[Soap Opera] Ratings History

Soap are often mocked for their campiness and asinine dialogue.  However, they are a durable genre which miraculously survived a deliberate purge in the late 2000's/early 2010's.  Once striking its zenith with 19 entries in the 1969-70 season, 2012 onward has featured 4 durable survivors.  Along the way, nine contenders were crowned 1st place, with The Young and the Restless carrying the crown for a current 29-year run, followed closely by defunct As the World Turns owning the title for 20 years and General Hospital taking an honorable 9 years.

Soaps went through a cavalcade of evolution.  The 50's started by carrying radio soaps over to television, with only Guiding Light surviving the transition.  This decade funded production with product placement sponsors such as Proctor and Gamble, and all of course advertising household soaps.  The 60's featured NBC and ABC entering the arena, and geometry lessons built viewers as NBC launched its soap blocks to prominence with popular love triangles.  The 70's sought relevance and youth, followed by the 80's displaying, glamour, glitz and action-adventure capers.  The genre peaked by 1994, and the OJ Simpson trial of 1995 offset the eternal decline in Nielsen's.  The 2000's and 2010's featured the endings of several franchises which spanned multiple decades, and yet a scant four still remain.  Enjoy the ensemble of Nielsen data.

1960's


1970's


1980's


1990's


2000's


2010's


2020's

COMING SOON



2016-17 Soap Ratings

Written by Bridger Cunningham


No scheduling changes occurred this season, leaving the four soap remains to display quality with little competition from their genre.


Y&R made a noticeable plunge, while B&B and GH held steady.  DAYS ticked down to cancellable levels, as several past shows were axed due to numbers similar to this.

Enjoy this entry and want to see how the other seasons ranked?  Follow this link for dozens of other seasons profiled: http://www.tvratingsguide.com/2017/12/tvrg-ratings-library-daytime-soaps.html

Source -- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_U.S._daytime_soap_opera_ratings

2015-16 Soap Ratings

Written by Bridger Cunningham


No scheduling changes occurred this season, leaving the four soap remains to display quality with little competition from their genre.


CBS enjoyed another ratings spike, while GH and DAYS continued their downward descent.

Enjoy this entry and want to see how the other seasons ranked?  Follow this link for dozens of other seasons profiled: http://www.tvratingsguide.com/2017/12/tvrg-ratings-library-daytime-soaps.html

Source - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_U.S._daytime_soap_opera_ratings

2014-15 Soap Ratings

Written by Bridger Cunningham


No scheduling changes occurred this season, leaving the four soap remains to display quality with little competition from their genre.



CBS delivered another stable year, while the mid-decade growth for GH and DAYS was lost, yet again.

Enjoy this entry and want to see how the other seasons ranked?  Follow this link for dozens of other seasons profiled: http://www.tvratingsguide.com/2017/12/tvrg-ratings-library-daytime-soaps.html

Source -- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_U.S._daytime_soap_opera_ratings

2005-06 Soap Ratings

Written by Bridger Cunningham



The schedule remained intact for a 3rd year in a row.



Enjoy this entry and want to see how the other seasons ranked?  Follow this link for dozens of other seasons profiled: http://www.tvratingsguide.com/2017/12/tvrg-ratings-library-daytime-soaps.html

Source -- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_U.S._daytime_soap_opera_ratings

2010-11 Soap Ratings -- An End of an Era As All My Children Leaves the Nest

Image result for All My Children Opening BookWritten Closing the Book on New York Productions by Bridger Cunningham

In one fell swoop, ABC cancelled All My Children and One Life to Live on April 14.  And to fill their schedule?  More Reality TV, because Jersey Shore was so popular and Reality TV was big in the 2000's.  The end result?  A modest replacement with cooking show The Chew, and another chatterbox with Katie Couric.  A hot mess for a number of years, All My Children went out with a bang.  Though it does not show in these figures, it did manage to end its last week in September in 2nd place.  Few primetime stars of the past made cameos except Josh Duhamel, but the quality showed in the July-September ratings.

