Like many a soap opera storyline, the saga of SOAPnet’s ultimate fate has been stretched out for a long time now, with many fans of the channel wondering, “When is SOAPnet going off the air?” ever since word started in 2011 that the network would be ending and making way for Disney Junior.
ABC has confirmed with us that SOAPnet will be ending at the end of 2013, and it doesn’t seem likely to pull the “back from the dead” maneuver that so many characters in soap history have managed.
“SOAPnet goes off the air at 11:59pm Dec 31st” read an email from an ABC publicist, in answer to my request for further information about the fate of SOAPnet and any potential new network homes for soap opera re-airs.
SOAPnet had managed to stay on a few systems over the past few years thanks to the outcry from soap fans, but this finally looks like the end. With very few daytime dramas left on the air, SOAPnet, at the end, was only showing same-day re-airs of Days of Our Lives and General Hospital (The Young and the Restless re-airs went to TVGN earlier this year), along with some very old re-airs of All My Children, which is no longer on the air. Aside from those two soaps, SOAPnet also aired old TV programs like Beverly Hills 90210 and Veronica Mars to fill up its schedule.
But while SOAPnet may not have shown as many actual soap operas as it did during its heyday, the ones it did attracted some decent Twitter conversations among fans during its evening re-airs. So, while the ABC publicist assured me that “Fans can catch GH repeats on abc.com, iTunes, hulu, by DVR’ing, it, etc. … check with NBC for Days info,” and that is all very true, what may end up missing is the sense of community tweeting while first-shifters watch the SOAPnet re-airs all together in the evening.
But soap fans are a hardy bunch, and will likely find a way to live with this development. And SOAPnet was able to at least hang on through the 50th anniversary year of General Hospital, allowing evening viewers to catch up on those events (and perhaps even help draw them back into the show’s daytime airings, as it has had a ratings surge in recent months).
As the intro to a legendary soap informs us, “Like sands through the hourglass, so are the days of our lives.” And after nearly 14 years on the air, the days of SOAPnet’s life are rapidly running out.
What do you think? Will you miss SOAPnet, or are you fine with watching soap opera re-airs online?
SOAPnet goes off the air Dec. 31 at 11:59pm to make way for Disney Junior.
(Note: We’re hearing from some readers that their systems have pulled SOAPnet within the past few days. Other systems such as DirecTV are still airing SOAPnet, but it will be gone on all systems after Dec. 31).
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Ian Buchanan and Finola Hughes in “General Hospital” — Courtesy of ABC
Doesn’t anybody care about all the people you’re hurting!!!!
How horrible!!!
I’ve been watching General Hospital for over 35 years. When I miss it at 2:00 in the afternoon I like to tune in at 7:00 or @ 9:00 on soapnet. Please don’t cancel Soapnet so I don’t miss an episode. Thank you a From a big GH fan.
I have been a fan for years ,.. it’s the one reason I opted for cable services right?? This is a HUGE DISAPPOINTMENT!!!
No use for cable now!!!
Due to the 50th anniversary of General Hospital, I recently started watching it again. After not watching for the last few years, I started taping and watching the episodes from 2010. These shows are actually more interesting than the new shows. Now that the channel has been switched to Disney Jr. Programming I now have no way at all to bridge the gap from the 2010 shows to the 50th anniversary show and I am really disappointed! I can understand how frustrating this is to people who cannot watch the current episodes at night also. Disney did this because they believe that there is more money to be made with advertising and toy sales through their liscenced products, but what they fail to realize is that it is the MOTHERS who watch these soaps that purchase their childrens toys. Stop bying Disney products and you will see how fast soapnet will be back.
I have watched general hospital for 50 years. If any other networks know how dedicated soap fans are they will pick up soaps somehow. Leave Disney for the kids I want Luke and sonny
Very disappointed. I love watching the Gilmore Girls, old reruns, and being able to catch whatever I missed during a news interruption. Charter has already removed the whole channel. TV just gets worse.
Grrrrr! SoapNet GONE? Just like that, crazy! I just don’t understand why EVERY time they break into a show to cover something, or the President speaks, it’s ALWAYS during the one and only hour that remains on ABC for a soap opera. It doesn’t matter if it’s during the last 10 minutes of a Friday episode (Really? I feel bad about tragedy’s that happen to people, but there’s nothing I can do … I will always believe it could wait the 10 minutes) Aggregating yes, but there was always the fail safe of SoapNet to go to and save the day! Not to mention I could rewatch One Life to Live and All My Children. Also if SoapNet is going to sit until December 31st why did Comcast shut it down already. I buy a more expensive package just to have SoapNet … The channel number doesn’t even show up anymore …. Grrrr!
