(Photo by: Evans Vestal Ward/Peacock)
It’s the end of an era. After more than 70 years, NBC is getting out of the soap opera business. The network’s last remaining daytime serial, Days of Our Lives, is moving to the Peacock streaming service as an exclusive in September for season 58. It will be replaced by a new series, NBC News Daily.
Premiering on November 8th of 1965, Days of Our Lives is set in the fictitious Midwestern town of Salem. It revolves around the members of the Brady, Horton, and DiMera families — along with their friends, enemies, and lovers. Season 57 cast members have included Lucas Adams, Lamon Archey, Lindsay Arnold, Camila Banus, Brandon Barash, Brandon Beemer, Nadia Bjorlin, Raven Bowens, Tamara Braun, Bryan Dattilo, Mary Beth Evans, Dan Feuerriegel, Billy Flynn, Galen Gering, Stacy Haiduk, Deidre Hall, Jackée Harry, Drake Hogestyn, Jay Kenneth Johnson, Lauren Koslow, Martha Madison, Eric Martsolf, Marci Miller, Stephen Nichols, Emily O’Brien, James Reynolds, Suzanne Rogers, Sal Stowers, Alison Sweeney, Josh Taylor, Paul Telfer, Robert Scott Wilson, and Arianne Zucker.
Days of Our Lives is the lowest-rated of the four remaining network daytime soap operas and is consistently beaten by The Bold and the Beautiful (CBS), General Hospital (ABC), and The Young and the Restless (CBS). The 57th season of Days has been averaging a 0.26 rating in the 18-49 demographic and 1.681 million viewers. Compared to season 56, that’s down by about 13% in the demo and 1% in total viewers.
The move to Peacock is not unexpected as more viewers have shifted to delayed viewing over the years. Peacock has also released two seasons of the Beyond Salem spin-off over the past 13 months, as well as A Very Salem Christmas movie last December. While Peacock offers paid versions of its streaming service, free tier subscribers can watch commercial-supported recent episodes of Days.
Here’s the announcement from NBC about Days of Our Lives’ departure from NBC:
DAYTIME DRAMA ‘DAYS OF OUR LIVES’ MAKES HISTORIC MOVE TO PEACOCK
“NBC News Daily” Comes to NBC Daytime in First-of-Its Kind Live News Offering
NEW YORK – Aug. 3, 2022 – NBC is evolving its daytime programming lineup with the move of “Days of Our Lives” to stream exclusively on Peacock and the launch of “NBC News Daily” in the drama’s former network timeslot.Starting Sept. 12, Peacock will become the exclusive home of the fan-favorite drama “Days of Our Lives.” For the first time ever, all new episodes of the 58-time Emmy Award-winning drama will debut on Peacock daily with the show’s robust library already available to stream for Peacock Premium subscribers. The historic move to Peacock creates the ultimate destination for daytime fans to access the library, new episodes and Peacock Original “Days of Our Lives: Beyond Salem” in one place.
Also beginning Sept. 12, in the timeslots previously occupied by “Days of Our Lives,” “NBC News Daily” will debut across NBC stations. NBC News will provide signature world-class reporting and breaking news coverage in a first-of-its kind, live in most markets mid-day news offering. “NBC News Daily,’’ an hourlong program anchored by NBC News’ team of award-winning journalists, including Kate Snow, Aaron Gilchrist, Vicky Nguyen and Morgan Radford, will provide viewers with up-to-the-minute national and international news, with the option for NBC stations to add local news. NBC News Daily” will also be streamed simultaneously on NBC News NOW and Peacock.
“This programming shift benefits both Peacock and NBC and is reflective of our broader strategy to utilize our portfolio to maximize reach and strengthen engagement with viewers,” said Mark Lazarus, Chairman, NBCUniversal Television and Streaming. “With a large percentage of the ‘Days of Our Lives’ audience already watching digitally, this move enables us to build the show’s loyal fanbase on streaming while simultaneously bolstering the network daytime offering with an urgent, live programming opportunity for partners and consumers.”