Elsewhere, the only show to improve this season was fellow dead-soap-walking OLTL, which ticked up a tenth.  General Hospital held steady, and that was where the positive news stopped.  Young and the Restless and Days of our Lives dropped a tenth, and Bold and the Beautiful dropped two-tenths.


The 1:00 timeslot, a competitive launch space for 35 years among the three networks, lost ABC's bubbled delivery.



Enjoy this entry and want to see how the other seasons ranked?  Follow this link for dozens of other seasons profiled: http://www.tvratingsguide.com/2017/12/tvrg-ratings-library-daytime-soaps.html

Source -- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_U.S._daytime_soap_opera_ratings

2013-14 Soap Ratings -- GH Ticks Up, Y&R Noses Down


Written by The Never Mentioned Twin by Bridger Cunningham

Image result for GH AvaSoaps enjoyed another nice season as they seemed to be riding on the New York Purge's infamy.  No major changes in scheduling, rank or performances in Nielsens to report, nor any major milestone anniversaries.  GH rode high on their 50th Anniversary fame, while no one noticed Y&R turned 40.  Either way, cancellation threats ceased, leaving the only four remains a sigh of relief as their evil twin, reality TV, could not take their place.

No scheduling changes occurred this season, leaving the four soap remains to display quality with little competition from their genre.



Enjoy this entry and want to see how the other seasons ranked?  Follow this link for dozens of other seasons profiled: http://www.tvratingsguide.com/2017/12/tvrg-ratings-library-daytime-soaps.html

Source -- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_U.S._daytime_soap_opera_ratings

2012-13 Soap Ratings -- The New York Purge Cools Most Ratings Hemorrhages

Written Grateful Another Genre Lives on by Bridger Cunningham

Image result for GH 50th AnniversaryTwo milestone anniversaries marked the year as General Hospital turned 50, and Young and the Restless hit 40.  ABC milked every inch of the event, calling a plethora of favorites back for a splashy event and investing in catchy promotions and graphics.  Y&R?  I guess everyone hates turning 40, and it showed.  Days of our Lives ticked down a tenth, while GH went the other way.  Elsewhere, Bold and the Beautiful experienced significant increases.  The greatest victory for the season involved no threats of cancellation which plagued ABC and NBC for years.


General Hospital moved up one hour after 34 years in its winning timeslot.  As predicted, no major changes in performance. The four soap remains all housed their own timeslots with little competition from their fellow sudsers.


Enjoy this entry and want to see how the other seasons ranked?  Follow this link for dozens of other seasons profiled: http://www.tvratingsguide.com/2017/12/tvrg-ratings-library-daytime-soaps.html

Source -- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_U.S._daytime_soap_opera_ratings

2011-12 Soap Ratings -- One Life to Live Dies

Written Questioning How Long This Genre Will Endure by Bridger Cunningham

Image result for One Life to Live FinaleThe last standing New-York produced soap, One Life to Live, ended on January 13.  Rather than go out a withered mess, the show went out with a bang, spiking three-tenths for its coup-de-grace.  Several former favorites, including Castle's Nathan Fillion and Desperate Housewives' Tuc Watkins showed up to say goodbye.  So why did OLTL go away?  It was not the worst in the ratings, though it spent much of its last 20 years in the middle to bottom of the pack.  The Economic Depression left everyone scrambling to cut costs, and Reality TV cost one-third less to produce.  Add New York union costs, and OLTL became the latest casualty.  Sadly, their exit left the declining General Hospital in harm's way as it appeared ABC was on a soap purge.

Elsewhere, Young and the Restless made a dramatic two-tenth slide, while Bold and the Beautiful picked up their scraps and gained two for their 25th Anniversary.  GH dropped a tenth into last place, and Days of Our Lives remained steady.  This season was forecast as the death knell of soaps as their ratings remained in a grave coma amidst contract negotiations.


