Though unconfirmed by ABC, two published reports hint that General Hospital could soon be headed to the web -- much the way that All My Children and One Life to Live will after their final broadcasts on ABC.
"Prospect Park has also made a deal with ABC Daytime to move General Hospital to the Internet -- whenever it is that the network broadcast of that soap comes to an end," Jamey Giddens reported for Daytime Confidential.
Showbiz 411 reported the same news a few days later, though the entertainment industry web site offered nothing in the way of new details.
As first reported in June, Katie Couric will join ABC's daytime lineup in September 2012 with her own syndicated talk show. The still-untitled program has been given General Hospital's timeslot, but an ABC spokesperson insisted that no decision had been made about GH's future on the network.
"The announcement does not mean the inevitable cancellation of General Hospital," an ABC spokesperson said at the time. "Rather it means that in September 2012, we will program our daytime block with our three strongest shows. We'll have options for the daytime daypart just like we do each year with primetime. We believe in all of our shows and the ones that our viewers want will be the ones that continue. There are many options that could happen... only time will tell."
The programs vying for time in ABC's schedule include The View, its foody counterpart, The Chew, and a weight loss program with the working title The Revolution. The latter two programs have yet to air their first episodes.
ABC announced in April that it would be cancelling All My Children and One Life to Live, leaving General Hospital as its only remaining daytime drama series. Last month, AMC and OLTL received a seemingly unlikely reprieve: ABC had licensed the rights to the two programs to Prospect Park, a media and production company. Prospect Park announced that it would continue to produce both All My Children and One Life to Live, but on the Internet rather than on television.
Details on AMC and OLTL's move to the Internet have been scant, but Prospect Park issued a statement last week indicating that it was in active negotiations with the various unions that represent the on-screen and behind-the-scenes talent.
ABC had no comment on the rumors of General Hospital's impending web move. However, subsequent reports indicate that Prospect Park has not secured the rights to broadcast GH on the Internet.
» RELATED STORY ABC announces licensing deal that will move AMC, OLTL to the Internet
» RELATED STORY Katie Couric's new talk show could bring an end to GH
