Corday Productions and All Screens Media announced a new joint venture Friday, Net Soaps/Net Novelas, aimed at producing original online content for the international market with an emphasis on the U.S., Latin America and Brazil.“This new venture is about taking the passion consumers have for soaps and novelas into a new era,” said Ken Corday, CEO of Corday Productions. “This will be original content that the fans will play a role in greenlighting and casting, delivered in a form that can build devoted communities of fans in the digital space.”
Corday Productions is the company behind long-running U.S. soap opera DAYS OF OUR LIVES. All Screens Media was founded by former Comcast vice president of content Peter Heumiller.
“I’m incredibly excited to be working with Ken and his team,” said Heumiller. “His knowledge, experience and stature within the entertainment world will help Net Soaps/Net Novelas in immeasurable ways. Ken will be selecting and mentoring the next generation of producers, stars and writers.”
The sponsorship model is key for Net Soaps/Net Novelas, which has launched its website at netsoapstv.com. Advertisers can get involved to the point of making casting decisions for the shows, according to Heumiller. “It’s really coming full circle – soap operas were originally sponsored by the detergent companies,” he said.
Greg Meng, Crystal Chappell and Rose Ganguzza are also part of the Net Soaps/Net Novelas team.
RELATED:
- Complete List of Winners from the 5th Annual Indie Series Awards
Wow!!! I can't believe Ken Corday is the first TBTB to get a clue about how to present daytime serials to a younger audience and entice older viewers at the same time. This has to be a game changer in the industry. ABC & CBS have to follow suit.
ReplyDeleteITA! BTW If the daytime soaps ended their TV run and successfully moved online (B&B should be able to, I hope), I would watch them during the day and not watch TV at all. If the remaining four soaps ended without moving online, I would choose several online soaps (like Hollyoaks, CS, Neighbours, H&A, etc.) to watch daily. I already watch more soaps online than I do on TV! I am not in the younger demo, but I have a feeling younger viewers will at some point only watch soaps online. The convenience of being able to time-shift the shows however you prefer is an incentive in itself since it allows a person to follow a soap without having to record it or watch at a set time.
DeleteThe interactive aspect of this project, involving both viewers and sponsors could be interesting. I recently read an article at Marketing Magazine by Maurico Mota, chief storytelling officer and co-founder of The Alchemists Productions, the driving force behind Hulu's successful soap opera EAST LOS HIGH, now filming it's second season. Mota also sees the importance of engaging both brands (sponsors) and viewers in the storytelling process and feels this type of interaction - building what he calls "a relationship platform" - has been key to their success.
ReplyDeleteThe Storytellers: Mauricio Moto, The Alchemists Productions
Interesting. I had a feeling East Los High was a success. I wish KC would look at this and other soaps (even TV soaps like at Hollyoaks, for example) as a model for his venture. Also, I wish online soaps could be a min of 20 mins (I chose this length because I watch several 30-minute TV soaps online (without the ads) and they run around 20 mins, a length that seems decent for telling a compelling story.)
DeleteI would like to see a websoap that just wants to be a soap. No more disjointed scenes, shock for shock's sake, clever characters that no one can truly relate to, etc. Save the high art for the cutting room floor and give us high drama instead! Most websoaps, for me, are missing the element that makes all successful soaps work: Being able to identify and connect to the characters on a level that makes us care about the characters and their story. When websoaps connect with their audience, they will really take off. And this will happen. Look like KC sees this. Others should also. Hard to believe Brad Bell would be oblivious (he should have an idea of what's ahead): The future of soaps is online. JMO
ReplyDelete@PraiseGod... In Bill Bell's interview with the WGA back in the 1997, he voiced his opinion and reasons why he thought the half-hour format (i.e. 22-minutes w/ ads) was perfect for daily soap operas. This was in a discussion related to how long he fought to keep Y&R a half-hour. I, too, am a fan of this format over the hour-long soap, where typically half of the stories are a waste of space and just filler. In contrast, I know my viewing experience with "Hollyoaks" and "EastEnders" often equates to that old saying, "I ran home from school to watch Dark Shadows," as there's generally a feeling of excitement to learn what's gonna happen. Like, "Don't bother me right now, I'm watching my story!" .. lol! .. I also felt this while watching "East Los High," and even though it had an "ending," I'm glad it's coming back for a second season. I think the show's creative team deserves respect for being able to pull off what Prospect Park didn't: a daily, net-only, half-hour soap. I'm sure their financial model could prove an example to others going forward.
ReplyDeleteAlso, if anyone's interested here's the Bill Bell - Claire Lebine WGA interview referenced above:
On Writing - Bill Bell, Clarie Labine - December 1997
I haven't watched East Los HIgh, but I do watch (and love) EastEnders. My all-time fave soap is Edge of Night (when Henry Slesar was writing). As you gathered, I, too, prefer 20-30 min format. I remember when Y&R was 30 mins. Bill Bell was right about the format. Y&R was amazing back then. I was a kid, but I knew it was awesome. Once it went to an hour, it wasn't the same as far as being tightly written and not having the filler you mentioned. Sons & Daughters is on the Y (love the format, characters and SLs). Bevan Lee did a lot of great Aussie soaps.
Delete@FoxCrane, I just read the interview. I'm amazed at how BBell worked. Unreal. BTW I watched Passions, too.
Delete