ABC has struck back against Prospect Park Networks — the producer of now-dormant digital versions of “One Life to Live” and “All My Children” that filed for bankrupcy protection this week — with the Alphabet net filing a lawsuit seeking at least $5 million in damages plus unpaid licensing fees for the two shows.
According to ABC’s lawsuit, Prospect Park was obligated to pay fees for the first seasons of “OLTL” and “AMC,” which it debuted online last year, amounting to $4 million for the former and $4.5 million for the latter.
However, according to the network’s complaint, Prospect Park paid licensing fees for “OLTL” only for April-June 2013 and for “AMC”(cast pictured, above) for July and August. ABC, which filed the cross-complaint March 7 in Los Angeles Superior Court, is demanding unpaid fees — including interest — from Prospect Park as well as at least $5 million in damages.
Prospect Park in August 2013 ceased production on the two soaps. In its bankruptcy filing, Prospect Park Networks listed ABC as its top creditor with the studio saying it owes about $1.7 million to the network.
A rep for Prospect Park did not respond to a request for comment.
SEE ALSO: Digital Soaps Producer Prospect Park Networks Files for Bankruptcy
Prospect Park had sued ABC for breach of contract, alleging the net killed off two “One Life to Live” characters and effectively killed off a third character to sabotage Prospect Park’s online resurrection of the show. The studio expanded the lawsuit last fall alleging ABC borrowed “OLTL” characters in order to create a “mega-soap” merging that show with “General Hospital.” Prospect Park Networks is seeking at least $95 million plus punitive damages from ABC.
ABC, which has called Prospect Park’s claims “baseless,” said in its lawsuit that the total series fees for both shows under the licensing deal — over the course of 15 seasons — would have been worth more than $145 million.
Prospect Park, meanwhile, said the bankruptcy filing doesn’t affect its litigation against ABC. In addition, Prospect Park said its talent and management business is unrelated to the bankruptcy filing, as are Prospect Park’s TV productions: “Royal Pains” on USA Network, “Wilfred” for FX and “Salem” for WGN America.
