3. Soaps will be replaced by other (i.e. cheaper) forms of programming.
If game shows, talk shows, or any other kinds of programming (such as news and sports coverage) are substituted for striking soaps, the entire daytime medium could be doomed. Soap ratings are so low now that any kind of shows that can do better numbers in their time slots may well be picked to replace the soaps themselves. Permanently.
Blanket cancellation is, of course, the nightmare scenario for daytime soaps. Since the beginning of television in the 50s, they have occupied extremely lucrative advertiser-desirable network afternoon timeslots. These slots are coveted by producers of all sorts of daytime shows, such as talk, game, and even female-interest home improvement shows now seen on cable. If soaps are cancelled due to the effects of a long writers strike, soap fans may indeed experience their final opportunity to tune in tomorrow.
Related Story: Hello Again at Seventy; Goodbye at Five
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