One Life to Live exited the schedule, leaving General Hospital on an island and the other three soaps perched in the early afternoon.


Enjoy this entry and want to see how the other seasons ranked?  Follow this link for dozens of other seasons profiled: http://www.tvratingsguide.com/2017/12/tvrg-ratings-library-daytime-soaps.html

Source -- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_U.S._daytime_soap_opera_ratings

2006-07 Soap Ratings -- One More Soap Ends, Continued Erosion Across the Board

 Written Without Preposterous Plotting by Bridger Cunningham

Image result for justin hartley passionsDeclines continued to traipse the daytime lineup, hitting most of the lineup in unison.  After 8 low-rated seasons, 4 of which taking last, NBC cancelled Passions.  DirecTV picked up the soap for one more year before cancelling.  The remaining 8 soaps all housed 20-55 years on the schedule, and the cancellation threats targeted the soap remains.


After four years of contiguous scheduling, Passions left the air after perennially placing behind ABC's OLTL and CBS' ATWT.



Enjoy this entry and want to see how the other seasons ranked?  Follow this link for dozens of other seasons profiled: http://www.tvratingsguide.com/2017/12/tvrg-ratings-library-daytime-soaps.html

Source -- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_U.S._daytime_soap_opera_ratings

2004-05 Soap Ratings History

Written by Bridger Cunningham.



The schedule remained intact for a 2nd year in a row.


ABC enjoyed a stable season due to a crossover story engrossing AMC and OLTL.  NBC took the largest hit, and CBS continued to tunnel downward.  This season marked the last time ABC held a strong year, as the franchise imploded for the remainder of the decade.

Enjoy this entry and want to see how the other seasons ranked?  Follow this link for dozens of other seasons profiled: http://www.tvratingsguide.com/2017/12/tvrg-ratings-library-daytime-soaps.html

Source -- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_U.S._daytime_soap_opera_ratings

2003-04 Soap Ratings History -- Port Charles Takes it's Last Vampire Bite

Written by Bridger Cunningham


Port Charles left the air after 6 1/2 years on October 3, 2003.  The rest of the schedule remained intact.


This season hit the soaps hard as most saw their ratings drop to the 2's and low 3's.  NBC enjoyed a stable year, while CBS and ABC dropped in unison.  Port Charles exited the lineup amidst falling ratings, and oldest soap Guiding Light's numbers continued to drop alarmingly toward last place.

Enjoy this entry and want to see how the other seasons ranked?  Follow this link for dozens of other seasons profiled: http://www.tvratingsguide.com/2017/12/tvrg-ratings-library-daytime-soaps.html

Source -- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_U.S._daytime_soap_opera_ratings

2002-03 Soap Ratings History

Written by Bridger Cunningham


The schedule remained intact for a 3rd year in a row.


Although most of the soap franchises took hits this season, majority of the 3 range held steady.  Save for Days of Our Lives, which dropped a half point as it began to lose its 90's prominence.

Enjoy this entry and want to see how the other seasons ranked?  Follow this link for dozens of other seasons profiled: http://www.tvratingsguide.com/2017/12/tvrg-ratings-library-daytime-soaps.html

Source -- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_U.S._daytime_soap_opera_ratings

2001-02 Soap Ratings

Written by Bridger Cunningham.



No scheduling changes occurred for a second season in a row.


Y&R took another massive hit, losing nearly a point, as well as its lead-out B&B losing a half point.  Erosions continued across the board as majority of the lineup in the 3 range softened.

Enjoy this entry and want to see how the other seasons ranked?  Follow this link for dozens of other seasons profiled: http://www.tvratingsguide.com/2017/12/tvrg-ratings-library-daytime-soaps.html

Source -- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_U.S._daytime_soap_opera_ratings

2000-01 Soap History

Written by Bridger Cunningham


No schedule changes occurred to the lineup.


