Soap fans received some shocking news this week when it was announced that SOAPnet, the only 24-hour soap channel, would be going off the air in 2012 to make room for a new Disney channel. And although fans are being reassured that this will not affect the soap genre because of the ability to watch episodes online, this seems like one more step toward making soaps obsolete.
I must say I think SOAPnet could have and should have tried much harder to promote the genre that brought them into existence, but I don't see how soaps can avoid a fallout once this channel goes off the air. Sure viewers survived years without the convenience of SOAPnet to allow them to catch up on missed episodes, but a lot has changed in the ten years since its launch. Soap ratings are lower than ever, and even with the Internet, DVR, and SOAPnet, it is a constant struggle to maintain viewer interest. In fact, I'm sure SOAPnet is the only way certain viewers can watch their missed episodes. It may seem difficult to believe in this age of technology but there are still people who don't have Internet access or DVR. And still others who might be unable to use this technology if they did have it. For those that have Internet access, how many households can really afford to have the computer tied up with soaps for several hours a night? And how many would even bother? Once it becomes too much of a hassle to stay caught up on soaps, most people will simply lose interest. Soap fans are loyal, but so far that loyalty hasn't done much to improve ratings or prevent cancellations, and I don't see how watching soaps online will either.
Related post: A Missed Opportunity: Soapnet's Cancellation of Port Charles
I must say I think SOAPnet could have and should have tried much harder to promote the genre that brought them into existence, but I don't see how soaps can avoid a fallout once this channel goes off the air. Sure viewers survived years without the convenience of SOAPnet to allow them to catch up on missed episodes, but a lot has changed in the ten years since its launch. Soap ratings are lower than ever, and even with the Internet, DVR, and SOAPnet, it is a constant struggle to maintain viewer interest. In fact, I'm sure SOAPnet is the only way certain viewers can watch their missed episodes. It may seem difficult to believe in this age of technology but there are still people who don't have Internet access or DVR. And still others who might be unable to use this technology if they did have it. For those that have Internet access, how many households can really afford to have the computer tied up with soaps for several hours a night? And how many would even bother? Once it becomes too much of a hassle to stay caught up on soaps, most people will simply lose interest. Soap fans are loyal, but so far that loyalty hasn't done much to improve ratings or prevent cancellations, and I don't see how watching soaps online will either.
Related post: A Missed Opportunity: Soapnet's Cancellation of Port Charles
Hi Paula!
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately, I think this is a portent of things to come and signals the dying genre of soaps, although I'm hoping that I'm wrong. I just can't imagine NOT watching my soaps!
SOAPnet was such a great thing for soap fans and, for me particularly when my DVR misfires and fails to tape my soaps. I just watch them on SOAPnet.
I can tell you that I wouldn't watch them online.
SOAPnet really gave a great boost to soap fans and the demise of this really makes me upset!
btw - I like your new look....I also liked your old look.
Michele
Hi Michele!
ReplyDeleteThanks, and thanks for commenting. Yeah, I still have some tweaking to do on the new template, but the bulk of it is done. Hard to find time to write posts and work on graphics. I liked the old look too, but I was running out of room to put things and there were some issues with font color that I never could get exactly right because of the template code. Anyway, I'm afraid of what the end of Soapnet means for soaps. I know I would have a hard time staying caught up online too. I watch online if I miss being able to record the soaps during the day or later on Soapnet, but I hate doing that. If that became my only option it would be really easy to get behind and eventually lose interest. I hate having to sit through the ads that come on every few minutes and the way you can never really fast forward or rewind anything with ease. It is just not a good way to view the soaps in my opinion.
Paula