US Soaps to air on UK TV

[eithne]

Zonemedia are to launch a UK version of their female-skewed entertainment channel Zone Romantica on September 3.

Programming will feature several series from 20th Century Fox, Television Distribution, including the highly melodramatic legal dramedy Ally McBeal; also from the same creator, David E. Kelley, popular medical series, Chicago Hope; and the first showing in the UK of Snoops. Starring Gina Gershon of Pretty in Pink and Showgirls fame, Snoops is a drama series that centres around an unconventional detective agency in LA.

Viewers can follow the dramatic happenings in Salem when long running American soap Days of Our Lives is brought to UK television screens. Soap fans will also be pleased to learn that salacious soap, The Young and the Restless will be keeping Days company when the channel launches. It follows the daily lives and loves in fictional Genoa City and the history long infamous rivalry between Jill Foster Abbot and Katherine Chancellor.

Heart-warming, inspirational films will round-out programming.

Zone Romantica will be available on Sky's digital satellite platform at channel number 146 following the acquisition of BEN TV's EPG slot. The purchase allows the channel to sit alongside Zonemedia's Zone Reality branded offerings.

An additional version of ethnic station BEN TV launched on channel number 194 last month in preparation for when the current content on 146 is replaced.

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From Digital Spy

I've watched Days and Y&R in the past as an occasional viewer. While many of the storylines used to seem very far out in comparison to the UK soaps, now some can actually seem quite conservative - what with all the kidnappings, murders, explosions etc. in UK Soapland.

Be interesting to see how the soaps do ratingswise. For more info go to: www.uk.romantica.tv/index.php

[sootycat]

I used to be a massive fan of The Young And The Restless years ago.......till they axed it. I would definitely watch that ( That is of course if it appears on Freeview or Freesat )

[sootycat]

They do show it

I have been catching up with the Y&R. It is years since I saw it, and the cast I remember look a lot older. !!

[eithne]

The Y&R is probably the US soap most like the UK ones, in that the storylines do contain topical issues. This is what I can remember from when it was on TV3 over here, going back 2/3 years ago. I never got majorly into it, but liked some of the characters - especially Victoria Newman.

Are you watching everyday Sooty?

[sootycat]

I am yes.

The actress who plays Victoria is one of the ones I noticed the biggest change in. She has gone from a thin brunette teenager to a chunky blonde, and Jerry Douglas (John Abbott) appears to be wearing a 'Blake Carrington' hairpiece ;D

[eithne]

She's probably been recast has she? That tended to happen a lot in the Y&R.

[sootycat]

I think she was recast but then returned ( The seem to do that a lot in US soaps ) It is definitely The same actress that was in it years ago.

When I last watched it Jack was married to Nicky, and Victoria was with Cole.

[birdiefans]

Young and the Restless is a good soap.

Jack is now married to Sharon who was married to Nick Newman. Victoria is pregnant right now and she is seeing someone named JT.

[sootycat]

I am very peed off.

We are moving soon to somewhere that doesn't allow SKY dishes...........and Freeview doesn't have the channel.