Chronological Daytime TV Soap Opera List

[Bright Eyes]

Chronological Daytime TV Soap Opera List

1) THESE ARE MY CHILDREN - NBC (31 Jan 1949 to 25 Feb 1949) - 0 years, 0 months, 25 days

5:00 PM - 5:15 PM (31/01/49 - 25/02/49)

2) A WOMAN TO REMEMBER - DuMont - (21 Feb 1949 to 15 Jul 1949) - 0 years, 4 months, 24 days

3:00 PM - 3:15 PM (21/02/49 - Spring 49)

11:45 AM - 12:00 PM (Spring 49 - 29/04/49)

7:30 PM - 7:45 PM (02/05/49 - 15/07/49)

3) THE FIRST HUNDRED YEARS - CBS - (4 Dec 1950 to 27 Jun 1952) - 1 year, 6 months, 23 days

2:30 PM - 2:45 PM (12/4/50 - 6/27/52)

4) MISS SUSAN / MARTINSVILLE, U. S. A. - NBC - (12 Mar 1951 to 28 Dec 1951) - 0 years, 9 months, 16 days

3:00 PM - 3:15 PM (3/12/51 - 12/28/51)

5) HAWKINS FALLS - NBC - (2 Apr 1951 to 1 Jul 1955) - 4 years, 2 months, 29 days

5:00 PM - 5:15 PM (4/2/51 - 7/3/53)

11:00 AM - 11:15 AM (7/6/53 - 1/8/54)

12:15 PM - 12:30 PM (1/11/54 - 7/2/54)

4:00 PM - 4:15 PM (7/5/54 - 7/1/55)

6) THE EGG AND I - CBS - (3 Sep 1951 to 1 Aug 1952) - 0 years, 10 months, 29 days

12:00 PM - 12:15 PM (9/3/51 - 8/1/52)

7) SEARCH FOR TOMORROW - CBS/NBC - (3 Sep 1951 to 26 Dec 1986) - 35 years, 3 months, 23 days

12:30 PM - 12:45 (9/3/51 - 9/6/68)

12:30 PM - 1:00 PM (9/9/68 - 6/5/81)

2:30 PM - 3:00 PM (6/8/81 - 3/26/82)

12:30 PM - 1:00 PM (3/29/82 - 12/26/86) NBC

8) LOVE OF LIFE - CBS - (24 Sep 1951 to 1 Feb 1980) - 28 years, 4 months, 8 days

12:15 PM - 12:30 PM (9/24/51 - 4/11/58)

12:00 PM - 12:30 PM (4/14/58 - 9/28/62)

12:00 PM - 12:25 PM (10/1/62 - 9/5/69)

11:30 AM - 12:00 PM (9/8/69 - 3/23/73)

11:30 AM - 11:55 AM (3/26/73 - 4/20/79)

4:00 PM - 4:30 PM (4/23/79 - 2/1/80)

9) FAIRMEADOWS, U. S. A. - NBC - (4 Nov 1951 to 27 Apr 1952) - 0 years, 5 months, 23 days

3:00 PM - 3:30 PM (11/4/51 - 4/27/52)

10) (THE) GUIDING LIGHT - CBS - (30 Jun 1952 to 18 Sep 2009) - 57 years, 2 months, 19 days

2:30 PM - 2:45 PM (6/30/52 - 12/26/52)

12:45 PM - 1:00 PM (12/29/52 - 9/6/68)

2:30 PM - 3:00 PM (9/9/68 - 9/1/72)

2:00 PM - 2:30 PM (9/4/72 - 11/28/75)

2:30 PM - 3:00 PM (12/1/75 - 11/4/77)

2:30 PM - 3:30 PM (11/7/77 - 2/1/80)

3:00 PM - 4:00 PM (2/4/80 - 18/09/09)

11) THE BENNETTS - NBC - (6 Jul 1953 to 8 Jan 1954) - 0 years, 6 months, 2 days

11:15 AM - 11:30 AM (7/6/53 - 1/8/54)

12) THREE STEPS TO HEAVEN - NBC - (3 Aug 1953 to 31 Dec 1954) - 1 year, 4 months, 28 days

11:30 AM - 11:45 AM (8/3/53 - 12/26/54)

10:45 AM - 11:00 AM (3/1/54 - 12/31/54)

13) FOLLOW YOUR HEART - NBC - (3 Aug 1953 to 8 Jan 1954) - 0 years, 5 months, 5 days

11:45 AM - 12:00 PM (8/3/53 - 1/8/54)

14) VALIANT LADY - CBS - (12 Oct 1953 to 16 Aug 1957) - 3 years, 10 months, 4 days

