Obviously every soap fan knows that Guiding Light has been canceled, and that the rest of daytime TV is isn't in such good shape. Ratings, although now holding somewhat steady, with shows usually holding a 1.8 to a 1.9 ratings share, are down, and ad prices are getting cut. So, what does that mean for us the viewers? It means daytime soap operas may soon be extinct. It sounds far fetched, but it is a very real reality.
Soap Operas are expensive to produce. Generally shows have large casts, the majority of which are on contract, require multiple sets, and shoot a large number of episodes a year. If the shows aren't pulling in the ad revenue, especially for their target audience (married women with families), then the shows are going to start vanishing.
Days of Our Lives is already close to being canceled, and all the other shows aren't far behind.
So, how do us, as viewers and fans, save the shows we love? And how do networks bring in new viewers?
Well, as fans, we need to start getting our friends to watch the shows. Just get them to try them out for a week. Spread the word, because most of these shows don't have the money to advertise. Start blogs, Facebook groups, whatever to try and bring in new fans. Most people stopped watching soaps because they think they are all the same. While the shows all have similarities, they are also all very different in tone and style.
Also, as a viewer, maybe try out a new show. Don't be afraid to venture outside of what you've been watching. You'd be surprised at how good some shows are right now. One Life to Live and All My Children are both telling some interesting stories, and Guiding Light has developed a very nice, unique sense of humor, and a very relaxed but interesting storytelling style. Bold and the Beautiful is campier than ever, and As the World Turns is taking pretty big risks with all the stories that are being told.
What do networks need to do to bring in audiences? They need to try bringing in some fresh series. I know that when I was younger I kind of resisted watching soaps because I prefered to watch a story from the very begining, and they really weren't creating any new shows at the time. New shows bring in new viewers who may never have thought to watch a soap opera. Then, since the TV is already on, they may stick around and watch some of the other shows already on. Take risks with the types of stories being told, and try something new. Or old... Now, in the age of remakes, is the time resurect a few series from the past. Shows like Santa Barabara, Dark Shadows, Ryan's Hope, Loving, Another World could all be updated and sold either in the daytime format, or the primetime format. It would also give new audiences a chance to see a series from the begining, and old fans to see their old shows revived.
They should also consider getting some new blood in the writing room. This one is directed specifically at General Hospital. The ratings are falling fast, and it is for one very big reason. The storytelling is sloppy. Stuff makes no sense, there is no sense of direction and characters are introduced and then pushed to the background. The characters are either stuck in a rut or acting very out of character (even if they are suffering from PPD). Getting a new head writer in there, maybe a woman to give the show a more feminine touch, could make the world of difference.
Also, a good way to cut costs is to cut the shows length down. Not every show has enough story to sustain an hours length. They should consider cutting down to half hour episodes again for some of the series. Why? Well, you are shooting the same amount of episodes for half the cost.
The biggest one is ways the networks make the shows available. CBS is the only network that has every single one of it's daytime series available online. The internet is a great way to get the shows out there to younger audiences. The networks just have to find a way to track the amount of views, and work with selling ads either shown during the episode, or shown on the page. SoapNet is a good idea and all, but it isn't available to the same amount of people that have the internet.
The changing world of network telivision doesn't mean that soaps have to become extinct. It just means that the networks have to step in and show some creativity as to how they create and distribute their product.
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