Well it's definitely a wish list but here I go:
- Pull the plug on executives if they don't work; means listen to the fans out there who are actually watching.
- Stop telling out-of-space stuff; like doppelgangers, shocking plot twists that just aren't that believable and cartoonish villains
- Redecorate your sets every now and then. We ain't not in the 80s anymore (Y&R's tackhouse).
- Use the ensemble you have ... not one star only (and overuse him/her like GH's Brenda).
- Don't use too many criminals at one time (specially since most of the soaps are fictional small towns).
- Don't tell the stories too fast.
- Take today's society into your show and don't redo old classic movies.
- Promote the show better with interactive online stuff.
- Don't rewrite history.

I'll be interested to read the comments. For me personally, before even offering an opinion, I'd really want to know the best estimate of how many people are watching at times and in ways beyond when the shows are broadcast on the networks. Add up how many people watch the broadcast, DVR/Tivo'd, on network websites, on Hulu, on Soapnet, etc., and then compare those numbers to numbers back when the only way to watch was when the shows were broadcast. Then we'd have a better idea of how "dying" the soaps in are in general vs. how "dying" strictly network broadcast of soaps is. Then you can gauge whether it's worth it trying to find ways to make alternative deliveries (DVR, web, etc.) generate revenue. That's the only way they'll survive, whether they're on broadcast TV or not. Maybe these numbers have been made available somewhere, but I haven't seen them and I'm very curious.

I know the attrition of the audience is part of the main problem but the audience they have they need to try to keep if each fan recruits just one viewer that would help double viewership...

That's how it was fans recruited fans I think one of the problems is the executives who clearly do not respect the genre...hiring stale burnt out has been writers/executives from other shows...they need not only new faces in front of the screen but fresh new faces with different ideas "behind the screen as well"

I listen to one of your podcast and the producer was saying how the audience is responding to this medium across the board in a different way...I watch all my shows online for the most part and have been for years...they have to keep up with the technology of today ....yes the genre is dying but they are also just as responsible for hastening its death. For decades they refuse to acknowledge the advancing technologies...people have TV in the palm of their hands now...they don't have to sit in front of a tube. By the time they finally acknowledged the VCR which was out for decades emerging technologies had emerged by then...

Soaps have to reflect the society as it is today that includes diversity which they have not been for decades yes I see multicultural characters but "how are they written?"

Are they included in top tier main storylines? Are they being promoted and marketed?

I think Suz4th raised a good point that only impacts soaps but primetime shows too. Everyone knows the tools used to gauge ratings is biased and out of touch with new media. It seems as though networks are still trying to come to terms with DVR data. Let's face it, not everyone who watches daytime drama are doing so live.

I believe the showrunners and executives are also part of the problem. Many people on this very site have pointed out that shows keep recycling scripts and plots. What's good for the environment will not save soaps.

Daytime soaps have a reputation for being too campy. Maybe an examination of non-American shows (such as EastEnders and Coronation street) could give them some ideas on how to tell a good drama story without being to over the top (EastEnder's Phil Mitchell on crack last year was good stuff). These two show can also provide American Soaps with tips on how to effectively use new media. EastEnders for example churns out a decent webseries called E20. It is used to flesh out and/or develop new characters.

I dont know anything about how they pull the ratings-- but I would assume DVR & TiVo could mess with those results.
We record AMC & OLTL on a daily basis- yet our TV is off or on a totally nother channel while its getting recorded. I watch the soaps while cooking dinner.

I hope the 6 remaining shows stay on the air. There are tons of rumors that ABC may be cutting AMC by the end of 2011. The source claims everyone thought it would be OLTL- but b/c they remain under budget they were given the pass. And the move West still hasnt helped AMC- they still bleed dollars and the ratings continue to tank. I wonder why the EP (Judith) of AMC still has a job-- clearly she knows someone right or has something over someones head. She should have been let go right after Pratt!

I'll keep it brief.

Stop relying on the crutch of cliches that made soaps popular during the 80s. Look at primetime and British/overseas television.

Until then I'll be watching the variety of doubles, baby swaps, and fake deaths.