The new decade/millennium brought unilateral drops with 1st Place Y&R dropping into the 5's, the first time since its earlier years it traversed this range.  3rd-8th Place contenders shoveled town an average of two-tenths, Passions held steady and PC shed a half point of its already meager rating.

Enjoy this entry and want to see how the other seasons ranked?  Follow this link for dozens of other seasons profiled: http://www.tvratingsguide.com/2017/12/tvrg-ratings-library-daytime-soaps.html

Source -- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_U.S._daytime_soap_opera_ratings

1999-2000 Soap Ratings

Written by Bridger Cunningham


Sunset Beach left the air in December, marking the only scheduling change.


CBS experienced mild upticks in the ratings as NBC held mixed fortunes.  DAYS and GH lost considerable ground, AMC, ATWT, OLTL and GL all regularly vied for middle placement, and Passions experienced growth.  PC registered stable, while Beach went out with a record low season average.

Enjoy this entry and want to see how the other seasons ranked?  Follow this link for dozens of other seasons profiled: http://www.tvratingsguide.com/2017/12/tvrg-ratings-library-daytime-soaps.html

Source -- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_U.S._daytime_soap_opera_ratings

1998-99 Soap Ratings

Written by Bridger Cunningham


An ailing AW ended its 35-year run, being replaced late in the summer by Passions.


Some soaps stabilized, while the middle of the pack became defined as the 3 range.  DAYS lost ground and fell to 3rd after a 3-season 2nd place run as B&B and Y&R stabilized.  GL took a massive half-point hit, and AW was cancelled amidst drops.  In its place, Passions punctured the Nielsen floor further.  Only Y&R and PC managed growth this season.

Source -- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_U.S._daytime_soap_opera_ratings

1997-98 Soap Ratings

Written by Bridger Cunningham


No schedule changes occurred this season.


The drops continued as Y&R slid into the 6's, a range it had not seen since the 70's.  DAYS dropped seven-tenths, resulting in AW taking a half-point hit deeper into anemic territory.  Elsewhere, the ABC franchises slid further as AMC slid further down the charts, and OLTL landed in 8th Place, dropping into the 3 range.  PC also took a half-point hit, and BEACH and GL managed stable numbers.

Enjoy this entry and want to see how the other seasons ranked?  Follow this link for dozens of other seasons profiled: http://www.tvratingsguide.com/2017/12/tvrg-ratings-library-daytime-soaps.html

Source -- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_U.S._daytime_soap_opera_ratings

1996-97 Soap Ratings

Written by Bridger Cunningham


The City lost power and cancelled inside two seasons.  In its place, ABC created a spinoff, Port Charles, out of the GH franchise.  And NBC attempted an Aaron Spelling soap in Sunset Beach, which crested a low tide in the ratings.


Save for NBC soaps DAYS and AW, the losses continued.  Y&R dropped a half point, as B&B hit new lows.  GH and AMC slid to new lows in the 4's, and ATWT and GL held steady.  OLTL dropped a half-point, and new soaps experienced mixed fortunes.  PC managed considerable growth over its predecessor, while Beach managed record lows for debuts.

Enjoy this entry and want to see how the other seasons ranked?  Follow this link for dozens of other seasons profiled: http://www.tvratingsguide.com/2017/12/tvrg-ratings-library-daytime-soaps.html

Source -- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_U.S._daytime_soap_opera_ratings

1995-96 Soap Ratings

Written by Bridger Cunningham



Loving ended its run and was rebranded as The City during this season.


Only DAYS managed to rebound this season with a half-point spike, as AMC lost nearly a tenth and landed in 4th after claiming 2nd the last 4 seasons.  B&B also dropped, yet managed to retain more ground than AMC.  GH teetered on the 5.0 mark, and ATWT, OLTL and GL experienced major losses.  AW held steady, and Loving ended on a high note due to a clever murder mystery.  Tragically, its revamp managed to slaughter the ratings further.

