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