BretEwing
05-22-2003, 03:05 PM
...to "Another World!"
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Soapnet Visits 'Another World'
By Andrew Wallenstein (from news.yahoo.com)
NEW YORK (Hollywood Reporter) - SoapNet, the cable channel owned by the Walt Disney Co., has acquired 35 years' worth of episodes of the former NBC daytime series "Another World."
The deal includes more than 9,000 episodes. Beginning July 1, the Procter & Gamble-owned soap classic will air three times a day -- at 11 a.m., 5 p.m. and midnight. Although "Another World" premiered May 6, 1964, SoapNet will start with the pivotal July 1, 1987, episode preceding the wedding that brought together the show's Cory and McKinnon families.
Terms of the deal were not disclosed, but the sheer size of the "Another World" library does not necessarily make it SoapNet's most expensive acquisition ever. Although the episode total of weekly primetime soaps is dwarfed by their weekday counterparts, they command a higher premium by the studios that own them. In October, SoapNet snapped up all 220 episodes of the ABC primetime series "Dynasty" for about $5 million.
This is not just another acquisition for SoapNet, which has rebroadcast the quartet of top-rated daytime dramas from sister subsidiary ABC since it launched more than three years ago. "Another World" is the first non-ABC daytime soap to join the lineup, moving the network closer to its ambitious goal of landing day-and-date rights to NBC and CBS soaps.
"We view this as the opening of a crack, and it shows our determination to be involved with soaps of all networks," SoapNet general manager Deborah Blackwell said. "Our goal is to have all of P&G's shows on SoapNet, and this represents the first step in that direction."
SoapNet wants to amass more soaps not only to have as inclusive a programming base as possible but to possess the library to launch a second or third SoapNet spinoff similar to the multiple branded iterations ESPN has generated. But to reach another world of day-and-date non-ABC runs, SoapNet will have to contend with CBS and NBC affiliates protective of draining their pools of daytime viewers.
"Another World," which ended in 1999, is not the first NBC property to join SoapNet -- former primetime series "Sisters" is on the schedule, as are CBS primetime soaps "Knots Landing" and "Falcon Crest." Blackwell said NBC daytime chief Sheraton Kalouria has pledged his support for repurposing "Another World" and would help SoapNet get in touch with its former actors for promotional purposes and other resources.
But it remains to be seen whether NBC-owned "Passions" or Sony-owned "Days of Our Lives" are considering moonlighting on the network. Kalouria could not be reached for comment.
P&G also has experimented with second runs on Sony Digital Pictures Entertainment's SoapCity.com, an on-demand online subscription service streaming "As the World Turns" and "The Young and the Restless."
The winner of 22 Daytime Emmy Awards, "Another World" remains a staple of the soap world's rabid fan community. The series has been noted for boosting the careers of a diverse group of actors, including Anne Heche (news), Morgan Freeman (news), Ray Liotta (news), Kyra Sedgwick (news) and Faith Ford (news). SoapNet will likely develop stunt programming related to their stints on the show.
"Another World" should also help SoapNet regain ratings momentum among women 18-49. Its Nielsen tally for that core demographic plummeted several months ago in part because its 4-7 p.m. block -- comprising ABC daytime's "Port Charles," "All My Children," "One Life to Live" and "General Hospital" -- was cannibalizing the same programming running again in primetime. SoapNet swapped a different programming block into late afternoon May 1, which sparked an immediate uptick in the primetime ratings.
Reuters/Hollywood Reporter
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Interesting to note: as I said in a post on the Knots board, this show will likely replace one Knots rerun (NOT the entire show) and one Falcon Crest/Dynasty rerun. What's really interesting is the second or third SoapNet talk...It would be cool to have a Primetime SoapNet, now wouldn't it?
-Bret
"...I suppose that's to be expected from the illegitimate child of a ranch foreman and the stepdaughter of the town drunk."