12:00 PM - 12:15 PM (10/12/53 - 8/15/57)

15) THE BRIGHTER DAY - CBS - (4 Jan 1954 to 28 Sep 1962) - 8 years, 8 months, 24 days

1:00 PM - 1:45 PM (1/4/54 - 5/15/54)

4:00 PM - 4:15 PM (7/5/54 - 6/15/62)

11:30 AM - 11:55 AM (6/18/62 - 9/28/62)

16) WOMAN WITH A PAST - CBS - (1 Feb 1954 to 2 Jul 1954) - 0 years, 5 months, 1 day

4:00 PM - 4:15 PM (2/1/54 - 7/2/54)

17) THE SECRET STORM - CBS - (1 Feb 1954 to 8 Feb 1974) - 20 years, 0 months, 7 days

4:15 PM - 4:30 PM (2/1/54 - 6/15/62)

4:00 PM - 4:30 PM (6/18/62 - 9/6/68)

3:00 PM - 3:30 PM (9/9/68 - 9/1/72)

3:30 PM - 4:00 PM (9/4/72 - 3/23/73)

4:00 PM - 4:30 PM (3/26/73 - 2/8/74)

18) ONE MAN'S FAMILY - NBC - (1 Mar 1954 to 1 Apr 1955) - 1 year, 1 month, 0 days

10:30 AM - 10:45 AM (3/1/54 - 7/2/54)

3:00 PM - 3:15 PM (7/4/54 - 8/27/54)

3:30 PM - 3:45 PM (8/30/54 - 4/1/55)

19) PORTIA FACES LIFE / THE INNER FLAME - CBS - (5 Apr 1954 to 1 Jul 1955) - 1 year, 2 months, 26 days

1:00 PM - 1:15 PM (4/5/54 - 7/1/55)

20) A TIME TO LIVE - NBC - (5 Jul 1954 to 31 Dec 1954) - 0 years, 5 months, 26 days

10:30 AM - 10:45 AM (7/5/54 - 12/31/54)

21) THE SEEKING HEART - CBS - (5 Jul 1954 to 10 Dec 1954) - 0 years, 5 months, 5 days

1:15 PM - 1:30 PM (7/5/54 - 12/10/54)

22) GOLDEN WINDOWS - NBC - (5 Jul 1954 to 1 Apr 1955) - 0 years, 8 months, 27 days

3:15 PM - 3:30 PM (7/5/54 - 4/1/55)

23) FIRST LOVE - NBC - (5 Jul 1954 to 30 Dec 1955) - 1 year, 5 months, 25 days

3:30 PM - 3:45 PM (7/5/54 - 8/27/54)

4:15 PM - 4:30 PM (8/30/54 - 12/20/55)

24) CONCERNING MISS MARLOWE - NBC - (5 Jul 1954 to 1 Jul 1955) - 0 years, 11 months, 26 days

3:45 PM - 4:00 PM (7/5/54 - 7/1/55)

25) THE GREATEST GIFT - NBC - (30 Aug 1954 to 1 Jul 1955) - 0 years, 10 months, 2 days

3:00 PM - 3:15 PM (8/30/54 - 4/1/55)

3:30 PM - 3:45 PM (4/4/55 - 7/1/55)

26) THE WORLD OF MR. SWEENEY - NBC - (4 Oct 1954 to 31 Dec 1955) - 1 year, 2 months, 27 days

4:30 PM - 4:45 PM (10/4/54 - 12/31/55)

27) THE ROAD OF LIFE - CBS - (13 Dec 1954 to 1 Jul 1955) - 0 years, 6 months, 18 days

1:15 PM - 1:30 PM (12/13/54 - 7/1/55)

28) AS THE WORLD TURNS - CBS - (2 Apr 1956 to 17 Sep 2010) - 54 years, 5 months, 15 days

1:30 PM - 2:00 PM (4/2/56 - 11/28/75)

1:30 PM - 2:30 PM (12/1/75 - 2/1/80)

2:00 PM - 3:00 PM (2/4/80 - 6/5/81)

1:30 PM - 2:30 PM (6/8/81 - 3/20/87)

2:00 PM - 3:00 PM (3/23/87 -09/17/10)

29) THE EDGE OF NIGHT - CBS/ABC - (2 Apr 1956 to 28 Dec 1984) - 28 years, 8 months, 26 days

4:30 PM - 5:00 PM (4/2/56 - 6/28/63)

3:30 PM - 4:00 PM (7/1/63 - 9/1/72)

2:30 PM - 3:00 PM (9/4/72 - 11/28/75)

