Yep. I grew up in Australia most of the time, and we always watched SB, AW, and the Bell soaps. We had the other ABC soaps, but I don't ever remember Loving airing here.

I didn't realise AMC was popular in Italy.

In my country Italy AMC not was popular but loving more .Capital more popular , first soap in prime time in Italy..

Funny that shows like Santa Barbara and Loving were so popular in other parts of the world and were not great ratings grabbers in their country of origin.

Same with Sunset Beach.

Same with Sunset Beach.

I know that SB had a huge cult in London. When I was study abroad there this summer and was watching EE with some Brit college students, they brought American soaps (which ones they liked, silly plots, etc) and for some reason, they preferred SB over any other show. Apparently they grew up with them and watched them when SB was running over in the UK. Another World was another one they raved about--at least the last couple of years, which we (Americans) loathed.

Well if we're talking about outside the US my mother said during the 80s Y&R was the most popular show in Trinidad & Tobago. Everyone was raving about that show around the time when people in the US were still raving about GH.

ABC did try a few times to sell GH to international markets in the 80's and 90's, it just never caught on for some reason.

I guess you guys are only talking about the USA, since many of the ABC soaps never made it to other countries or did for very short runs. The shows that were most popular overseas were GH, Days, Y&R, B&B, Santa Barbara etc...Not many ABC soaps in that bunch.

I think that the ABC soaps use a lot of references to pop culture and current events, that by the time they air in foreign markets, they are old news. On the other hand, the CBS shows, especially the Bell soaps, exist in a bubble with no reference to pop culture or current news.

Loving prob benefitted from the fact they could show it from the start--and it was 30 minutes. That's attractive to a lot of markets.

The Bells have actually said that in foreign markets they've noticed where Y&R does well, B&B flops and vice versa.

It also depends on where they're shown--recently AMC was picked up mid 2000s era for a tiny Aussie new channel that had zero watchers anyway--I think my Australian friend said it lasted a year and would score rating points of like 0.01

Also, as "more realistic" as UK and Aussie soaps (as well as some Euro soaps) tend to be--when it comes to American ones often the appeal seems to be more for "rich campy characters" which, while the ABC soaps have some of that aren't quite the same--even their camp is different. SB and B&B back in the 80s could be seen as somewhat related to huge international hits like Dynasty.

I assume GL was bigin Germany since they're doing those major DVD releases of it there...

Edited January 17, 201312 yr by EricMontreal22

I remember they did show GL, AMC and OLTL in the 90's on a Soap dedicated cable channel here in Australia. Because I remember watching them. But that didn't last past about 1999, and I am not sure what episodes were being shown.

The one my ex Geoff, who lives in Melbourne mentioned would have been in the past 5 years. I believe they showed GH too. Anyway, it didn't last...

I remember they did show GL, AMC and OLTL in the 90's on a Soap dedicated cable channel here in Australia. Because I remember watching them. But that didn't last past about 1999, and I am not sure what episodes were being shown.

Fox Soap on Foxtel! I miss that channel.

The one my ex Geoff, who lives in Melbourne mentioned would have been in the past 5 years. I believe they showed GH too. Anyway, it didn't last...

General Hospital has been on in Australia several times on several different channels. It was on Network Ten a few times, and it was on W and Fox8 too and then back on W and W2 most recently. Your friend is probably thinking of it being on W.

Days was the first soap to be seen in Australia from the late 60's.In the 70's it was Days,Y&R,SFT and GH all on the same channel(Nine network).Bill and Susan Hayes came out to appear on an award show. AW was shown in the morning on 9 also.Seceret Storm aired in the 60's also.

At one point AMC was added in the morning.

A competitive network(10) tried to compete in the 70's with ATWT,DRs and RH but that was short lived.

Dark Shadows also had a run and I think LIAMST.

Later in the 80's or 90's after 9 dropped them,10 relaunched AW and AMC for a short time and showed OLTL.

SB,SuBe.Generations also aired at some stage.

So of the major soaps only GL never aired on network TV in Oz.

Thanks Paul for that info

Yeah I just did some quick research on US Soaps in Australia

Days: Mar 1968 - (channel 9)

Secret Storm: 1969 - 1969 (Channel 9)

General Hospital: 1969 - 1990 (Channel 9) 1991 - 1998? (Channel 10) Soap Channel I think definitely Fox8 possibly still on there now

Return to Peyton Place: 1973 (Channel 9) 1973 - 1976 (Channel 7)

The Young and the Restless - Apr 1974 (Channel 9) Then went to cable around 2006 or something

As the World Turns: 1975 (about 6 months on Channel 9) 1978 (about a year on Channel 10)

Another World: 1975 - 1985 (Channel 9) 1986 - 1999 (Channel 10)

Search for Tomorrow: 1975 - 1982 (Channel 9)

All My Children: 1980 (about 6 months channel 9) 1984 - 1985 (Channel 10) then on Soap Channel around 1995 - 1999? then 7Two around 2011

Texas: 1981 - 1983 (Channel 10)

Santa Barbara: 1987 - 1993 (Channel 10)

The Bold and the Beautiful: 1987 - (Channel 10)

I know Sunset Beach and Passions aired here as well as Loving (couldn't find any info though), not sure about Port Charles, I don't remember it and I was collection SOD at the time, so was aware of the show. Couldn't find any listings for DRS, RH, DS or LIAMST or any others. Possibly they aired here for very brief periods of time.

And the ones I mentioned on Soap Channel GL, OLTL (didn't find any airings on Network tv here for OLTL)

Edited January 18, 201312 yr by will81

It started with MAB on Y&R and her infusion of ABC stars Now its FOJ with her own infusion of ABC folks. I just don't get what is so special with ABC when the BELL folks are proven golden standards from writers to directors etc.

All I can say is, the overblown fanfare for the last addition to Y&R was seriously unwarranted.

The Bells have actually said that in foreign markets they've noticed where Y&R does well, B&B flops and vice versa.

I've always thought the reason B&B has always done better than Y&R in Australia is its timeslot.

All I can add is. I've only ever lived in the US. But, personally. I think the actors that ABC pick (especially the veteran ones from the 70s/80s/90s) have more charisma than the rest of the soap actors out there. Also, ABC daytime was more brazen and diverse in their storylines than CBS/NBC.