I am very upset that Soapnet is going off the air. I enjoy wathing the old 90210 shows and being able to see the old All My Children shows also. Plus, if I mess General Hospital during the day I can watch it at night.
Very disappointed that Soapnet is being discontinued.Since soaps dont have reruns-you just miss episodes that are interrupted when there are news conferences (like today!) or special news stories. I will miss being able to catch up in the evening.
I’m disappointed because I watch at night. Please bring it back. I loved watching GH since I was a kid. I always watched with my Mother since I was a kid. Lost her many years ago and now I lost GH.
I am so disappointed. No matter what is going on in the world, my Days of Our Lives is ALWAYS interrupted – whether it is bad weather, the president talking, WHATEVER. The only way I get to see my one soap is the Soapnet. It’s my one vise and now it’s gone – many times an episode can be missed here and there but this is usually on Fridays so no cliffhangars. This is crazy – Disney can take a different station – bring Soapnet back – PLEASE!
I was shocked to wake up at 3 :30 am Wed morning to find Comcast dropped soapnet I watched the old General Hospitals most weekday mornings and record the new General Hospitals I have missed during the week. It was a part of my morning routine. I sincerely hope a network will pick up Soapnet and continue airing the old and new soaps. I would like to see the Soaps from years ago starting at the beginning especially General Hospital, All My Children, One Life to Live, Ryans Hope and does anybody remember a Soap that was on years ago How to Survive A Marriage? I only saw very few shows of How to Survive a Marriage don’t know how long it was on. Hope to see Soapnet back on the air soon!!!!
I am very upset that soapnet is gone. Comcast already dropped it. I am so pissed off right now. I hope OWN takes over these soaps.
Mine is already gone. I was looking for it this morning and it just wasn’t there. They didn’t just take Soapnet off the air, but the actually channel it came on is gone too. I was mad as hell about that.
My SOAPNET channel is already off the air…..I thought is was on through December 31st !!!!
Terribly disappointed! Its bad enough to down to just General Hospital, But to have the chance to catch the show at night , when I work during the day, taken away without notice is rotten! Also as pointed out by others, to miss it due to Pres. speeches, special coverage of news……. No offence against GH, I love the show and grew up with Luke and Laura. I have been stressed for 2 days trying to get the channel until finally I called WOW, to hear a recording it has been pulled. I opted to speak to a live person to voice my complaint, threatened to switch companies and was told it was a Disney decision. How could you hurt the moms of America Disney? Well really wanted my opinion heard………………..I’m REALLY BUMMED! Are you listening???
I am very disappointed that they have deleted Soap net. It was one of the reasons for pay high price for cable. I would rather watch reruns then to do without the station. Not to mention the disappointing way of finding out. No notice, nothing. All of a sudden within hours of watching, the channel is deleted!!!!!!
I am extremely disappointed that Soapnet has been discontinued, as I watched it regularly to keep up with General Hospital if I missed it at it’s regular time. I agree with Toni (above) – many times GH was interrupted for various reasons, but I could watch the show at four different times after that plus over the weekend. That was VERY convenient and I will miss that. Why couldn’t the channel show children’s shows during the day and the soap reruns at night. Children have other things to do evenings and nights!
They don’t even need the channel for children because Disney Jr is channel 151. I know because I watch it.
I am very dissapointed that this channel is off my Comcast channel list.
I watched this channel for a repeat of the original showings on the networks because many times the show was interrupted by the President’s special report or a tragedy in the news. Sometimes a power failure would interrupt the taping of the show. TVGN does not cover all the Soap Operas.
I will not use HULU because it is an extra expense and I already spend a lot for Cable.
Extremely disappointed. Soapnet was the way for me to watch Days at night after a long day at school and work. Now I have to resort to other measures. I called comcast earlier today asking what the heck was going on and they lied and said “it’s a system update it’ll be back on within a half hour” so I waited a few hours and alas it still wasn’t on. So I called back and was told that they cut ties w/ that channel and that months ago I received a written statement that this would happen. Bottom line this whole situation is ridic