4:00 PM - 4:30 PM (12/1/75 - 12/28/84) ABC

30) HOTEL COSMOPOLITAN - CBS - (19 Aug 1957 to 11 Apr 1958) - 0 years, 7 months, 23 days

12:00 PM - 12:15 PM (19/07/57 - 11/04/58)

31) KITTY FOYLE - NBC - (22 Jan 1958 to 26 Sep 1958) - 0 years, 8 months, 4 days

2:30 PM - 3:00 PM (1/13/58 - 6/27/58)

32) TODAY IS OURS - NBC - (30 Jun 1958 to 26 Dec 1958) - 0 years, 5 months, 26 days

3:00 PM - 3:30 PM (6/30/58 - 12/26/58)

33) FROM THESE ROOTS - NBC - (30 Jun 1958 to 29 Dec 1961) - 3 years, 5 months, 29 days

3:30 PM - 4:00 PM (6/20/58 - 12/28/61)

34) YOUNG DOCTOR MALONE - NBC - (29 Dec 1958 to 29 Mar 1963) - 4 years, 3 months, 0 days

3:00 PM - 3:30 PM (12/29/58 - 9/28/62)

3:30 PM - 4:00 PM (10/1/62 - 3/29/63)

35) FULL CIRCLE - CBS - (27 Jun 1960 to 1 Mar 1961) - 0 years, 8 months, 2 days

2:00 PM - 2:30 PM (6/27/60 - 3/10/61)

36) THE CLEAR HORIZON - CBS - (11 Jul 1960 to 11 Jun 1962) - 1 year, 11 months, 0 days

11:30 AM - 12:00 PM (7/11/60 - 3/11/61)

11:30 AM - 11:55 AM (2/26/62 - 6/11/62)

37) OUR FIVE DAUGHTERS - NBC - (2 Jan 1962 to 26 Sep 1962) - 0 years, 8 months, 24 days

3:30 PM - 4:00 PM (1/2/62 - 9/28/62)

38) GENERAL HOSPITAL - ABC - (1 Apr 1963 to Present) - 47 years, -- months, -- days

1:00 PM - 1:30 PM (4/1/63 - 12/27/63)

3:00 PM - 3:30 PM (12/30/63 - 7/23/76)

3:15 PM - 4:00 PM (7/26/76 - 1/13/78)

3:00 PM - 4:00 PM (1/16/78 - Present)

39) BEN JERROD - NBC - (1 Apr 1963 to 28 Jun 1963) - 0 years, 2 months, 27 days

2:00 PM - 2:30 PM (4/1/63 - 6/28/63)

40) THE DOCTORS - NBC - (1 Apr 1963 to 31 Dec 1982) - 19 years, 8 months, 30 days

2:30 PM - 3:00 PM (4/1/63 - 3/2/79)

2:00 PM - 2:30 PM (3/5/79 - 8/1/80)

12:30 PM - 1:00 PM (8/4/80 - 3/26/82)

12:00 PM - 12:30 PM (3/29/82 - 12/31/82

41) ANOTHER WORLD - NBC - (5 May 1964 to 26 Jun 1999) - 35 years, 1 month, 21 days

3:00 PM - 3:30 PM (5/4/66 - 1/3/75)

3:00 PM - 4;00 PM (1/6/75 - 3/2/79)

2:30 PM - 4:00 PM (3/5/79 - 8/1/80)

2:00 PM - 3:00 PM (8/4/80 - 6/26/99)

42) THE YOUNG MARRIEDS - ABC - (5 Oct 1964 to 25 Mar 1966) - 1 year, 5 months, 20 days

3:30 PM - 4:00 PM (10/5/64 - 3/25/66)

43) FLAME IN THE WIND / A TIME FOR US - ABC - (28 Dec 1964 to 16 Dec 1966) - 1 year, 11 months, 18 days

2:00 PM - 2:30 PM (12/28/64 - 6/25/65)

2:30 PM - 2:55 PM (6/28/65 - 12/16/66)

44) MOMENT OF TRUTH - NBC - (4 Jan 1965 to 5 Nov 1965) - 0 years, 10 months, 1 day

2:00 PM - 2:30 PM (1/4/65 - 11/5/65)

45) MORNING STAR - NBC - (27 Sep 1965 to 1 Jul 1966) - 0 years, 9 months, 4 days

11:00 AM - 11:30 AM (9/27/65 - 7/1/66)

46) PARADISE BAY - NBC - (27 Sep 1965 to 1 Jul 1966) - 0 years, 9 months, 4 days

11:30 AM - 12:00 PM (9/27/65 - 7/1/66)