NBC owned stations will announce their specific daytime schedule soon.
ABOUT “DAYS OF OUR LIVES”
“Days of Our Lives,” a consistent favorite among fans and critics alike, aired it’s 14,000th episode in 2020 and remains NBC’s longest-running series. The show has garnered 58 Emmy Awards, including most recently 2018’s Outstanding Daytime Drama, and 372 nominations, as well as multiple People’s Choice Awards, GLAAD Media Awards, and Prism Awards. The show’s success stems from its consistent commitment to excellence in writing and storytelling – supported by a diverse ensemble of performers – and an uncanny knack for anticipating viewer interests. With its mix of classic genre traditions and groundbreaking narratives reflecting modern life, “Days of Our Lives” remains a perennial favorite among viewers of all ages. “Days of Our Lives” is produced by Corday Productions Inc. in association with Sony Pictures Television. Ken Corday is executive producer with co-executive producer Albert Alarr. Ron Carlivati is the head writer.ABOUT NBC NEWS NOW
NBC News NOW is a 24-hour streaming network with over 10 live hours daily of best-in-class journalism. Featuring more live original programming than any other news streaming network, NBC News NOW is the fastest-growing streaming news network in the U.S. with both international and now domestic linear distribution.NBC News NOW is ad-supported and is also distributed across Peacock, Fubo, Pluto TV, Samsung TV Plus, the Roku Channel, Tubi, Xumo, YouTube, YouTube TV and NBC News’ apps on Roku, Fire TV, and Apple TV.
What do you think? Are you disappointed that Days of Our Lives is leaving NBC? Will you be watching on the free or paid version of Peacock?
I am very upset. I have watched Days since I was a very ill kid in ’65, left home alone and in need of something to engage me and take my mind off my illness. It has been one of the few constants I have had throughout my life. My classmates used to discuss it at school; my co-workers at various workplaces did the same. I introduced my kids to it and they conscripted their friends, as well. We’re quite a generational network and still catch each other up on what transpires. I’m living in Canada, now, and we have… Read more »
This won’t affect Canadian viewers, only American ones. Days airs on Global in Canada, and Sony owns Days of Our Lives. NBC simply pays the fee to Sony to broadcast it. Sony will continue to sell Days of Our Lives to whoever is willing to air it. Whatever NBC does with it is irrelevant to foreign markets. If Sony shuts down production altogether, then nobody will get Days of Our Lives. That’s completely different.
I was wondering why NBC couldn’t move Days to USA Network. NBC Universal acquired the station. All USA airs in the Days times lot, on the west coast, are reruns of old NBC shows.
Yeah, but NBC makes tons of money on those reruns. USA also airs Chicago Fire and Chicago P.D. reruns several days a week. NBC Universal makes tons of money off of One Chicago, since Fire and P.D. are on three different channels multiple days a week. P.D. reruns in particular make a lot of money for NBC. They were the first show to go into syndication, even though Fire came first. Fire didn’t go into syndication until a year ago, whereas P.D. has been in syndication for years now.
I just want to know now that’s it’s going to peacock, will I be able to watch here in Australia, we don’t have peacock as a streaming service, I have seen the beyond Salem episodes from Foxtel An Australian streaming but no guarantee that the new episodes will come to Australia and if I was to watch on free to air channels, they are soooo far behind!
So fingers crossed they do!
I’ll quit Days of our Lives now that is moved to Peacock.
I am watching Days on Peacock free streaming service now and watched the first Beyond Salem as they are both free to stream, but I haven’t been able to watch the second special and the Christmas special because I am 66 years old and on a fixed income. I am so sick and tired of getting hooked on shows that move to paid premium streaming services and I can’t watch anymore. Peacock should offer the show for free still to keep the audience that is already watching it that way.
