How Soaps Competed With New Programs, Timeslot Rivals, etc.

[Franko]

So, I recently realized that the very day Another World expanded to 90 minutes, Karen Wolek was confessing her prostitution on One Life to Live.

Could anyone share more examples of programs bringing out the big guns in the face of new competition?

[robbwolff]

One Life to Live did a storyline in March 1982 that featured Bo Buchanan in scenes taped in Washington, D.C. Those scenes aired right around the time that Capitol, which was set in D.C., premiered.

[SoapDope]

It seems like in 1978/1979 all the soaps had rape or attempted rape storylines.

[Paul Raven]

In 65 ABC was launching a major offensive in daytime and part of that strategy was placing reruns of primetime hit Ben Casey in the 1-2 pm slot hoping viewers would not turn over at 1.30 for ATWT.

Variety reported in Nov 65 that CBS planned to stage a big wedding for David and Ellen to counter any ratings momentum Ben Casey might muster.

However,David and Ellen didn't wed till June 66. Maybe the article referred to the whole lead up to the nuptuals.

[watson71]

Looking back at when Another World was highly rated in the late 60s and the 70s, it is always surprising to see the large number of shows that CBS pitted against it, yet it was still able to maintain its high ratings, including the #1 primetime series at the time All in the Family. Below are the programs that competed against AW from 1964-1999:

8 Soaps

As the World Turns- CBS

Capitol- CBS

General Hospital- ABC

Guiding Light- CBS

Love is a Many Splendored Thing- CBS

One Life to Live- ABC

Search for Tomorrow-CBS

The Secret Storm- CBS

4 Game Shows

Match Game- CBS

Tattletales- CBS

The Price is Right- CBS

To Tell the Truth-CBS

3 Sitcoms

All in the Family- CBS

M*A*S*H-CBS

One Day at a Time- CBS

[Gray Bunny]

In 1999, GL was going to embark on a breast cancer storyline for Reva, but decided to go with a fantastical "Calgon-Take-Me-Away" story of Reva being a princess in San Cristobel, complete with lush, on-location shoots in Puerto Rico. This was was done to compete with the upcoming new NBC soap, Passions.

[robbwolff]

I never knew that. It was the San Cristobel storyline that made me lose interest in, and give up on, GL.

[Dale]

When CBS moved ATWT into direct competition with OLTL in March 1987, OLTL countered with its iconic Viki In Heaven sequences for two weeks.

[CCCapwell]

The July 30, 1984 premiere date of "Santa Barbara" was picked to go up against ABC's soap line-up pre-emptions for the 1984 Olympics.

[Franko]

Thanks for the information, guys! I'm guessing Days' "Gutsy. Glamorous." ads were also done to poke fun of B&B?

[watson71]

At the time Another World was in the thick of the Sin Stalker mystery, and they had the Sin Stalker attack guest star Crystal Gayle. She was able to escape to sing the show's new theme song (You Take Me Away to) Another World with Gary Morris.

http://youtu.be/gpFXS5dILKk

[Marco Dane]

When GH and The Doctors premiered on the same day.

[Paul Raven]

When SFT moved to NBC they had an island location - St Kitts shoot with Travis and Liza stranded on an island.