47) THE NURSES - ABC - (27 Sep 1965 to 31 Mar 1967) - 1 year, 6 months, 4 days

2:00 PM - 2:30 PM (9/27/65 - 3/25/66)

3:30 PM - 4:00 PM (3/28/66 - 3/31/67)

48) NEVER TOO YOUNG - ABC - (27 Sep 1965 to 24 Jun 1966) - 0 years, 8 months, 28 days

4:00 PM - 4:30 PM (9/27/65 - 3/25/66)

4:00 PM - 4:25 PM (3/28/66 - 6/24/66)

49) DAYS OF OUR LIVES - NBC - (8 Nov 1965 to Present) - 44 years, -- months, -- days

2;00 PM - 2:30 PM (11/8/65 - 4/18/75)

1:30 PM - 2:30 PM (4/21/75 - 3/2/79)

1:00 PM - 2:00 PM (3/5/78 - Present)

50) DARK SHADOWS - ABC - (27 Jun 1966 to 2 Apr 1971) - 4 years, 9 months, 6 days

4:00 PM - 4:30 PM (6/27/66 - 3/31/67)

3:30 PM - 4;00 PM (4/2/67 - 7/12/68)

4:00 PM - 4:30 PM (7/15/68 - 4/2/71)

51) LOVE IS A MANY SPLENDORED THING - CBS - (18 Sep 1967 to 23 Mar 1973) - 5 years, 6 months, 5 days

2:00 PM - 2:30 PM (9/18/67 - 9/1/72)

3:00 PM - 3:30 PM (9/4/72 - 3/23/73)

52) ONE LIFE TO LIVE - ABC - (15 Jul 1968 to Present) - 41 years, -- months, -- days

3:30 PM - 4:00 PM (7/15/68 - 7/23/76)

2:30 PM - 3:15 PM (7/26/76 - 1/13/78)

2:00 PM - 3:00 PM (1/16/78 - Present)

53) HIDDEN FACES - NBC - (30 Dec 1968 to 27 Jun 1969) - 0 years, 5 months, 28 days

1:30 PM - 2:00 PM (12/30/68 - 6/27/69)

54) WHERE THE HEART IS - CBS - (8 Sep 1969 to 23 Mar 1973) - 3 years, 6 months, 15 days

12:00 PM - 12:25 PM (9/8/69 - 3/23/73)

55) BRIGHT PROMISE - NBC - (29 Sep 1969 to 31 Mar 1972) - 2 years, 6 months, 2 days

3:30 PM - 4:00 PM (9/29/69 - 3/31/72)

56) ALL MY CHILDREN - ABC - (5 Jan 1970 to Present) - 40 years, -- months, -- days

1:00 PM - 1:30 PM (1/5/70 - 7/4/75)

12:30 PM - 1:00 PM (7/7/75 - 12/31/76)

1:00 PM - 1:30 PM (1/3/77 - 4/22/77)

1:00 PM - 2:00 PM (4/25/77 - Present)

57) THE BEST OF EVERYTHING - ABC - (30 Mar 1970 to 25 Sep 1970) - 0 years, 5 months, 26 days

12:00 PM - 12:30 PM (3/30/70 - 9/25/70)

58) A WORLD APART - ABC - (30 Mar 1970 to 25 Jun 1971) - 1 year, 2 months, 26 days

12:30 PM - 1:00 PM (3/30/70 - 6/25/71)

59) SOMERSET - NBC - (30 Mar 1970 to 31 Dec 1976) - 6 years, 9 months, 1 day

4:00 PM - 4:30 PM (3/30/70 - 12/31/76)

60) RETURN TO PEYTON PLACE - NBC - (3 Apr 1972 to 4 Jan 1974) - 1 year, 9 months, 1 day

3:30 PM - 4:00 PM (4/3/72 - 1/3/74)

61) THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS - CBS - (26 Mar 1973 to Present) - 37 years, -- months, -- days

12:00 PM - 12:30 PM (3/26/73 - 2/1/80)

1:00 PM - 2:00 PM (2/4/80 - 6/5/81)

12:30 PM - 1:30 PM (6/8/81 - Present)

62) HOW TO SURVIVE A MARRIAGE - NBC - (7 Jan 1974 to 18 Apr 1975) - 1 year, 3 months, 11 days

3:30 PM - 4:00 PM (1/7/74 - 4/18/75)

63) RYAN'S HOPE - ABC - (7 Jul 1975 to 12 Jan 1989) - 13 years, 6 months, 5 days

1:00 PM - 1:30 PM (7/7/75 - 12/31/76)

