Several 'As the World Turns' eps to be released on DVD; other soaps to come

[easttxtv]

http://www.welovesoaps.net/2011/10/atwtdvd.html
http://www.welovesoaps.net/2011/10/gldvd.html
http://www.welovesoaps.net/2011/10/soapclassicsstreaming.html
http://www.welovesoaps.net/2011/10/soapclassicscom.html
http://www.welovesoaps.net/2011/10/atwtdvdregionall.html

After years of fan requests (and in the absence of a true soap reruns cable channel), it looks like P&G has finally relented and authorized the release of a 4-disc, 20-episode set of ATWT episodes spanning 1979-2010. According to the site soapclassics.com, the set will be $19.95 and will work anywhere regardless of 'region'. They are planning a 20-ep set of Guiding Light next (no date set), and so far are in a 'cataloging' phase with eps of Another World and Search for Tomorrow. The Edge of Night and Texas were also mentioned in the articles so it looks like, with the support of fans, even more will be released.

Meanwhile, starting in 2012, online streaming of full eps of ATWT will start up, then GL later in the year. Soapclassics' parent is BVDM Entertainment, who has been authorized by TeleNext Media (the agent for Procter & Gamble Productions) to distribute their soaps content, according to the articles. BVDM is a partner with Broadway Video (viewers of Saturday Night Live see their logo in the closing credits); the Soapclassics spokesperson also says they were behind the encoding for the previous P&G Classic Soaps channel on AOL Video.

In the cataloging so far, the archives only go back to September 1979 for ATWT and GL. I wouldn't expect them to be much further back for AW, Search, and Edge; Texas was completely saved back to its August 1980 debut.

This news might explain the short shrift fans got from P&G after the cancellation of ATWT and the lack of desire on the part of P&G to make reruns available themselves.

 

[azumanga]

According to the site soapclassics.com, the set will be $19.95 and will work anywhere regardless of 'region'.

I think the DVDs will work on any machine, whether or not Dan Region was the announcer. ;D

 

[easttxtv]

According to the site soapclassics.com, the set will be $19.95 and will work anywhere regardless of 'region'.

I think the DVDs will work on any machine, whether or not Dan Region was the announcer. ;D

Why did I know somebody would go the LOL route.... 8)

 

[bpatrick]

I think "Edge" goes back to 1979, because after its cancellation
USA ran reruns at midnight (ET) for a couple of years, and had more
than 1000 episodes available.

I hope they have plenty of "GL" from the late '80s/early '90s, when
Pam Long was head writer. That was the last golden age of that show;
after she left to take over as head writer on "Santa Barbara," "GL" deteriorated
into some wayout storylines: cloning Reva, having her drive off a bridge in the
Florida Keys and reemerge in an Amish community, the San Cristobel storyline.
Long, and Doug Marland before her, at least stayed faithful to the show's
traditions, with emphasis on the interfamily relationships in Springfield.

"GL" fans will probably want to see the Four Musketeers (Rick, Mindy, Phillip, and
Beth) again; they had to have been satisfied to see the two couples paired off
again on the last few episodes.

And azumanga, a big "boo" for your Dan Region joke.

 

[ercjncpr]

I am sure that if they were not so afraid of demographics, they really could find and release episodes from earlier decades since they show up on You Tube quite regularly

 

[easttxtv]

New update:::: http://www.welovesoaps.net/2011/12/soapclassics-will-hit-store-shelves.html

ATWT & Guiding Light DVD sets will appear in stores next year, but which stores is not clear as of yet. SoapClassics is still planning DVD and online releases of other P&G soaps Another World, Edge of Night, Texas, and Search for Tomorrow, all next year. In the meantime, it sounds like online sales of ATWT's DVD set are doing well so far.