Why didn't a SoapNet come sooner?

[soapfan770]

I was wondering what would have happened in SoapNet or the planned SoapCity had made their debut in the 90s rather than in 2000. Understandably I would assume the network would have the same problems today as it does now but I wonder why it took so long to create. I imagine we would have seen Edge and SFT reruns in the 90s beyond their runs on USA in the late 80s. I admit I didn't really watch SoapNet beyond the primetime soaps and AW reruns until Days and Y&R were added.

[Cheap21]

Im guessing its bc there werent that many channels in the early 90s (relatively at least compared to today). Things didnt really start to explode and expand till satellite television like DirectTV became more prominent in the mid 90s. After that there became a specialized network for so many different genres. Game shows, reality tv, cooking, golf, etc... Eventually soaps got their own dedicated network with SN probably after Disney/ABC saw the success with the others

[soapfan770]

Heh thanks, that's such a valid point I was forgetting when I thought of this question earlier, I guess for me its easier to forget that it was once a big deal when the local cable company got up to forty channels.