Ratings from the 80's

[soapfan770]

 

Wow lol disregard my last speculation post then lol. That 4.5 is probably what got Capitol cancelled then lol. 

[VanessaReardon]

For the week ending 8/26/84 the rankings of the top 8 soaps were: GH, AMC, Y&R, OLTL, GL, ATWT, DAYS, CAP

Y&R was the #1 daytime show (beating The Price is Right) from Oct 29-Nov 2, 1984. Soap Rankings that week were: Y&R, GH, GL, AMC, ATWT, OLTL, CAP, DAYS, AW, LOV, RH, SFT, SB, EON

Partial ratings week ending 11/18/84: GH 8.9, Y&R 8.0, AMC 7.5, ATWT 7.4, GL 7.3, DAYS 7.2, OLTL 6.8

[will81]

I was always under the impression that once Bell got B&B off the ground Capitol was out the door regardless of its ratings. 

[Soapsuds]

Those ratings are from 1986 not 1987 as the poster previously stated. Capitol wasn't cancelled until March 20, 1987 and B&B debut the following Monday on March 23, 1987. B&B got ATWT timeslot and ATWT was moved a half an hour later with GL airing after it.

[will81]

But Bell was asked to do a soap back before Capitol was put together and initially said no, he started working on B&B in 1986 and moved to California so he could oversee it, it was a done deal. So CBS needed to make room somewhere. Though it may have gotten ATWT timeslot, Capitol still needed to go in order for B&B to have room on the schedule.

 

Do you think if Capitol had gotten stronger ratings CBS would have kept it and just expanded their daytime line up to include B&B or cancelled another daytime show? There was no way B&B wouldn't have made it on the air.

[Khan]

I thought it was common knowledge that CBS, having lost faith in CAPITOL's ability to sustain ratings growth, asked Bill Bell (again) to come up with another series; and that he agreed to do it (and move to CA to oversee production) because it would be a show that he and his family own "out right" and that would allow his children (specifically, Bill Jr. and Bradley) to work alongside him and learn the ropes.

 

At least, that's what CBS' then-VP of Daytime, Michael Brockman, told Claire Labine when he asked her to pitch an idea for a new, half-hour soap.  (He might've also told Paul Rauch, who ultimately pitched "Grosse Pointe").  Labine developed (I think) "Celebrations" with the understanding that B&B would likely be the one picked up for series.

Edited November 5, 2019 by Khan

[VanessaReardon]

The conclusion of GL’s Barbados storyline helped the show get to #2 for the week ending 11/30/84.

1. GH 8.2

2. GL 7.8

3. Y&R 7.4

4. AMC 7.3

5. Days 7.0

6. OLTL and ATWT 6.8

8. CAP 5.8

9. AW 5.3

10. Loving 3.7

11. SB 3.0

12 RH and SFT 2.8

14. EON 2.4

 

[Gray Bunny]

With these weekly breakdowns coming (Thanks @VanessaReardon), I'm interested in seeing other times when GL hit No. 2. Plus, I always wondered if OLTL ever hit No. 1 for a week? 

[VanessaReardon]

I don’t think that I have seen where GL ever hit #2 after that week in Nov ‘84. They were no 3 a few times in 1985 and also during the JFP years. OLTL did hit #1 for a week in 1988 at the conclusion of the faux Bo storyline but I think it may have been a tie with another show and not #1 by itself. I could be wrong on that but we’ll see when I get around to looking at 1988 ratings. That year is still in my basement.

In the meantime, here is the next set of ratings info that I have. 
I only have rankings and not ratings for some of the soaps for the week ending 12/21/84. Rankings were GH, Y&R, GL, AMC, ATWT, DOOL, OLTL. 
The soaps then got a holiday boost for Dec 31 - January 4, 1985.

GH 10.5

AMC 9.9

Y&R 9.3

OLTL 9.0

DOOL 8.2

GL 8.0

ATWT 7.5

AW 6.5

CAP 6.2

LOV 5.3

SFT 4.3

SB 4.2

RH 4.0

[Gray Bunny]

 

I used to love seeing those New Years week numbers every year; always a great boost for every show. To me, it kind of showcased how many people are really interested in their shows but just casually view during the rest of the year when they're working. 