12:30 PM - 1:00 PM (1/3/77 - 10/5/84)

12;00 PM - 12:30 PM (10/8/84 - 1/13/89)

64) LOVERS AND FRIENDS / FOR RICHER, FOR POORER - NBC - (3 Jan 1977 to 6 May 1977 & 5 Dec 1977 to 29 Sep 1978) - 1 year, 1 month, 27 days

12:30 PM - 1:00 PM (1/3/77 - 5/6/77)

1:00 PM - 1:30 PM (12/6/77 - 9/29/78)

65) HIGH HOPES - SYN - (11 Apr 1978 to 5 Oct 1978) - 0 years, 5 months, 24 days

66) TEXAS - NBC - (4 Aug 1980 to 31 Dec 1982) - 2 years, 4 months, 27 days

3:00 PM - 4:00 PM (8/4/80 - 4/23/82)

11:00 AM - 12:00 PM (4/26/82 - 12/31/82)

67) ANOTHER LIFE - CBN - (1 Jun 1981 to 5 Oct 1984) - 3 years, 4 months, 4 days

68) CAPITOL - CBS - (26 Mar 1982 to 20 Mar 1987) - 4 years, 11 months, 22 days

2:30 PM - 3:00 PM (3/26/82 - 3/20/87)

69) THE CATLINS - TBS - (1 Apr 1983 to 31 May 1985) - 2 years, 1 month, 30 days

70) CAPITOL - CBS - (26 Mar 1982 to 20 Mar 1987) - 4 years, 11 months, 22 days

2:30 PM - 3:00 PM (3/26/82 - 3/20/87)

71) LOVING - ABC - (26 Jun 1983 to 10 Nov 1995) - 12 years, 4 months, 15 days

11:30 AM - 12:00 PM (6/26/83 - 10/5/84)

12:30 PM - 1:00 PM (10/8/84 - 11/10/95)

72) SANTA BARBARA - NBC - (30 Jul 1984 to 15 Jan 1993) - 8 years, 5 months, 16 days

3:00 PM - 4:00 PM (7/30/84 - 1/15/93)

73) THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL - CBS - (23 Mar 1987 to Present) - 23 years, -- months, -- days

1:30 PM - 2:00 PM (3/23/87 - Present)

74) GENERATIONS - NBC - (27 Mar 1989 to 11 Jan 1991) - 1 year, 9 months, 15 days

12:30 PM - 1:00 PM (3/26/89 - 1/25/91)

75) TRIBES - FOX - (5 Mar 1990 to 13 Jul 1990) - 0 years, 4 months, 8 days

76) THE CITY - ABC - (13 Nov 1995 to 23 Mar 1997) - 1 year, 4 months, 10 days

12:30 PM - 1:00 PM (11/13/95 - 3/23/97)

77) PORT CHARLES - ABC - (1 Jun 1997 to 3 Oct 2003) - 6 years, 4 months, 2 days

12:30 PM - 1:00 PM (7/1/97 - 10/3/03)

78) SUNSET BEACH - NBC - (6 Jan 1997 to 31 Dec 1999) - 2 years, 11 months, 25 days

3:00 PM - 4:00 PM (7/97 - 10/03)

79) PASSIONS - NBC - (5 Jul 1999 to 7 Aug 2008) - 9 years, 1 month, 2 days

2:00 PM - 3:00 PM (7/5/99 - 7/07/08)

Tally

NBC: 38

CBS: 23

ABC: 15

DuMont: 1

SYN - 1

CBN - 1

TBS - 1

FOX - 1

DirectTV - 1

[Guest dc cubs]

Wow, I never would have thought that NBC would have had the most soaps. However, that also means they did not have a very good track record of successful long running shows. They only had 2 soaps that lasted longer than 10 years in Another World and Days of Our Lives.

[Bright Eyes]

... and THE DOCTORS! Though technically, you could add SEARCH FOR TOMORROW as well.

[Guest dc cubs]

Oops, my bad as I did miss the Doctors on NBC which lasted 19 years. That show ended before I started watching soaps in 84.

[Bright Eyes]

Personally, I've always favoured THE DOCTORS over its similar product GENERAL HOSPITAL.

[Eric83]

LOL at NBC having the most soaps.

Maybe if the heads of NBC weren't so against soaps they could have more success, and a strong, consistent line-up.

[BadBoy93]

never knew there was a soap on FOX and Syndication. They should try one on Syndication again and see if it works.

[soapfan770]

It seems to me there are a couple of syndicated soaps not on this list, namely the mid-80s soap Rituals and the 1969 soap Strange Paradise but neither lasted long.