NBC makes "Passions" available free online

from variety

'Passions' to flare online
NBC to stream sudser on Web site
By MICHAEL LEARMONTH, MICHAEL LEARMONTH

NBC hopes Net auds will embrace streaming episodes of 'Passions.'

In a first for daytime TV, NBC will stream full episodes of "Passions"
online at NBC.com.

Free to consumers, the ad-supported streams were made available
starting Monday.

Episodes will be posted at 6 p.m. PT on NBC.com on the day of their
first airing and will remain accessible for a week before they are
replaced by new episodes as each subsequent week begins.

Jeff Gaspin, president of NBC Universal digital content and
cross-network strategy, said the move is part of an effort to add
"digital extensions" to all shows. He added that sudser fans are a
loyal bunch, likely to seek out missed episodes.

NBC U owns "Passions," which is produced inhouse at NBC Universal
Television Studios, allowing the net to more easily clear the rights
for digital use.

Sony Pictures Digital Entertainment tried selling soaps online with
its SoapCity portal, which offered episodes of "The Young and the
Restless," Days of Our Lives" and "As the World Turns" in 2003.

Ads were stripped out, and the shows were offered for $1.99 each or
$9.99 for a monthly subscription.

Taylor...

David, how dare you be so cold to deny us crack addicts and not
cross-point where we all hang out (alt.tv.passions)! :-p

6PM same-day, eh? If they posted it at 6PM *Eastern*, it would the
minute *after* it had just finished airing on the westcoast (it airs
5PM-6PM Eastern/2PM-3PM Pacific). I guess much like the time it takes
to add nicotine to Tim Horton's coffee, *they* (NBC Uni) need a few
hours to the adulturated the formula to make it ready for use by us
crackheads.

[note: it's just an urban legend that Tim Horton's adds nicotine to
their coffee]

tabbicat...

Yeah - it's really Starbucks.