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Corday Productions, the production company behind NBC’s Days of our Lives, is launching Net Soaps/Net Novelas – a new online soap opera network in conjunction with All Screens Media. The project derives inspiration from the past to in the creation of “forward-thinking,” original interactive soap operas.
Variety, which broke the news earlier today, reports the venture will focus on multilingual soaps for the United States, Latin America and Brazil. Net Soaps/Net Novelas hopes to advertisers will be receptive to the concept of branded-content, integrating their products or services directly in the new digital series, similar to foreign soap operas.
Net Soaps/Net Novelas wants advertisers to be involved with the shows in more than just sponsorship roles, by including them in the casting process, among other things. The venture has already received funding, with more on the way as they continue to engage in talks with other corporations about strategic partnerships.
“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 and Days of our Lives’ executive producer. “This will be original content that the fans will play a role in green lighting and casting, delivered in a form that can build devoted communities of fans in the digital space.”
Net Soaps/Net Novelas will house a mixture of original programming and acquired, licensed series.
Set for a third quarter launch, some familiar names will make up the team behind the venture. Soap veteran and Emmy winner Crystal Chappell (ex-Carly, Days of our Lives; et al), creator of online soap Venice, will be involved in the launch of Net Soaps. Corday Productions and Days of our Lives executive Greg Meng will head up development of online portals (sites/hubs) that will tap feedback from viewers and aspiring actors in the creation of the content, via online casting, acting auditions, polling on show concepts and interactive viewing.
Also making up the NS/NN team is Rose Ganguzza, an independent producer whose work in international distribution with Brazil’s TV Globo, and past as president of Revlon/Latin America will boost the network’s international appeal. Patricia Ganguzza’s AIM Productions will provide a variety of services for the venture including “product placement and sponsorship for corporate clients, on international promotional, talent, sponsorship and distribution deals.”
“We do have a lot of access to amazing talent, not only daytime but primetime,” Meng said to Variety. “We are looking at creating these shows as hyperlocal location-based shows, appealing to local sponsors that have national appeal as well.”
One might ask why Corday Productions and All Screens Media would launch an online soap network soon after the failure of Prospect Park Networks’ The Online Network. AMS founder Peter Heumiller says their venture will differ from Prospect’s due to the way they are creating their content. Whereas Prospect Park took existing shows in an attempt to rebrand them, Net Soaps is “creating content in a forward-thinking way that gives us a unique platform to connect with people in multiple ways.”
“We do have a lot of access to amazing talent, not only daytime but primetime,” Meng said to Variety. “We are looking at creating these shows as hyperlocal location-based shows, appealing to local sponsors that have national appeal as well.”
About Days of our Lives
“Days of our Lives” is produced by Corday Productions Inc. in association with Sony Pictures Television. Ken Corday is Executive Producer and Greg Meng is Co-Executive Producers. Gary Tomlin and Christopher Whitesell are the Head Writers.
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