JR to Pam (Missing Heir)
_______________________________________________
Soapnet Visits 'Another World'
By Andrew Wallenstein (from news.yahoo.com)
NEW YORK (Hollywood Reporter) - SoapNet, the cable channel owned by the Walt Disney Co., has acquired 35 years' worth of episodes of the former NBC daytime series "Another World."
The deal includes more than 9,000 episodes. Beginning July 1, the Procter & Gamble-owned soap classic will air three times a day -- at 11 a.m., 5 p.m. and midnight. Although "Another World" premiered May 6, 1964, SoapNet will start with the pivotal July 1, 1987, episode preceding the wedding that brought together the show's Cory and McKinnon families.
Terms of the deal were not disclosed, but the sheer size of the "Another World" library does not necessarily make it SoapNet's most expensive acquisition ever. Although the episode total of weekly primetime soaps is dwarfed by their weekday counterparts, they command a higher premium by the studios that own them. In October, SoapNet snapped up all 220 episodes of the ABC primetime series "Dynasty" for about $5 million.
This is not just another acquisition for SoapNet, which has rebroadcast the quartet of top-rated daytime dramas from sister subsidiary ABC since it launched more than three years ago. "Another World" is the first non-ABC daytime soap to join the lineup, moving the network closer to its ambitious goal of landing day-and-date rights to NBC and CBS soaps.
"We view this as the opening of a crack, and it shows our determination to be involved with soaps of all networks," SoapNet general manager Deborah Blackwell said. "Our goal is to have all of P&G's shows on SoapNet, and this represents the first step in that direction."
SoapNet wants to amass more soaps not only to have as inclusive a programming base as possible but to possess the library to launch a second or third SoapNet spinoff similar to the multiple branded iterations ESPN has generated. But to reach another world of day-and-date non-ABC runs, SoapNet will have to contend with CBS and NBC affiliates protective of draining their pools of daytime viewers.
"Another World," which ended in 1999, is not the first NBC property to join SoapNet -- former primetime series "Sisters" is on the schedule, as are CBS primetime soaps "Knots Landing" and "Falcon Crest." Blackwell said NBC daytime chief Sheraton Kalouria has pledged his support for repurposing "Another World" and would help SoapNet get in touch with its former actors for promotional purposes and other resources.
But it remains to be seen whether NBC-owned "Passions" or Sony-owned "Days of Our Lives" are considering moonlighting on the network. Kalouria could not be reached for comment.
P&G also has experimented with second runs on Sony Digital Pictures Entertainment's SoapCity.com, an on-demand online subscription service streaming "As the World Turns" and "The Young and the Restless."
The winner of 22 Daytime Emmy Awards, "Another World" remains a staple of the soap world's rabid fan community. The series has been noted for boosting the careers of a diverse group of actors, including Anne Heche (news), Morgan Freeman (news), Ray Liotta (news), Kyra Sedgwick (news) and Faith Ford (news). SoapNet will likely develop stunt programming related to their stints on the show.
"Another World" should also help SoapNet regain ratings momentum among women 18-49. Its Nielsen tally for that core demographic plummeted several months ago in part because its 4-7 p.m. block -- comprising ABC daytime's "Port Charles," "All My Children," "One Life to Live" and "General Hospital" -- was cannibalizing the same programming running again in primetime. SoapNet swapped a different programming block into late afternoon May 1, which sparked an immediate uptick in the primetime ratings.
Reuters/Hollywood Reporter
_______________________________________________
Interesting to note: as I said in a post on the Knots board, this show will likely replace one Knots rerun (NOT the entire show) and one Falcon Crest/Dynasty rerun. What's really interesting is the second or third SoapNet talk...It would be cool to have a Primetime SoapNet, now wouldn't it?
-Bret
"...I suppose that's to be expected from the illegitimate child of a ranch foreman and the stepdaughter of the town drunk."
JR to Pam (Missing Heir)