Cool_mate's thread about soaps possibly ending got me thinking about the future of soaps. I honestly think things like Netflix will be the future of soaps.

I still think they'll air on the main channels but I wouldn't be surprised if Netflix started making deals with ITV, BBC, Fremantle etc to get Corrie, EE, ED, Neighbours etc on their streaming service - I don't think they'll get the 'new' episodes, but I wouldn't be surprised if they have episodes from a week behind the TV schedule, and keep them on there for like a month or so.

This would have the benefit that things like 'Netflix' are a global thing - if someone wanted to watch Neighbours, or EastEnders, they could watch them in any part of the world - I know these are screened in many countries but I believe that Netflix could globalise and maximise followings for English speaking soaps.

P.S. I don't have a Netflix account, but I would get it no questions asked if they added soaps to it, I'd start watching the American soaps again as well probably.

One way to get off a soap addiction.

Every county has their own Netflix.And have different rights .

Streaming is the way forward but I think currently they all have their own platforms.

Do the soaps really fit with Netflixs image?

You can watch them already online without having to pay for a subscription. Plus they are on the telly for free. So why would people pay to watch soaps on Netflix?

I cant see ITV Studios making Corrie or Emmerdale for anyone else but ITV, same for BBC and Eastenders. I guess the aussie imports are the most likely, but I just cant see TEN carrying on with it, if UK ratings are so low that its not even viable on Channel 5.

I think it would be in addition to them being on TV rather than being moved from TV.

People pay for Netflix for things other than soaps, so if they already have a subscription, they could additionally watch their soaps on there too.

However, if different countries have different versions of Netflix, maybe that defeats the object of it all.

Agreed and also not everyone can afford unlimited broadband, or have access to a stable connection.

There is totally a chance that Netflix could bring a more global audience to any of the British soaps, however they are very much going down the "exclusive" tag, and are not so keen to air shows only in some markets.

If ITV want Netflix in the UK to air the soaps is anyones guess, I would say no it undermines the ITV Player, and in theory is handing Netflix profit that should be theirs.

For the ITV and Channel four soaps you'd also have the minefield about Advertising to contend with too. Those channels survive with advertising, which Netflix doesn't have.

So no, I don't see Netflix taking over the soaps but I think we may see me development for the ITV and BBC players over the coming years.

What kind of development?

How do British soaps fare around the world? I know Corrie is popular in NZ and Canada but don't know about anywhere else and have never heard Eastenders or Emmerdale doing well elsewhere.
Is Home and Away the most successful international soap? They always pride themselves on their overseas success

I know Home and Away is very popular in Ireland, and still airs in the whole of the UK obviously but elsewhere I'm not so sure.

Bold and the Beautiful does well in Australia apparently. I don't know about the British soaps.

Home and Away airs throughout Europe and is translated in many languages and has many different names around the world.
I remember Kate Ritchie said in an interview before she once got a letter from an African country, can't remember which one, and the address was Sally Fletcher, Summer Bay Caravan Park, Austrlia and she got it 😂

The Britsh Soaps are on cable in Australia and average between 35,000 to 40,000 viewers

I dont think of the UK soaps do really well in any global markets, and where they do eg Corrie in New Zeland its more of an exception to the rule. Dont forget the NZ is tiny and can not really fund its own shows like bigger markets can, so I can understand why Corrie is successful in that market.

NZ has Shortland Street if it's still going?

I hope not

looks like it is still going

As much as I'd love them to be I doubt it tbh.

I don't see it happening as The BBC, ITV and CH4 all have their own streaming service where the programmes can be watched the same day and for up to a month. certainly with BbC and ITV you can stream "live" so there is nothing netflix can add to that other than charging viewers to watch something they can watch for free.

maybe they will allow the soaps to be streamed in countries that don't currently but all seem to have a pretty big reach already

I think it's possible totally original soaps may turn up on Netflix in the near future. I think there is still an appetite for soaps, but as ITV now bombard viewers with episodes, there's no room for anymore on TV, really. The genre has been monopolised.

There was speculation of reviving Brookside and putting it on Netflix, if not I wouldn't mind old episodes of Brookside instead. It's a possibility I could only really see Hollyoaks moving to Netflix if there was a chance of it though

How could they revive it tho when the sets are now used for Hollyoaks and I am sure the close has been sold.

Er, rebuild the set?

I wouldn't be surprised if Netflix actually started making original soaps, or revived a long gone soap like Dynasty or something. I think it world work, episodes could be released weekly in an omnibus edition to allow binge watching.
I read an article in some Irish publication that TV3 was close to doing a deal with a streaming provider, I think it was Netflix, that would stream Red Rock but I think it might have fallen through.