There's an interesting rumor on Soap Central today about Sony negotiating to
buy AMC and OLTL. Here's the details:

Sony almost got outed today when stories surfaced about their negotiations
with AMC and OLTL actors. They saved it by suggesting that they were going to
put them on DAYS and Y&R. Yesterday NBC/Universal exec was quoted with
saying how the soaps cancelled by ABC still commanded good ratings and that
several other competitors were hoping to pick up some of them-all NBC Universal
network and cable networks. More to come! Sony is buying AMC and OLTL from ABC
for around 200 million. Based on ABC's most recent net profit from the shows, it
will only take two years to recoup this investment by Sony. NBC is now owned by
Comcast who profits greatly as a leader in online viewing of television. January
2011 numbers showed Days of our Lives as #8 in total online streams over ALL tv
shows available online. That is including primetime and whatever else. Comcast
is willing to air the soaps in the afternoon on NBC after Days in order to also
show them online on Comcast. Sony, knowing that AMC and OLTL have never been
marketed in foreign countries, knows the money they will make from selling them
abroad. It is a win-win deal for everybody involved. NBC just gave Days a multi
year renewal on their 45th anniversary in NOV. 2010. They are pleased with the
profitability Days has been providing, along with the viewer loyalty that a 45
year scripted drama commands. They are in rebuilding mode after Jeff Zucker and
need revenue and loyal viewership to jump start the network into regaining it's
glory. As both the cancelled soaps made money and were not cancelled because
they didn't, NBC is anxious to take them on. Esp. when Sony will pay the upfront
costs and all NBC will have to do is pay a licensing fee.

For more, read the posts on the Soap
Central discussion by Thom Blake.

http://boards.soapcentral.com/showthread.php?700233-Sony-Deal-to-buy-AMC-and-OLTL-from-ABC-nothing-new-but-top-secret

I have trouble believing AMC will be saved with it's current ratings being low. But OLTL has hope if it continues it's uptick.

Forgiveness Man wrote:

I have trouble believing AMC will be saved with it's current ratings being low. But OLTL has hope if it continues it's uptick.

I hope so I am having difficulty detaching myself from the show.

Not to be pessimistic, but I won't believe it until it's officially announced. When GL and ATWT were cancelled, similar rumors made waves. They said P&G were shopping them to other networks, like Lifetime. They said ATWT in particular had additional "options" to continue. NBC was so flip about doing away with soaps that I have a hard time believing they would be interested in picking up ABC's now. If it happens that's great, but I can't get my hopes up about anything until it's final.

It would be interesting if it happened, but I'm not going to hold my breathe. As Jason said, I've been down this route with GL and nothing came of it. It would be great, though.

Kral wrote:

I haven't been to SOC in over a year now. Is this "source" reliable???

Beats me, I only passed on what I saw but why would they publish it if it didn't have a little truth in it?