Before I begin this topic, I want to make one thing clear: I am not one of the many Frons' haters here at SON. As a matter of fact, I could not disagree more with those who believe that Frons is so much worse than NBC Daytime; for me, it's the other way around, as I think that ABC at its worst is far surperior to the crap shown each day on NBC. However, this is a topic for a totally different thread. Also, I acknowledge that--while I don't hate Frons--I have never liked him either.

The reason why wrote the above paragraph is to show that I am looking at the topic of this thread from a purely business standpoint, as opposed to an emotional standpoint. And, when you think about the business aspects, the only conclusion that makes sense is to fire Frons ASAP. Upon seeing ratings from the past month or so, I was horrified as to what I read: all three ABC soaps are at ratings that are in the range of 2.3 to 2.6--even the "super-popular" GH. Just as alarming is that, just a few months ago, the three ABC soaps had much better ratings than they do now. So, obviously, the conclusion is that ABC Daytime is in a major freefall.

Yet, surprisingly, Frons' job is as secure as ever. (He even just recently received a promotion.) This is a major surprise because ABC has a history of caring about its soaps' ratings. In the past, when others called for Frons' termination, ABC (wisely, in my opinion) kept Frons in his job because the ratings were good (compared to most other soaps). However, this is no longer the case, and yet--for whatever reason--the top ABC executives are not showing any concern. It is like they feel beholden to Frons.

The fact that ABC seems to no longer care about its soaps' ratings is a dramatic turnaround in the company's attitude, since the network as always benefited from the profitablilty (which is far greater than the profit that the CBS and NBC soaps provide to their networks) of AMC, OLTL, and GH. Indeed, such behavior is much more typical of NBC and P&G--two companies that have seriously considered exiting the soap business for over a decade. Whenever NBC or P&G experience terrible ratings, no action is taken, and the incompetent leadership remains. However, nobody is (any longer) surprised by this, since NBC and P&G have a history of sabatoging their soaps.

Therefore, I am beginning to wonder if ABC now feels the same way as NBC and P&G, and wants to exit the soap business altogether. Why else would ABC act so recklessly and refuse to fire Frons?

I am very shocked. I just had a conversation about this this morning. I have no idea why his job is not only secure, but why he was given leeway at Soapnet.

ABC Daytime is a clusterfuck and all in positions of power should be fired except for AMC's EP. I like her.

Part of me would love to see Brian back at NBC Daytime... but before the board gets hot and bothered, not today's Brian. The Brian that ran the show back in the late 1980s. He knew his stuff back then... what happened, Fronsie?

I think you hit the nail on the head, Max, the higher ups at ABC seem to have given up on the soaps. They probably see the whole industry as dying, so they're not putting any effort into saving it.

Therefore, I am beginning to wonder if ABC now feels the same way as NBC and P&G, and wants to exit the soap business altogether. Why else would ABC act so recklessly and refuse to fire Frons?

They consider daytime to be a dying business. The falling ratings aren't seen as his fault, but a natural consequence of daytime dying out.

Here's my theory. Frons was not only not penalized for the ABC soaps taking a dip-he was rewarded by getting a bigger and better job with Disney which further removed him from meddling in the day-to-day activities of the soaps. And since their ratings have tanked even further with less of over-managing, he's not being blamed for anything. And I agree with those who said they consider daytime a dying breed.

Looking at this from a business pov I want to know what information they have that we don't. ABCD's decisions make zero sense to me from a business pov. I do believe there is an audience out there for daytime and the numbers we see here at SON to me support that suggestion. Obviously there are a greater number of alternative viewing choices now than there were 30 years ago but the same proposition holds true for prime time. Is prime time dying as well? The rest of the stuff constitutes excuses for their own poor performance and decisions as to how to attract and keep viewers. Listening to JM, OL's casting director, talk about how it's all about sex and looks explains a number of the rather lackluster actors that OL has. It also explains the shirtless scenes that are supposed to substitute for interesting story. Yes I want good looking actors and love in the afternoon. I also want a good story that's well acted with that. Instead we get boxing because the only thing DF has to offer is his bod. Thanks but I'll pass. Get back to basics is what ABCD needs. Good honest stories developed and played out with all pov. It seems rather easy to me. Unfortunately they don't seem to get it.

With respect to all the males out who may read this, soaps traditionally have had a staple audience of women, usually women trapped or at choice at home....mainly because of young children. The ratings we see and count are the ones during the daytime. By that standard, ABC's choice of programming, particularly for OLTL and GH, would seem to be almost suicidal. There is really little to attract and much to repel this fortish mom of two elementary school children. (dead floating pregnant women, executions, lots of forty-ish men with young twenty-somehting females.

But Soapnet changes that picture. The economics of producing the episode, and the audience, change with the nightime viewing. Now, ABC soaps are up against primetime viewing, and can attempt to pull the younger audience there. Soapnet's viewers and profitablity may be what has kept Frons employed and got him promoted....which is why they may have put him in charge. (Groan!)

Y and R changes that picture a bit. DOOL went down in ratings as people no longer HAD to watch it during the day. But Y and R may actually have increased its viewership (refugees from ABC I'm suspecting), coupling much improved stories and pacing with its move, recognizing it now is in more direct competition.

I'm actually curious to see what will happen. Y and R on Soapnet is great for the channel and for Y and R, but may be hurting ABC soaps, something DOOL didn't do. As manager now of both, he should start pushing for more quality for ABC.

Frons should be fired now, as well as everyone else in positions of power at ABC except for Julie Hanen Caruthers (I like her at AMC). Everyone can go to hell.

Seriously, I don't know ANY fans that have something nice to say about Frons. He's ruined all our soaps. He needs to go.

Y and R changes that picture a bit. DOOL went down in ratings as people no longer HAD to watch it during the day. But Y and R may actually have increased its viewership (refugees from ABC I'm suspecting), coupling much improved stories and pacing with its move, recognizing it now is in more direct competition.

I'm actually curious to see what will happen. Y and R on Soapnet is great for the channel and for Y and R, but may be hurting ABC soaps, something DOOL didn't do. As manager now of both, he should start pushing for more quality for ABC.

Agreed 100%!