Jamey, in answer to your question "Can the six remaining soaps figure out a way to thrive in a digital age?" the short response is "NO"

The long answer is that the people who are currently running the industry appear to have no interest, or worse yet no talent, in adapting to the age we live in. If they did, they would be trying new things and not constantly be regurgitating the same old storylines and playing musical chairs with the same, old tired writers and executives. They have no idea how to keep these shows fresh, entertaining, or even attractive to the eye in some cases. For example, even the web soap Anacostia has better lighting and production values than some of them.

A personal aside: I'm no longer invested enough in any of the shows to watch them at broadcast time and I only record two. I grew up with the holy trio of Another World, Days, and Santa Barbara. To my mind, NBC kept the worst of the three on the air, and I can barely stand to see what is happening there these days.

Aside from looking for some other methods by which they get the metrics for ratings beside the outdated and (in my humble opinion) woefully inaccurate Nielsens, I think all of the soaps need to step up their marketing when it comes to using social networks.
Most of the shows have Facebook pages but they are all so basic while I don't think any of them are even using twitter as a way to market their shows.
They should have dedicated online social media people who work to make these shows more interactive. Maybe set up some live tweeting with cast members during sweeps episodes or something. Create webisodes that go into detail about characters or events on the show. What AMC did with the character of Griffin was a good first step.
They could also attempt to do some digital fan events because not everyone has the time or inclination to trek out to an actual Fan Fest.
They should aslo start offering the on iTunes, people like to take their entertainment with them nowadays and it would be in these soaps best interests to try and tap into that smartphone and tablet market.
They also need to step up their publicity game...get these actors out to daytime TV or soap friendly radio shows. Hell book 'em on some podcasts!
Basically they need to start acting like we live in an information age and stop acting like its still 1980 when it comes to marketing their shows and actors/characters.

They need to make every episode compelling. That doesn't happen and when it doesn't people tune out.

Like Ken Corday once said: you're only as good as your last show.
And applied here in the case of some shows some of them are pretty bad.

And to answer the question as to whether they will survive, I sadly say no.
We are down to 6 soaps.
In 10 years, I predict 3 or less.

Oh well here goes my 0.2 cents on the issue. As someone who only watches soaps on the internet (because I'm not in the US), first off, make the episodes available to everyone on the website. I wouldn't watch crappy clips on YT if the clips were available on the ABC website (or whatever network one prefers)

Make vid blogs, backstage features, webisodes a regular feature with the soaps.

make fans feel apart of the show. have actors do official regualar chats and podcasts. have mvid challenges and the winner is posted on the website.

I think what soap execs don't realize is that soaps and soaps fans are a community and they could learn a thing or two from the Sci Fi community that seems to acknowledge their fans unlike the soap powers to be that seems to be ashamed of their fans and thing we are just a buch of stupid housewives with nothing better to do with our time.

As for the UK soaps, I'm a fan of both but there is so much more to take in to consideration than just quality and storylines. UK soaps air in the evening, that right there makes a huge difference when it comes to pertaining viewers

Well I think that's such a loaded question you ask Jamey with SO many different responses available. I think the BIGGEST thing these network execs need to realize is that the ratings reflect an inaccurate viewer response. There are SO many people who dvr, tivo, or watch it on the internet. I am included. I dvr 1 soap & then am able to watch my other one live. They need to wake up & take that into consideration when thinking about ratings. Also, while I'm on the ratings thing... the execs & show runners need to realize that even though the teen & college demo is great, but the older set are the ones who are really invested in the soap genre. Those who are 30+ in years are the backbone of watchers of soaps. The teen & college scene have multiple TV shows geared to them & they are flaky in their viewing. I have NO problem with shows gearing up to that age bracket during certain times of the year, like summer being the biggest time cause that's when the teens/college have the most time to watch; but these people need to get real & be honest about who is actually veiwing. KNOW YOUR VIEWERS (not just age, but other things as well)!!! And they need to get off their high horses & LISTEN to the fans! Now, seriously they obviously don't need to listen all the time (cause some people tend to suggest things that are far fetched or whatever) but when it comes to things like destroying families or killing off babies (stuff like that) then they for dang sure should listen (case & point GH with Becky Herbst). Relying on focus groups & age demos all the time is NOT a good business practice! Also pick up a soap mag for once & look at the polls please. I would also challenge the PR people to once a week, or a few times a month, to look at the live tweets while their show is on. That way they have a real, live response to see what people are viewing & what they are liking or not. I think live tweets are interesting! Like others have said UPDATE your sets & your opening credits (Y&R)! And promote ALL of the soaps equally (ABC daytime). Write stories that are MEANINGFUL & not full of crap! Treat me like I'm an adult & have a brain (example is Adam blind or not? One day he can't see, next he's pulling a James Bond in the vent ducts). Don't be afraid to admit when you're wrong! If actors/actresses, writers, execs aren't working then cut your losses & don't hide your head in the sand about it. Hire people who know the soap genre & generally excited about working in it (like Ron & Frank)!!! Idk, just my thoughts.

