

Exactly. Nobody's saying the Internet will replace broadcast TV. The argument is that the networks are making extra money off of the Internet, and not sharing it with the actors, writers and directors who were involved in the creation of the original product. Whether you agree with them getting a share of the money or not in the first place, the point is this: if those people get a small percentage of the Soapnet and overseas revenue from the extra airing of these episodes, there's no reason they shouldn't get the same percentage of the Internet revenue. But I haven't heard any writer say in the press that the Internet is going to "take over".

[sheilaforever]

They had SoapCity and that failed, despite having great content, including bonus classic episodes.

They were too early with this. Broadband took off after they cancelled their services. Internet-streaming became a mega-hit after they shut down their services.

Being first and having a price tag on was the reason why it failed. It does not mean there is no future on the net. I'm curious as to many subscirbers DAYS has via ITunes. I guess everthying in a double-digit 1000 number would be a huge success but still it's a start.

BTW: YOu mentioned a B&B DVD-set: Which country and where did you see this? I only knew of B&B 1st and 2nd episode being released in Italy - a decade ago or so.

[stenbeck212]

That's also why they devalue the live airings with messages like "YOU ARE WATCHING AS THE WORLD TURNS" that fly across the screen, like they're fending off a big bootleg market or something.