Fans of the soap operas All My Children and One Life to Live have been waiting eagerly for news of how budding online video network Prospect Park plans to bring their cancelled shows to the Internet.
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Prospect Park is still working on deals to make One Life to Live (pictured) available online. |
They're going to have to wait a little longer.
The company hasn't released many details about the deal it made earlier this month with ABC, and they may not be forthcoming for a while. Prospect Park, headed by former Disney exec Rich Frank and Jeff Kwatinetz, who headed up a talent management firm, is knee-deep in negotiations hammering out a collective bargaining agreement with "the appropriate guilds and unions," an agreement that needs to be in place before any plans to breathe life into the shows can move forward.
Prospect Park on Monday released a statement about the future of the shows:
"The love and support for All My Children and One Life to Live is truly amazing," the company wrote. "Since we announced our intention to work with the shows, the fan outreach we've experienced over the past few weeks further validates our decision to work to keep them going for years to come. However we also respect the organizations and processes that are in place so that all can apply their craft within the infrastructure that the entertainment industry has set, specifically in this case with the appropriate guilds and unions.
"We are in the process of working out the essential terms of our proposed collective bargaining agreements with the appropriate guilds and unions, which we must do prior to firming up deals with above- and below-the-line talent. We will provide updates as needed."
According to the Los Angeles Times, keeping the shows alive on the Internet could cost as much as $50 million a year each under present production conditions, numbers that are likely to push the edge with Prospect Park.
The paper said the cast, crew and writers likely will be asked to work for less, probably much less.
The company is weighing how to monetize the shows and may look at subscriptions, product placement, ad sales or sponsorships. Prospect Park also might look at getting the shows on a secondary cable channel.
Stay tuned.
For more:
- see this LA Times article
Related article:
Prospect Park looks at cancelled soaps to anchor new online network