Note to TV executives:

Apart from the 18-34 demographic of young, white women, America also has African Americans, Asians, Hispanics, gays, babyboomers, the elderly, people who spend hours on the web, etc.

If you're interested in getting their viewership, how about targetting them in the writing and marketing of your shows?

Digital age or not, my tips to soap showrunners in short deal with going back to basics. They can use technology as a means to promote and broadcast, but that means nothing if the quality of the content sucks donkey balls. As they say: garbage in, garbage out:
Go back to making soaps more generational with families on them - many more dynamics to play out
Catch up with the times - put a modern twist on some SLs, and have some diversity. Not to fill some quota, but to reflect the big global world we live in.
Stop making women neurotic hoes and men powerful studs
For the love of "lovin", bring back love in the afternoon
Focus more on the fans you have than the fans you're probably not going to get
Learn the basics of telling a good story
If you can't afford elaborate sets, extras, etc - pair down certain SLs and know what's going to look tacky and cheap on a shoestring budget
Stop kowtowing to ships and fanbases - just tell great stories
Show us, don't tell us
Not everyone has to sleep with everyone or be the other one's rival. Friendships are OK
No more silly gimmicks

Back in the 90s, I can actually recall seeing Y&R and Days promos on BET and during NBA games. The fact that there aren't any now speaks volumes.

Stop letting the same producers/writers/directors go from show to show. Stop writing the same stories over and over. Stop having characters change DNA test results EVERY SINGLE TIME. Stop creating new characters with no real ties to the present cast and force them down viewers's throats constantly; we want to see the characters we care about, and sometimes having them interact with new characters is okay, but not all the time. Pare the casts down and focus on the vets beloved by the fans. Stop with all the murders and mysteries that don't pay off. Actually plan stories out more than a few weeks in advance. Have some respect for the soap audiencel a lot of us could do a better job writing the shows you seem to have contempt for.

I'm gonna go soaps by production company.

The Bold and The Beautiful- Bell Production Company:

Bold and the Beautiful Ironically is in my opinion is the show that will long out live the other soaps well into US syndication, Univision, and online. William J Bell new exacually what he was doing when he created this show and I THINK that he MAY HAVE SEEN this day coming. He and Bell Production Company Somehow Knew that you can't solely lay your heart on the American PEEPERS, Its so Ironic because B&B(LOVE IT OR HATED) is the most tight knit SOAP WITH THE MOST BRACHING OUT potential.

Can B&B SURVIVE: 100% ABSOULTY!!!!!!! Based on their Indie Status

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Days & Y&R- Sony Pictures/Corday Production(DAYS):

I know comparing these two are like apples and orange. But, thats the same thing I said about GL & ATWT when the "PACKAGE DEAL" Rumor can out in 2007. But I firmly believe that although Sony is not PGP, and Y&R is the healthiest US Soap, that these shows will end within years of each. Unless Bell Productions can get in there AND SAVE Y&R. I disregaurd Corday Productions because I seriously DOUBT they have the financial push to produce DAYS on their own.

Can Y&R and Days Survive? 50/50?!?!?! Sony will ride out as far as they can yet Corday doesn't have the Indie Status that Bell Productions has.

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AMC/OLTL/GH- ABC Productions

This is as close as a Package Deal as you can get. I think the ABC Daytime LineUp Has the most flow to it unlike CBS and NBC where you can Slide anything in the 2pm or 3pm time slot. All Three will be together in the end and if Syndication becomes the next big thing in the soap world they will live on if ABC wants to continue them. How creative is Brian Fron and can he rebuild a entire Daytime Line? Does He Want?

