Daytime Emmys' bubble bursts

Focus may shift off soaps as ABC, CBS shy away

By Paul J. Gough

Nov 19, 2008, 12:00 AM ET

NEW YORK -- The Daytime Emmys could become a lot less soap-centric next year as organizers -- faced with the prospect of ABC and CBS shunning the low-rated telecast -- entertain new ideas that could include shifting the show to cable.

The National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences is sifting through bids from two broadcast networks and two cable channels to carry the telecast. NATAS president Peter Price said Tuesday that a decision could be made by year's end.

He declined to name the networks, though ABC and CBS -- which traditionally have carried the ceremony on a Friday night in late May or early June -- likely aren't in the running. ABC, which carried the telecast this year, isn't interested in doing it again in 2009 after CBS dropped out. (Next year was supposed to be CBS' turn as the two generally alternate.)

"We're still talking to CBS and ABC, but it's more likely going to be another network," Price said. While the NATAS deal for the Daytime Emmys telecast was a license fee last time, it has been a license fee and revenue share in past years. It could be one or both next time.

The 2008 Daytime Emmys hit an all-time low in viewership with 5.3 million and received a 1.2 rating/4 share in adults 18-49 when it aired June 20. It has been a tough climate for many awards shows; the Miss America Pageant moved to cable several years ago.

"It's sort of the way that ratings are going, especially on a Friday night," Price said.

The Hollywood Reporter

Like the focus was ever on soaps...

Let's be honest here, the talk show hosts are always the ones most promoted at the Daytime Emmy's anyway.

I personally don't mind where the focus is, as long as there's a ceremony and awards for the soaps are given out.

I always liked the Soap Opera Digest Awards better than the Emmys. I hate daytime talk shows.

How can they shift the focus away from soaps when the majority of the awards are soap related? No one is going to watch a category for technical directors of a talk show. Come on now.