@ NCTA: Newest Disney-ABC Broadband Channel: Soapnetic Launches On Verizon Apr. 17

@ NCTA: On The Floor: SoapneticDisney-ABC Television is adding soaps to its current roster of broaband channels ESPN360, ABC News Now and Disney Connection with the April 17 launch of closed-garden SOAPNETIC. Cable channel SOAPnet shows same-day reruns of soaps from ABC, NBC and CBS [plus original content aimed squarely at soap fans. SOAPNETIC, which really needs a new name fast, will mix original and clasic content, coverage of current soaps whether on SOAPnet or not, and online debuts of SOAPnet shows. What it doesn’t include — streams of current shows.
Sign of the changing times: Announcing a new broadband network at the cable industry’s biggest event with competitor Verizon Online as the launch distributor.

Update: Caught a demo of SOAPNETIC at the Disney-ABC booth, where I was told the name is meant to be a play on kinetic, among other words. The tag line is “Must Watch Now” I couldn’t try a live version but, if it lives up to the demo, this could succeed where a lot of other online soap efforts have failed. Lots of video, including current soap clips. The Verizon launch is part of a broader rights deal Disney and the carrier signed earlier.
Our coverage from last year’s NCTA is here.

Comments have been disabled for this post