Can AMC/OLTL/GH Survive? All Or Nothing: Depends on the Creatvity and Abition of Brian Frons. And I don't think he wants to destroy an entire Daytime Establishment.

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BOLD HOPE AND BIG DREAMS

Sweet Jesus In Heaven This Is The Perfect Time for a Soap Channel Like the Soap City Concept where we can have Primetime Series based on Past Soaps, Like GL redux, ATWT return to Oakdale, RH a New Hope, as well as All of Our Soaps and If They do it Right unlike SoapNut we can have our shows live on with Innovative new program that actually has soap roots INCLUDING WEB SERIES BROUGHT TO TV!!!!!!!!

I think that one of the main problems is for the soaps attracting new viewers apart from all that's been said!!I mean it's really difficult for a totally new viewer to understand the history of the characters ths storylines or the relationship between the characters!Maybe the official sites should explain the current storylines better and some short of understandable resume!!

I agree with the others, but just wanted to add this:

First, get with the program, execs. If you're going to make these shows available online and on your ABC and CBS websites, learn how to track what people are watching and when. You can't just keep saying, 'oh, well, no one's watching the tube at 2pm anymore. CANCEL!' You want to run a business, learn how the hell to run one and take into account other options when tracking viewers, which leads to my next point.

There needs to be BIG changes behind the scenes. You're not going to get younger viewers for shows like GH and AMC like you did in the past. So do us all a favor and let that one go. Yes, the youngin’s will still come out of pure curiosity and nothing more; they will in no way come in droves and be dedicated fans like us when we came onto the scene as teens, and even pre-pre-pre teens (I was 7 when I started watching GH with my church going, God fearing grandmother and have been addicted to any and all soaps--ABC, NBC, and CBS--ever since), being introduced to these shows by dedicated family members, like, as I said, mothers and grandmothers. These shows are trying to appeal to an audience that doesn't exist for them, while at the same time firing or not utilizing characters and actors/actresses that people want to see on a daily basis. Instead we get exorbitant amounts of Rylee and other BS that appeals to no one, mixed in with convoluted storylines, horrific writing and stupid plots that we, the audience could write ourselves. This is not how you gain viewers, it's how you lose them.

And like I said above and like others have said as well, we don't all watch on THEIR time, meaning we don't all get a chance to watch the show live anymore, which is why I think it's beyond stupid to get rid of SoapNet. Um, HELLO?? Did they never think to take those ratings into account??? They currently show 5 of the 6 soaps still on the air--Y&R, Days, AMC, OLTL, and GH. And we all know B&B is the most popular soap internationally. Some people want to watch these shows at night, while others, like me, watch online or on the weekends because it gives me a chance to relax and think about how stupid these characters are when I don't have to think or deal with my silly coworkers. The soaps currently on the air still have a good few years left in them, and given the chance, ie proper writing, and proper behind the scenes care--such as get rid of the hacks and the people who are basically trying to kill the soap opera--they could survive beyond that.

Look at us, we’re still EXTREMELY dedicated enough that folks like me nearly salivate at every headline that has to do with any and all daytime soaps and many of us come to this site when we should be working at our real jobs. Well, I’m probably most guilty of that one! Even if we don’t watch all of the shows still on the air, we’re still interested. Just the amount of members on the site and exorbitant amount of comments in various sections can tell you that. Appeal to the audience you have and stop trying to recruit people who don't give one blip about the shows that we grew up and fell in love with.

Guys, the rating system is so outdated, like the others have said, it seems like execs can't or don't want to come into the 21st century. But you can probably say that about all of television in general.

I say promote the soaps on this site and other sites more, or even promote them on cable networks,(NBC has a lot of them), and via cell phones or email, have alerts on what's coming up.

Just think about how high the ratings would be if they count people who use Tivo and DVR, watch online,on Hulu, or on Youtube. The technology is there they need to tap into it.

These soaps need to get with it pronto, or there will be no soaps left

I started watching soaps in the late 70's when I was still in grade school. I would watch them during Christmas and summer vacations. Those were the days before viedo, dvds, cable, internet etc. Viewing habits have changed. There are so many other viewing options now. Unfortunately, I don't think network daytime soaps will ever recapture the large ratings they experienced in the 70's and 80's.

