Soap Opera Ratings Race: One Soap Makes A Comeback

The soap opera ratings race for the week ending August 17 shows one soap making big improvements, while other soaps continue earning mixed numbers.

General Hospital
General Hospital has had a negative streak since spring, but sometimes one week is all it takes to show some stories catch viewers’ interest rather than others.

There seems to be a correlation between Peter August tied to a bed for much of the summer and GH’s waning numbers, but when Nelle gave that baby to Brad and the baby switch story we’d all been waiting for arrived with its twists and turns, numbers began rising.

Towards the end of August, GH had pulled in 2,421,000 viewers on average overall, up 27,000 from the week before and 52,000 from the year before. Although modest, was the only soap to make gains from both the previous week and previous year.

GH also shot up to number one for women 18-49, again making gains all around. The only demographic in which GH did not improve was with women 25-54.

Days of Our Lives
The only other soap to make any gains was Days of Our Lives, which has been on a ratings and critical upswing since Ron Carlivati took over head writing duties a year ago.

DAYS garnered 2,055,000 viewers on average overall, down 34,000 from the prior week, but up 37,000 from the same time last year.

However, DAYS did not fare as well in the female demographics, losing viewers all around and tying previous lows.

The Young and the Restless
The number one-ranked The Young and the Restless remained in its position as it has for more than two decades, but it still lost viewers as it’s been doing much of this year.

Y&R pulled in 4,094,000 viewers on average overall, down 53,000 from the week before and 93,000 from the year before.

Like DAYS, Y&R also lost viewers all around in all four coveted female demos, tying previous lows as well.

The Bold and the Beautiful
Sister soap The Bold and the Beautiful garnered 33,353,000 viewers on average overall, down 18,000 from the week before and a whopping 126,000 from the same time last year.

The only place B&B made any gains was with women 18-34 where it saw improved numbers from the week before.