Beyond the Gates: Premiere Date, Time Slot Set by CBS

[Liberty City]

Ah, that makes sense; thanks for explaining. It's always kind of fascinated me how things don't air at the same time across the same network. Ah, those pesky timezones/affiliates, etc. Looking it up, my station (WCVB-TV, channel 5) is affiliated with ABC but owned by Hearst Television. Nothing was more confusing than when NBC ditched WHDH (channel 7) for their own network, NBC10 Boston; eight years later, and it still feels wrong. 

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[dragonflies]

My affiliate is Columbus, Ohio and GH moved from 3pm to 2pm and stayed at 2pm, which yes was OLTL's slot here 

But aren't they a few months ahead, given they started taping in November? I wonder if that will change at some point?

[Chris B]

With holiday breaks they're probably between 2-3 months ahead which isn't too bad. 

[janea4old]

I have no idea about BTG in this circumstance. 

But generally, most US soaps begin taping further ahead in November, so that they can take a break of several weeks at Christmas. By February, most US soaps are back to each soap's normal tape-to-airdate gap.  For example:  Y&R is usually 5-6 weeks ahead (tape-to-airdate) but it can vary 4-8 weeks depending on planning for holiday/vacation breaks.

[Contessa Donatella]

Yes, this past holiday, GH was into Feb but not as far as Valentine's which they accomplished by intent, as Jane said, to allow for a more generous holiday break.

[Khan]

It's certainly better than being 10 years ahead (wassup, DAYS?).

[Liberty City]

I am fairly certain Beyond the Gates is three months tape-to-air. I noticed on one actor's IG Stories a script for "May 2025," which would still place them at three months tape-to-air, which I think is a fair place to be, especially for a new soap opera.

[Errol]

Because the cast isn't required to live in Atlanta, they need more time between tape-to-air so that they don't find themselves in a crunch due to an actor not being available for some reason.

[Liberty City]

That makes the most sense; I am sure it helps [several] did either live in Atlanta or did relocate for the show, but for some (with families) it might not have been viable. Thanks for the further explanation, Errol! You're on top of it, and it's much appreciated. 

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[brockreynolds]

IT varies quite a bit... I remember when I was young visiting my grandmother in the same time zone.. Y&R would air at 12:30 PM on KFVS-12 in Cape Girardeau, Missouri. Then here in Kansas City, it was at 11 AM on KCMO-5 ... and is still in that time slot to this day. 52 years in the exact same time slot.

[Khan]

I didn't either until very recently.  Given what I've read about Y&R's first years, however, I think it was a genius move on Bill Bell's part: build up the romantic tension between mystery man Brad (Eliot, not Carlton) and introverted Leslie, drop hints about Lorie as the "wild child" who was enjoying the fast life in Europe; then, when Lorie does come home, have her set her sights on her sister's love interest.

Edited 2 hours ago by Khan

[Liberty City]

That's insane. 

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 I remember when GL moved on hour here near the end. From 10am to 9am, I believe?

[Khan]

What mentally unbalanced station manager would slot a soap opera in at 9 am!?

I remember when LOVING aired on my local ABC affiliate at 10:30 am - before the station junked the show altogether - and thinking, "Geez, people haven't even recovered from Regis and Kathie Lee yet!"

Edited 2 hours ago by Khan

[Liberty City]

It was bumped to 9am, because of Rachael Ray's talk show debut in 2006. And then, if I remember, Ray's talk show moved to 9am (briefly), and Let's Make a Deal resumed the original 10am time slot. I believe several markets had Guiding Light on at 9am, as well.