They can’t offer it for free. This is NBC’s attempt to save the show, because they are losing money on it. They can’t justify continuing to air it with its low ratings, it’s in last place out of the four daytime soaps left on the air. NBC has been trying to divest itself of DOOL for years now. Delayed renewals, shutting down production due to contract disputes, releasing their entire cast from their contracts, including veterans like Bo, Hope, etc., actually killing off characters instead of just “not finding the body.” This is NBC saving it until the current two… Read more »
After watching for 57 years i can’t afford to get peacock. I’m 80 years old and am sick of this crap we older folks get. Give us a break. This might be good for nbc but it’s a shot in the gut for us old folks who have so little to look forward. To
I’m very disappointed I’ve been watching Day since I was 7 years old I’m 64 now I love Days but I’m not paying for steaming at all, seems that’s all everyone wants.well that’s another show I won’t be watching. BIG MISTAKE NBC.
I understand that long time viewers are upset, as I have been watching it for 50+ years myself. The suggestion that the decision by NBC is for greed is unfair. TV is a money making venture and to think NBC owe long viewers allegiance over profit is unrealistic. The truth is that DOOL has been the lowest rated soup for quite some time. DOOL producers and writers have tried all kinds of story lines, new and old, to increase viewership, but no new users and long time viewers have dropped off. After 57 years, DOOL has run its course on… Read more »
Sounds like you have some sort of a connection with NBC or at least how networks operate. We don’t a lecture on the profits verses viewer loyalty. Bottom line is it sucks. Most of the comments are in anger over this. Yes, in the United States, we can watch it free on Peacock. I can’t transfer Peacock to our TV, so I will have to watch it on my 8″ tablet. How exciting! We all have a right to be angry about this. Especially fans in other countries.
That’s the reality, though. It’s a business not a charity. NBC doesn’t own you free anything. Yes, you can watch DOOL on the free tier right now, since it still airs on NBC. Once it moves over to Peacock exclusively though, it will be on Peacock Premium. You’ll have to pay.
Thank you, someone with some common sense who understands what’s going on here. NBC Universal is a business, not a charity. They don’t owe anyone free television. DOOL has gone back to their zany storylines in an attempt to increase viewership, but that’s not working. The truth is, soaps have been dying for years now. It slowed down for a while, but it’s inevitable. The times have changed. Luke and Laura’s wedding garnered 30 million viewers. Now, GH is one of the top soaps ratings wise with only 2.5 million viewers. DOOL is in last place. Basic Peacock is free,… Read more »
Extreme disappointment in NBC! Watched this show for over 52 years! If it’s kept free on Peacock, I would watch, but pay every month. Maybe, I might watch for a few months. But, everything is pay. I’m a senior on a fixed income! Rent, medical bills, food all cost a lot. Sad it has come to this!
Its Coming To Where If You Want To Watch Any TV It Gots To Be On A Streaming Service They Are Trying To Get Rid Of Free Tv
This is really disappointing! I have been watching it since day 1 and can’t believe NBC is doing this! It’s all about money and I will not pay to watch it on Peacock! So sad that you are trying to force remaining viewers to switch to Peacock.
The alternative was cancellation. Days has been on the brink of cancellation for 15 years.
The post says that you can watch recent episodes of Days for FREE on Peacock. I’ve watched it for months that way and also watched all the Beyond Salem episodes as they came out. Do people not read or do they just like to complain? I understand if you don’t have access to high-speed Internet but, other than that, come on!
If you notice, a lot of the people that are complaining are seniors on fixed incomes and can not afford all the premium streaming services. Those people have given up on Cable TV because of the high price and so do not have TVs anymore (like me), and stream all their TV shows on computer without access to a TV provider.
Exactly my point. It’s FREE to watch on Peacock, perfect for someone on a fixed income that has internet access. I watched all of the Beyond Salem for free too as it came out.
It won’t be free after September 12. It’s moving to Peacock Premium.
For now, it’s on the free tier since it still airs on NBC. Once it moves to Peacock exclusively, it will be on Peacock Premium. You’ll have to pay.