[VanessaReardon]

Again, partial ratings. I’m just sharing what I have. Week ending 1/25/85 GH 10.1, Y&R 8.7, next in rankings were AMC, OLTL, GL, DOOL, ATWT, CAP. 
Week ending 2/1/85:  I don’t have the full ratings

GH 9.8

AMC 9.3

Y&R 8.6

GL 8.3

OLTL 8.2

DOOL 8.0

ATWT 7.8

CAP 6.5

 

Week ending 3/1/85

GH 8.8

AMC 8.0

GL 7.7

Y&R 7.4

DOOL 7.4

OLTL 7.3

ATWT 6.7

AW 5.7

CAP 5.5

LOV 4.2

SB 3.8

RH 3.3

SFT 3.2

 

some confusion as to the following ratings are the week ending 3/8/85 or 3/15/85. I don’t know which week they are from (Partial ratings).

GH 8.2

AMC 7.4

Y&R 7.3

GL 7.1

DOOL 7.0

ATWT 6.6

CAP 5.6

[VanessaReardon]

Ratings for week ending 5/24/85 

I think that was the Bo & Hope wedding Week. 
GH 8.3

AMC 7.2

DOOL & Y&R 7.0

GL 6.7

OLTL 6.4

ATWT 6.1

AW 5.3

CAP 4.9

LOV 3.8

SB 3.7

SFT 3.0

RH 2.6

 

Week ending 6/7/85

GH 9.4

AMC 8.6

OLTL 7.5

Y&R 7.4

DOOL 7.0

GL 6.4

ATWT 5.7

AW 5.4

CAP 4.7

LOV 4.0

SB 3.9

SFT 3.2

RH 3.0

Week ending June 14, 1985

GH 9.2

AMC 8.8

Y&R 8.3

OLTL 7.8

GL & DOOL 7.1

ATWT 6.4

AW 5.4

CAP 5.3

LOV 4.4

SB 3.8

SFT 3.4

RH 3.0

 

[VanessaReardon]

I hope I’m not getting annoying. I have some time this afternoon and am posting ratings. 
6/28/1985

GH 9.3

AMC 8.3

Y&R 7.8

OLTL 7.5

DOOL 7.1

GL 6.8

ATWT 6.2

AW 5.3

CAP 5.2

LOV 4.1

SB 3.8

SFT 3.4

RH 3.1

Week ending 7/7/1985

GH 8.4

AMC 8.2

Y&R 7.8

OLTL 7.1

DOOL 6.6

GL 6.5

ATWT 5.9

CAP 5.3

AW 4.9

LOV 4.2

RH 3.3

SB 3.2

SFT 2.9

 

Week ending 7/12/85 Yes, huge gains for some shows.

GH 9.1

AMC 8.4

Y&R OLTL 7.6

DOOL 7.3

GL 6.6

ATWT 6.2

AW 5.5

CAP 5.4

LOV 4.1

SB 4.0

RH 3.5

SFT 3.1

[VanessaReardon]

Week ending August 2, 1985 

Daytime Emmys!! 10.3 rating

GH 8.8

Y&R 8.7

AMC 8.3

OLTL 7.5

DOOL 7.1

GL 6.5

ATWT 6.1

CAP 5.2

AW 4.7

LOV 4.1

SB 3.2

SFT 3.0

RH 2.9

Week ending 8/9/1985

GH 9.3

OLTL 8.2

AMC 8.0

Y&R 7.9

DOOL 6.9

GL 6.8

ATWT 6.3

CAP 5.2

AW 5.0

LOV 4.2

SB 3.4

RH 3.2

SFT 3.1

 

Week ending 8/16/1985

GH 9.6

Y&R 8.9

OLTL 8.8

AMC 8.6

GL &DOOL 7.0

ATWT 6.0

AW 5.2

CAP 5.0

LOV 4.1

SB 3.8

RH/SFT both 3.1

[Khan]

 

Are you kidding?  I, for one, am LOVING these ratings from BITD.  I've learned so much just from looking at the numbers.  Thank you so much for posting them -- and by all means, PLEASE keep doing so, if you have anymore to share. 

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