The soaps need fresh, original storylines that don't have plot holes you can drive a truck through and are true to the characters. General Hospital does a horrible job at this. They repeat the same storyline over and over, they rewrite history, they change the characters midstream. If they can do something wrong, they do.

Today people know how a jury trial is run. Don't insult people with kangaroo courts such as the ones on GH with friends and relatives of the person on trial serving as jurors, and the mayor and lawyers suborning perjury, and federal prosecutors trying murder cases in local court.

Don't allow your spoilers to be leaked. Give out false ones. One of the biggest problems is that there are no more surprises, thanks to the Internet. We know who the criminal is, for instance, weeks before the criminal is revealed. So why watch? Anyone remember the summer of Who Shot J.R.? That would be impossible today. And make the culprit relevant instead of a newcomer no one cares about. Make the murder victim relevant, not someone we don't know and don't care about.

I am going to be the first one to say this but the rating system is not outdated and why do so many on here believe so and please show some proof of this. DVR/Tivo is counted so please stop saying that it is not, Neilsen as even started counting online viewership. ABC knows exactly how many streams as well as hits to their website. Beside the fact that the entire industry uses Neilsen as a way to measure their ratings and it is not going to change. The fact is online viewership does not pay the bills as someone on here stated who is to know how many online are watching from another country, or watching the episode multiple times.

Viewership is down because fewer people are watching soaps period and that includes online. The first step in correcting what is wrong is to stop coming up with excuses (ratings,online, etc.), if they want increase viewership then they need to provide a better product. If you take a look at the most successful shows on tv they have a diverse cast and their storylines reflect today's culture.

They only thing outdated is soap storytelling, stop with all the baby switching and dna tampering in today's society both are likely to never happen there are so many other ways to create baby drama. Stop the hidden twins and the stranger look-alikes. I agree keep it simple fans of soaps watch for specific reason soaps need to stop trying to compete with primetime and please stop the musicals.

Soaps need to be more rooted in the personal character issues. This is no longer the 80/90's it is a different world and a different audience, leave the camp alone, widen your target audience and stop focusing on one family or a few character they have an ensemble cast use them. Hire actors and leave the pretty faces to print media that is one thing that British televison does right.

The bottom line if you can't appeal to mainstream viewers you are not going to make it on a broadcast channel, not even on niche channels nowadays just look at the syfy channel. Mainstream audience think soaps are boring, corny, outdated and soaps have done little to prove them wrong.

In my opinion:
Networks have to examine these shows closely and have to make changes to bring in new blood, fresh ideas and people with expertise in other areas of web/tv. Writers and producers have worked on these shows for 20-30 years, not allowing new talent or ideas to enter into the project. When people are saying, "eh, we'll do it for as long as the let us", there's a problem. The world has changed so drastically in the last decade, show's that don't evolve, and don't clear out the dead wood will not be standing.

Brian Frons and TPTB in daytime have to start showing people the door, and NOT the people on screen. Less attention has to shift from the screen to behind the scenes to bring these shows into the new millennium.

Also, PR PR PR. These shows need to push themselves into all forms of media. It shouldn't be a big deal that ATWT got a small write up in People or something. ABC Daytime should hold onto their SoapNet billboard in Times Square and put representation of all 3 soaps, in a new, glossy, sexy ad campaign. I say ABC, because their way of advertising is tired, it looks like it is geared to grandmothers sometimes.

CBS is doing a great job, by putting Braeden and B&B on The Talk. But they need to expand their advertising to other shows. How many times do we read the banner for The Good Wife? I understand, that type of maximum exposure is a lot to ask, but is the network in the game or not. Y&R is pulling in a 5.3 total, would it kill them to acknowledge the show outside of 11am-4pm? Imagine the billboard they could do for these shows, like a big family dinner, with Victor, Nikki, Victoria, Nick and Adam all around a table with the table on fire or the chandlier crashing down!

I have said numerous times, most people don't even know half these shows are still on! If these networks pretend for five minutes these shows are not dwindling down and put an honest push behind them I would give them all the credit in the world.

I have been working on a project about this for years, so I would appreciate your feedback on these few points.

