As longtime television viewers know, there used to be a lot more soap operas on the air. Today, only four of them remain — The Bold and the Beautiful (CBS), Days of Our Lives (NBC), General Hospital (ABC), and The Young and the Restless (CBS). Their ratings are a fraction of what they used to be, even a few years ago, so it can feel like they’re on borrowed time. How long will these four survive? That will likely have a lot to do with the ratings. Stay tuned.
Note: Each network measures the success of its own programming. Still, it’s fun to see how the four remaining soap operas rank against each other.
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Season-to-date averages are compared to previous season averages. Raw data courtesy Soap Opera Network.
What do you think? Are you surprised by any of the ratings? Which shows should be doing better? Which one do you think will be cancelled next?
Please keep General Hospital going , this is the only Soap Opera that I watch
And have been watching it since I was 6 years old, now I’m going to be 56 years old on March 6 . General Hospital is my Favorite Soap Opera , I Love watching it!! I Love all the characters in the show except Nell , I hope that Jason and Sonny will make her disappear soon .
I agree 100% General Hospital is the best. I look forward to watching it on a daily basis and record the show to ensure I don’t miss any episode. Unfortunately recently missed episodes due to viewing of the impeachment. PLEASE DON’T CANCEL THIS PROGRAM.
I think if they don’t renew GH this year it will probably be taking off the air pretty soon. The rating are up because they are counting a different way then the other soaps are. I think they should have to show the new way and the old way.
Why is the age group only 18-49? These are working women. There is a large group of retired women that grew up with GH that are still watching. I have been watching GH since 1975 and I’m 70. Also watched AMC and was sad when it went off the air.
I like watching gh. I would be bummed out if you took that off. I was sad when one life to live was taken off and all my children. I hope you keep General hospital on. I have been watching the soap back when dark shadows was on. Please keep it on. I watch every day and never miss a show. When I miss a show I record a show. I guess I am a faithful watcher. Gh is not in last place. I believe days of our lives was and it was renewed.
General Hospital is the best soap opera ever and the second best soap opera was OLTL. These type of shows need to stay on the air. It’s good to be able to get away from too many reality shows. I would prefer to watch the drama of GH, rather than getting wrapped up in my own drama. It’s a great show and has been on air for 7 yrs before my birth, until now, and needs to continue. Please! No more talk shows or cooking shows. Stick with the good stories.
I agree and General Hospital has really turned it around of late. Like their use of veterans and quality writing. Totally, different than the Sci-Fi all they do is baby swaps and triangles at Days of Our Lives.
The acting really has gotten so much better
I’ve been watching since a young teen (14 yrs old) I’m 66 in Aug.
Need to take count of all us older generation that have watched since the beginning. Lots of younger don’t even watch local tv except for news
I left out another important fact….not only does the age not count past 49 years…… neither does the fact MANY VIEWERS ARE ALSO MALES!!!!!
What I think is not fair about SOAP OPERA RATINGS is the age of the demo you allow!!! SO NOT FAIR!!! I’m definitely over 49 years old. Alot of people that are true viewers aren’t in this age group!! I’m close to the youngest in my group and family that are FAITHFUL daily watchers, but our votes don’t count??? Family that watches is more than 4 generations!!! This is more than 4 generations on both my parents sides of the family and my husband’s family is another 4 generations!!! We are talking hundreds that you guys don’t count. Not to… Read more »
I have to agree. I am 71 yrs old and I’m a faithful viewer of Y&are and B&B. I never miss a show, and I began at the beginning of both shows. Why doesn’t my vote count. I buy your products, too!!
I am 71 also and an avid viewer of both soaps.
Can you tape young &r and b&b if you have something to do that way you won’t miss any of them I wish they bring back soap net it was really if you watch y&r here comes a news thing and make you miss half of but with soap net you turn on that night and watch or tape it those were the day oh I 56 years old my mom used say I just like my great grandma in every thing I do mom told me she told her I was going to be girl I cool like her… Read more »
Only reason BB ratings are 2nd is because it follows YR. Worst Soap on TV. I quit watching months ago. Days should be #2
Days is horrible with the Sci-Fi, doppleganging, all the triangles for angst, baby swapping..
Me too I stop watching 2 months ago. The show is no longer about Forester family and fashion. It’s all about switching man from woman to woman like every week. Also the show is about the Logans specially Brooke and Hope.
Days needs new head writer…dialogue inconsistencies, messing with historic status of iconic characters such as Stefano DiMera, Steve Johnson, etc Insults intelligence of viewers
Please don’t take Dayys of our lives off,I’ve watched since I was a kid it’s part of my life an for many others it’s like a part of my family,I can remember !I mom ironing clothes while watching day’s,an although I don’t like what’s going on now with days I’m hoping they’ll come to a better script.
Wonderful information that I have been searching for months. So I found the ratings of the days time soap operas here. Owesome. Thanks alot.