‘One Life to Live’ Gets New Studio Space

(SoapOperaNetwork.com) — With “All My Children” heading to the West Coast, “One Life to Live” will inherit “AMC’s” soon-to-be-old studio space. Also, both soaps are expected to begin broadcasting in HD early next year.

“ABC Daytime announced today that it would move production of ‘All My Children’ from New York to Los Angeles and that ‘One Life to Live’ would move into ‘All My Children’s’ former New York space, giving both shows facility upgrades and streamlined production models,” states an ABC press release issued yesterday afternoon. “‘All My Children’ will begin taping episodes in Los Angeles the week of Jan. 4, 2010. The move of ‘One Life To Live’ to its new home takes place soon after ‘All My Children’ relocates.”

According to ABC Daytime President Brian Frons, “The move to Los Angeles enables both ‘All My Children’ and ‘One Life to Live’ to dramatically improve the series production models and achieve significant efficiencies while enhancing each show. We had to examine every option on the table to combat the current economic realities, and rising costs of production, and we are doing it in a way that makes each of our shows stronger.”

“One Life to Live’s” current, smaller studio will be converted into office space by the network. The move to “All My Children’s” soon-to-be-vacated studios will give “OLTL” at least 30% additional space for sets and props.

Which leaves us with several million dollar questions. Will the move to L.A. help or hurt “AMC” in the long-run, and will “OLTL” wither on the vine as the only remaining ABC soap left in the Big Apple, or will it provide a much needed boost the sagging sudser? And if the move is successful for “AMC,” will “OLTL” soon follow suit and head West as well?

So many questions, so few answers.

“One Life to Live” airs Weekdays on ABC. Weeknights on SOAPnet. Check local listings.

Discussion: ‘One Life to Live’ Gets New Studio Space