Gosh, wonderful, thoughtful comments and showing the entertainment industry their is still a very deep, loyal and abiding love for the genre of daytime drama. Pared down, but it is seriously wounded. The digital age has started w\webisodes and proving it's picking up steam.

Ok, all of us has opinion and here's mine:

The "new" webs-soaps are exploding, some better then others. Some are very experimental in their approach, and some are just plain "classic" feel of soapy. For soaps to move to the web and to thrive will either the networks that carry soaps take a chance and use the power of the internet to draw people back into storytelling again. Here is example, since Y&R is biggest watched soap, the soapfan could go to CBS's website and Y&R could do "something like a spinoff" make it 20 minutes long to open story, 7-9 minutes is to short. It would still be based in the same city w\recurring citizens from the established families now in Genoa City...but different families. Spin off around the "Chancellers" meaning Mrs. C, Jill, Nina, Chance that side and the "Fosters", "Brooks".....you know Wm. Bell as always said created 2 different soaps under one name. Love to see Laurie (JLB)& Lance (JMcC) mix it up again. My point they would having the advertising budget to draw on to make it quality, but cheaper and seamless and draws attention to there "broadcast" Y&R....20 minutes long 3 times a week.

Soaps, the biggest grip here and I would agree is back to basics of storytelling more what are the strengths of what soaps do...family, friends, ROMANCE, schemes, intrigue. Not cartoonish villians, sci-fi bs, that period is over.

My other idea is let the networks and if the our third party owned, syndicate them to whoever would like to carry them on their schedule. Maybe, an independent station, mynetwork has a 30 minute spot open they would want B&B...more eyeballs.

Come up with realistic storylines that aren't the same old redone storylines. How many babies can you steal or switch? How many times can Jessica on OLTL become Tess before it's tiring? How many times can Victor screw over his family without it being boring?

And just when you think they have something new (Kish), they cancel it on some bogus ratings bullshit.

Where is the romance? Now everyone just jumps into bed. Daytime use to be really romantic, now it's just plain boring.

Can soaps survive in the digital age? Yes...if the writers tried.

I have gotten to the point where I am no longer loyal to soaps, because the writers are no longer loyal to history. If the writers don't care, why should I?

I am all for the concept of taking popular characters and having digital shorts/spin-offs. The issue is that people won't follow the show to the digital age if the show doesn't resemble anything that they are familiar with. Will new fans pick it up? Who knows?

Personally, I don't think that soaps will last much longer on network television. Cable? Maybe.

Nielsen ratings are outdated because they are still using a model that was created when there were only three channels. Nothing in how they run their business has truly accounted for the explosion of channels, the rise of the DVR, the mobile entertainment growth or even the online viewer.
Nielsen's way of counting DVR viewership is also flawed because they use the same "black box" to measure that viewership and all it actually does is logs whether a channel is being watched at a specific time. It doesn't measure when that program is being watched, or by who instead it assumes that whatever a person has recorded on their DVR is going to be watched within a week because current advertising on TV is sold based on the commercial minute watched within 3 days of the show being aired. I can speak from experience that I almost never watch everything on my DVR in the week that I recorded it.
The bottom line is that the Nielsen system is antiquated and not moving along with the changes to the world yet it still holds an undeserved lofty position when it comes to advertising dollars and whether a show is canceled or not.
And online views may be counted but they are likely not being used in any substantial way. Instead of letting their web sites be passive they need to make them more interactive. Sell ad space based on traffic to the site and you will have a second revenue generating source.

Soapster, great, great posts. All I would add is that soaps need to stop the constant revolving door of new characters. It appears that the whole concept of "core families" has fallen by the wayside. Not only are soaps not attracting new viewers, they're also alienating the ones they still have. It is hard to bond with new characters who are usually not well-defined and who have no real ties to the established characters.

Why does GH need the Balkan when there are still Cassadines out there?
Why does OLTL need the Evans when it could use the Gannons?
Why can't Days bring back Mike Horton for Carly?
Why has Y&R destroyed the Abbotts, killing off father and granddaughter?
Who are all these people on AMC?

etc. etc.

Yes, ATWT was the top rated and most popular soap of all during the 60's and early 70's! It was the first really famous television soap. Hard to believe if you watched the show in it's last 3 years on air. But, it was #1 in it's heyday.