Yearly Guiding Light Cancellation Rumor

[imhomerjay]

One thing I'm willing to bet: whether "Pyramid" gets
the 3 PM (ET) slot in most markets, or something else
does, CBS is not going to let "General Hospital"
run unopposed. It usually ranks third or fourth, and
its ratings could go through the roof if CBS gave back
the time, as NBC does, with a possible domino effect on
"All My Children" and "One Life To Live." That's just my
opinion.

CBS, however, already pushed GL out of GH's way on several of its own stations in largest markets. Thus, in major markets like Boston, Philly and NY etc., there's no impact to be made by the change. After that, even if you assume the whole GL audience slides over to GH (unlikely, but for the sake of discussion), you still don't really have a "through the roof" scenario playing out, let alone one that works backwards to the previous shows.

The question may be whether more affiliates create a more logical morning game block if that's the direction CBS goes wtih the hour. Probably a better chance of success that way than splitting them up. A talk show, though, could be flexible enough to work in either slot.

 

[bpatrick]

It was just a thought, based on the idea that
viewers looking for a soap at 3 (and don't forget
that only about 15 stations carry "GL" in the morning,
and there are large markets like Los Angeles, San Francisco,
Dallas/Ft. Worth, Atlanta, Houston, and Washington, DC where it's
still on in the afternoon) will have nowhere else to go but ABC, and the "domino effect" I mentioned would rest totally on ABC's ability to
entice viewers to check out "AMC" and "OLTL"
if they're not already doing so. Of course, soaps
being "habit" shows, that's a longshot and, as
you say, "GH" and "GL" do not go head-to-head
in New York, Chicago, Philadelphia, Boston, Detroit,
Miami, and several other markets. So I'll concede
your point. I do agree, however, that a talk show
would work best at 10 AM or 3 PM.

BTW, just a piece of trivia, but "GL" started on
radio on NBC, which canceled it three times between
1937 and 1947, bringing it back twice because of
popular demand. When NBC refused a third time,
Irna Phillips took the show to CBS. When the radio
version was canceled in 1956, its rating was 3.6,
which would put the television version at or near
the top of the daytime ratings today. Although I've
seen postings on "GL"'s website from viewers angry
over this cancellation, I'm not sure there's enough
support to get "GL" a new home.

 

[bpatrick]

I put this on the Classic TV board as well:
CBS has renewed "As The World Turns" for
another year, with an option for a year after
that, but "ATWT"'s ratings have to pick up
or else it's gone come 2010.

An unnamed "GL" staff member says that the
loss of one or both shows is a blow to New
York-based actors, who don't have as many
opportunities as those in Los Angeles. Indeed,
should "ATWT" go, only "All My Children" and "One
Life To Live" will be left in New York. Perhaps something
to think about.

 

[milwaukee_dave]

Some of the Media General stations have infomercials disguised as
a talk show under the title "Daytime" (WKRG may be one of those
carrying it); Gannett-owned KUSA Denver has the same thing with
"Colorado & Company," while sister station WXIA has "Atlanta & Company."
The Atlanta show airs at 11 AM, against "The View" on WSB; I once asked
someone on this board which of the two he thinks is worse; he picked "Atlanta &
Company."

Is this, nevertheless, the future of daytime?
[/quote]



Here in Milwaukee, we've got something similar - an hour-long infomercial each day under the guise of a talk show called "Morning Blend" on NBC affiliate WTMJ-TV.

 

[bpatrick]

Latest rumor is that P&G will move GL to Lifetime
when its CBS run ends, with ATWT moving there
as well if and when CBS cancels it.