AMC and OLTL Will Move Online!

[Eric83]

Not sure if this has been mentioned but what about Netflix? Or working out deals with cable providers and putting them OnDemand.

[Errol]

I think I'll file this under What Happens Next? The Answers We Know Surrounding ABC and Prospect Park

Before I post it, however, ABC SID already has to restructure unless it decides to remain just covering GH (which isn't hard to do since it gets all the covers anyway). Once AMC and OLTL go off the air, they will no longer be "ABC" soaps.

SOD/SOW already went through their massive cuts. The only thing that'll happen next is they will either fold or more cuts will happen or they will be transformed into Television Digest and Television Entertainment Weekly

[DRW50]

They should consider releasing cheaply priced DVDs of the show, since I assume this will be a much shorter timeframe (shorter episodes and fewer episodes made). That way those who won't watch on the computer might be able to see it.

They may as well just fold. TV Guide and EW cover that and those magazines aren't exactly great these days either.

[marceline]

That's it exactly. Everything's changed. The contracts, the union rules, budget, management... everything. You can't make the same product when all the components have changed. Look at all the changes to AMC that happened just by moving to LA.

[JaneAusten]

Even Passions while staying the same in many ways, cut cast, sets, extras,etc once the move to DTV happened.

I tend to agree on the cast also. I think they need certain characters but not the actors. I might contest Lucci only because she has mainstream name

recognition where none of the others do. And maybe Prospect ends up going after bigger names in the industry for what they view as the more pivotal roles.

And as they say NO actor is bigger than the role. But we have no idea what their budget or cost structure is.

The other part people are missing is AMC is not moving online on Sept 26th at least not that we know of. SO there is going to be a loss of

audience not only because those watching out of habit likely wont move on but also because of the time gap. Remember the OJ trial. Many viewers left

and never returned.

I'm still very excited regardless because this could ultimately be a game changing move.

[DRW50]

I think the delay may be OK since this will be more of a new start or an event than what happened during the OJ trial, which was status quo preemptions that people finally had enough of. But I do hope they will try to put on some sort of AMC-related programming after the show's finale.

[Soapsuds]

Exactly

[Dana]

What bothers me about PP's assurances that "nothing changes" in their press release is that they claim the cast will remain intact, but it's apparent they don't have the cast locked in (did any cast member even know about it before it was announced?). So that's one big fat lie already and makes me question the rest of their assurances that nothing will change.

[SFK]

I really hope they can get some super talented fresh blood in the writing rooms. Gifted, young (and ha, less expensive!) writers with or without prior knowledge of these shows but a genuine interest in serialized drama (with some industry mentors on the team as HW or consultants at least in the beginning). Although there is a lot to be learned from them, a part of this new birth should be the end of relying on all of the usual suspects to HW these shows. Time to make things less cliquish and to embrace talent outside of the soap box.

[marceline]

I think that like everything in this saga the news leaked before anyone wanted to share. Also I believe it was ABC that said nothing would change since it was their statement and we all know what ABC's word is worth. PP hasn't said anything, have they?

Exactly. Using the same people who drove the bus into the ditch will kill this before it starts.

[Dana]

I guess it was the original NY Post article (posted in the first post in this thread) that stated the cast would be the same. In the official press release, ABC and PP said the quality, format and length would be the same, but didn't mention the cast.

[alexisfan07]

One thing I will say is that I hope this doesn't deter the AMC and OLTL (particularly OLTL) from continuing to try to get stars back and ending storylines decently

[Ryan Chamberlain]

I'm just going to keep a positive outlook on this until we see the first episodes of the online versions.

If they suck, they suck. If it picks up the show the way it normally is. Hallejulah!

[Money]

Eh, I'm still not willing to give ABC or Frons a free pass for the complete decimation of their soaps with piss poor management throughout the years.

[Soapsuds]

How much are they going to charge to view the soaps? Anyone want to take a guess??