Enjoy this entry and want to see how the other seasons ranked?  Follow this link for dozens of other seasons profiled: http://www.tvratingsguide.com/2017/12/tvrg-ratings-library-daytime-soaps.html

Source -- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_U.S._daytime_soap_opera_ratings

1994-95 Soap Ratings

Written by Bridger Cunningham


For a second consecutive season, no changes occurred to any lineups.


The OJ Simpson Trial's damage is evident from this season as all franchises lost.  Y&R dropped over a tenth, AMC dropped a half, GH shed nearly a tenth, and B&B returned to the 5's with a half-point drop.  OLTL and DAYS held steady, while ATWT and CBS made severe drops of nearly a point.  AW tunneled down to abysmal territory, and Loving's already-soft delivery shed a half-point earning a cancellation/retool after a tough 12-year run.

Enjoy this entry and want to see how the other seasons ranked?  Follow this link for dozens of other seasons profiled: http://www.tvratingsguide.com/2017/12/tvrg-ratings-library-daytime-soaps.html

Source -- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_U.S._daytime_soap_opera_ratings

1993-94 Soap Ratings

Written by Bridger Cunningham


No changes occurred to the lineup this season.


And then there were 10 soaps....  Y&R continued to inch upward as 2nd place AMC dropped nearly a tenth.  GH bounced back after a 10-year loss trajectory, and B&B finally reached the 6 range.  Elsewhere, DAYS bounced back and gained nearly a tenth, and AW lost the same seven-tenth gain from the previous year.

Enjoy this entry and want to see how the other seasons ranked?  Follow this link for dozens of other seasons profiled: http://www.tvratingsguide.com/2017/12/tvrg-ratings-library-daytime-soaps.html

Source -- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_U.S._daytime_soap_opera_ratings

1992-93 Soap Ratings

Written by Bridger Cunningham


Santa Barbara exited the lineup after 3 seasons of bottom-dwelling.


AMC and Y&R enjoyed upticks despite being juxtaposed.  Elsewhere, fortunes were steady or experienced losses.  B&B pushed into 3rd place, while most of the 2:00-3:00 hour remained in the middle of the pack.  And DAYS lost more ground, falling to 8th place.

Enjoy this entry and want to see how the other seasons ranked?  Follow this link for dozens of other seasons profiled: http://www.tvratingsguide.com/2017/12/tvrg-ratings-library-daytime-soaps.html

Source -- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_U.S._daytime_soap_opera_ratings

1991-92 Soap Ratings

Written by Bridger Cunningham


No changes occurred this season to the lineups.


The ranks shuffled as several shows maintained as others dropped.  AMC proved to be the MVP of the season as its infamous twin in the well story grabbed viewers.  CBS remained steady, with ATWT jumping into 3rd as GH dropped into the 5's.  NBC returned to the bottom of the chart after an enjoyable 80's run.

Enjoy this entry and want to see how the other seasons ranked?  Follow this link for dozens of other seasons profiled: http://www.tvratingsguide.com/2017/12/tvrg-ratings-library-daytime-soaps.html

Source -- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_U.S._daytime_soap_opera_ratings

1990-91 Soap Ratings

Written by Bridger Cunningham


The only scheduling change featured generations dying off after a soft run.


The drops continued, particularly for ABC.  GH dropped into the 6's, while OLTL dropped an entire point.  AMC showed signs of stability, and Loving reached last place after Generations ended.  Save for GL, CBS maintained its ground, and NBC's fortunes began to turn for worse.

Enjoy this entry and want to see how the other seasons ranked?  Follow this link for dozens of other seasons profiled: http://www.tvratingsguide.com/2017/12/tvrg-ratings-library-daytime-soaps.html

Source -- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_U.S._daytime_soap_opera_ratings