In January, NBC announced that the network would be canceling the eight-year-old soap Passions in the Fall. Millions of viewers were understandably upset. After weeks of uncertainty, it looks like fans of the residents of Harmony will be able to rest easy — at least those who have satellite television.
The soap will end its eighth season on NBC on September 7th with a series of cliffhangers. DirecTV will begin airing the ninth season of Passions starting on September 17th. Passions will remain in its usual 2pm timeslot and DirecTV will also air encore marathons on weekends. This will be the first scripted drama series for the satellite TV provider who has been offering other original programming to its subscribers.
Executive vice president of Entertainment for DirectTV Eric Shanks said, “Passions fans no longer need to mourn the demise of their beloved program as it has found new life on DirectTV. We care about this show and are extremely proud to give it an exclusive home here at DirectTV.”
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Marc Graboff (president of NBC Universal Television, West Coast) added, “This new arrangement with DirectTV is truly a landmark development that allows NBC Universal to extend the Passions brand in a fresh and entirely new way, to DirectTV’s 16 million homes. It will reward the dedicated fans of the daytime drama who can continue to enjoy it on DirectTV and also opens up a great new model for other television programs to find new life on other non-traditional platforms.”
It is unclear how much DirecTV will be paying NBC Universal for the soap. Passions will be cut back from five to four episodes a week and will probably endure additional budget cuts. How these cost reductions would affect the soap cast and crew is unclear. The ninth season will begin filming in August.
The satellite provider is encouraging Passions fans to subscribe to the DirecTV service and is offering several incentives. Episodes of Passions are currently made available for free online at NBC.com and via iTunes. It’s unknown if online distribution will continue in some form but it’s looking doubtful thus far. Stay tuned!
I don’t have Direct TV, but I don’t want to miss seeing Passions. My friend who does have Direct TV will be taping it for me so I won’t have to miss it. Anyone who has a friend can do the same. Don’t know what I would do if I had to miss seeing Passions. I love the people and the show.
Well I watched passions and Days via NBC and yes I have direct Tv but I won’t be watching it because Days of Our lives is now going to be on at 2:00 PM as well so unless Direct Tv changes the time i will stick with Days although I’ve watched Passions since day one I have watched Days for 25 years so Bye Bye Passions guess I’ll have more free time now Sad to have to make a choice. NBC got us hooked then dumped Passions then when Direct Tv took it on NBC decided to move Days to… Read more »
Boycot NBC! They have cancelled the funniest, enjoyable, original, creative soap.
I to am done with NBC. I have been watching since the first season and now my daughter is hooked too. I love Passions and I think this sucks. I am not doubling what I pay for tv just to get direct tv. I will not watch NBC anymore AT ALL. They are so money hungry that they don’t even care about the viewers.
I just wanted to let you know that I have been watching Passions since it first aired. I was not sure about it at first, but have really grown to love it over the years. Actually, when I was working I made sure my tape was in the vcr every morning before I left and I watched it every night when I got home. I really hate to see it leave. I am glad to see Ethan and Theresa are finally together even though Alister has come back from the dead once again.
I THINK THIS IS A DUMB MOVE.LIKE OTHERS A LOT OF PEOPLE CANT AFFORD DIRECT TV. BUT I GUESS THATS WHAT ITS ALL ABOUT THE MONEY NOT THE FANS.
I think NBC dosen’t need another daytime news program.We are already tired of the three hours you have,now. I am through with NBC. I will follow Passions in the soap magazine, but I will not continue to watch NBC.
I have been watching Passions since the day it started, and now i will not be able to watch it anymore, cause the place where i live only have cable TV and no Directv. i just have one question
“Why ask for comments, when nothing is going to be done about it?” why directv, why not some local channel?
I HAVE WATCHED PASSIONS FOR EIGHT YEARS,AND HAVE COME TO LOVE THE CHARACTERS AND STORY LINES. I HAVE COMCAST AND AM UNABLE TO CHANGE. I WILL MISS PASSIONS TERRIBLY BECAUSE I AM DISABLED AND ELDERLY. IF I COULD BE ENDORA, I WOULD FIX EVERYONE INVOLVED IN MOVING PASSIONS
I dont understand why they would take such a good show off a channel that everyone can afford. I have direct tv, only because I live in the country, but it is not that costly. I really fill bad that some people will be missing it. sorry, karen
Hey Laura, don’t get upset. I saw that you mentioned the family channel so you must live in Canada. I have good news for you if you do. SuperChannel is going to be airing Passions in October when it launches,you will have to subsribe to it, but it will air the show in Canada.
http://www.allarcoentertainment.com
is their website, you can read about Passions and what they are all about there.
this is so stupid. how dare you take the show away! you idiots are gonna lose a lot of money. driect tv is NOT available everywhere, so you dont care about those of us who watched this show for years to have it taken away, and told we have to pay 3 times as much money to watch ONE f*cking show? you people are selfish & retarded.
Im sorry Passions is leaving regular tv. Why can’t it be shown on cable Soap Network? That would really be nice.
Barbara
What are you people at nbc thinking by cancelling Passions to make the today show an hour longer,dont you realize that housewives are the main viewers at that time and we do not to watch the today show for one hour let alone 4 freakin hours
Alright….1ST THINGS 1ST…WHO THE HELL IS GOING TO WATCH THE OTHER SHOW THAT IS TAKING PASSIONS PLACEEEEE….NOONE…WE ALL WANT TO WATCH PASSIONS!!!!!!!…im only 12 but it is MY LYFE PEOPLE IT IS MY LYFE..TO WATCH PASSIONS…now ive been begging my parents for direct tv and brbing them but its not working i almost cryed when i heard it was going off the air and on dirrect tv..it was horrible i almost punched my little sister in the face…AND ALSO WHEN I WENT TO VACTION i would ask my mom what time is it,,,she would tell me and when the time… Read more »