Everything Moves to the Web Eventually…Even Soap Operas?

Love them or hate them, many of us have grown up on, or at least around, soap operas — and while hard to take seriously, there are actually few longer-enduring institutions of American TV programming. Some soaps have run for forty or more years, all the while promising that even if you only tune in once a decade, you won’t miss a beat.

But all things change eventually and soap operas are no exception.

According to the New York Post, after four decades ABC has sold the online rights to two of its long-running shows “All My Children” and “One Life to Live.” Come September, the two shows will apparently move to the web and pick up right where they left off.  Prospect Park, the new firm responsible for production, will reportedly take charge of the cast and crew — even veteran soap-diva Susan Lucci.

Prospect Park is said to be finalizing its current round of funding for its Hulu-style venture in the next month to 45 days. Other unnamed financial backers are involved. The financial terms couldn’t be learned.

The soaps are expected to be the first of a number of brand-name TV shows to eventually land at the site.

News of the deal will be a huge relief to soap fans who have been campaigning for ABC to keep them on air. The broadcast network said in April it was dumping them for much less expensive, unscripted programs, “The Chew” and “Revolution.”

The question is, now that she’s on the web, will Susan Lucci still be eligible for an “Emmy?”