Chronological Daytime TV Soap Opera List

1) THESE ARE MY CHILDREN - NBC (31 Jan 1949 to 25 Feb 1949) - 0 years0 months25 days

5:00 PM - 5:15 PM (31/01/49 - 25/02/49)

2) A WOMAN TO REMEMBER - DuMont - (21 Feb 1949 to 15 Jul 1949) - 0 years4 months24 days

3:00 PM - 3:15 PM (21/02/49 - Spring 49)

11:45 AM - 12:00 PM (Spring 49 - 29/04/49)

7:30 PM - 7:45 PM (02/05/49 - 15/07/49)

3) THE FIRST HUNDRED YEARS - CBS - (4 Dec 1950 to 27 Jun 1952) - 1 year6 months23 days

2:30 PM - 2:45 PM (12/4/50 - 6/27/52)

4) MISS SUSAN / MARTINSVILLEU. S. A. - NBC - (12 Mar 1951 to 28 Dec 1951) - 0 years9 months16 days

3:00 PM - 3:15 PM (3/12/51 - 12/28/51)

5) HAWKINS FALLS - NBC - (2 Apr 1951 to 1 Jul 1955) - 4 years2 months29 days

5:00 PM - 5:15 PM (4/2/51 - 7/3/53)

11:00 AM - 11:15 AM (7/6/53 - 1/8/54)

12:15 PM - 12:30 PM (1/11/54 - 7/2/54)

4:00 PM - 4:15 PM (7/5/54 - 7/1/55)

6) THE EGG AND I - CBS - (3 Sep 1951 to 1 Aug 1952) - 0 years10 months29 days

12:00 PM - 12:15 PM (9/3/51 - 8/1/52)

7) SEARCH FOR TOMORROW - CBS/NBC - (3 Sep 1951 to 26 Dec 1986) - 35 years3 months23 days

12:30 PM - 12:45 (9/3/51 - 9/6/68)

12:30 PM - 1:00 PM (9/9/68 - 6/5/81)

2:30 PM - 3:00 PM (6/8/81 - 3/26/82)

12:30 PM - 1:00 PM (3/29/82 - 12/26/86) NBC

8) LOVE OF LIFE - CBS - (24 Sep 1951 to 1 Feb 1980) - 28 years4 months8 days

12:15 PM - 12:30 PM (9/24/51 - 4/11/58)

12:00 PM - 12:30 PM (4/14/58 - 9/28/62)

12:00 PM - 12:25 PM (10/1/62 - 9/5/69)

11:30 AM - 12:00 PM (9/8/69 - 3/23/73)

11:30 AM - 11:55 AM (3/26/73 - 4/20/79)

4:00 PM - 4:30 PM (4/23/79 - 2/1/80)

9) FAIRMEADOWSU. S. A. - NBC - (4 Nov 1951 to 27 Apr 1952) - 0 years5 months23 days

3:00 PM - 3:30 PM (11/4/51 - 4/27/52)

10) (THE) GUIDING LIGHT - CBS - (30 Jun 1952 to 18 Sep 2009) - 57 years2 months19 days

2:30 PM - 2:45 PM (6/30/52 - 12/26/52)

12:45 PM - 1:00 PM (12/29/52 - 9/6/68)

2:30 PM - 3:00 PM (9/9/68 - 9/1/72)

2:00 PM - 2:30 PM (9/4/72 - 11/28/75)

2:30 PM - 3:00 PM (12/1/75 - 11/4/77)

2:30 PM - 3:30 PM (11/7/77 - 2/1/80)

3:00 PM - 4:00 PM (2/4/80 - 18/09/09)

11) THE BENNETTS - NBC - (6 Jul 1953 to 8 Jan 1954) - 0 years6 months2 days

11:15 AM - 11:30 AM (7/6/53 - 1/8/54)

12) THREE STEPS TO HEAVEN - NBC - (3 Aug 1953 to 31 Dec 1954) - 1 year4 months28 days

11:30 AM - 11:45 AM (8/3/53 - 12/26/54)

10:45 AM - 11:00 AM (3/1/54 - 12/31/54)

13) FOLLOW YOUR HEART - NBC - (3 Aug 1953 to 8 Jan 1954) - 0 years5 months5 days

11:45 AM - 12:00 PM (8/3/53 - 1/8/54)

14) VALIANT LADY - CBS - (12 Oct 1953 to 16 Aug 1957) - 3 years10 months4 days

12:00 PM - 12:15 PM (10/12/53 - 8/15/57)

15) THE BRIGHTER DAY - CBS - (4 Jan 1954 to 28 Sep 1962) - 8 years8 months24 days

1:00 PM - 1:45 PM (1/4/54 - 5/15/54)

4:00 PM - 4:15 PM (7/5/54 - 6/15/62)

11:30 AM - 11:55 AM (6/18/62 - 9/28/62)

16) WOMAN WITH A PAST - CBS - (1 Feb 1954 to 2 Jul 1954) - 0 years5 months1 day

4:00 PM - 4:15 PM (2/1/54 - 7/2/54)

17) THE SECRET STORM - CBS - (1 Feb 1954 to 8 Feb 1974) - 20 years0 months7 days

4:15 PM - 4:30 PM (2/1/54 - 6/15/62)

4:00 PM - 4:30 PM (6/18/62 - 9/6/68)

3:00 PM - 3:30 PM (9/9/68 - 9/1/72)

3:30 PM - 4:00 PM (9/4/72 - 3/23/73)

4:00 PM - 4:30 PM (3/26/73 - 2/8/74)

18) ONE MAN'S FAMILY - NBC - (1 Mar 1954 to 1 Apr 1955) - 1 year1 month0 days

10:30 AM - 10:45 AM (3/1/54 - 7/2/54)

3:00 PM - 3:15 PM (7/4/54 - 8/27/54)

3:30 PM - 3:45 PM (8/30/54 - 4/1/55)

19) PORTIA FACES LIFE / THE INNER FLAME - CBS - (5 Apr 1954 to 1 Jul 1955) - 1 year2 months26 days

1:00 PM - 1:15 PM (4/5/54 - 7/1/55)

20) A TIME TO LIVE - NBC - (5 Jul 1954 to 31 Dec 1954) - 0 years5 months26 days

10:30 AM - 10:45 AM (7/5/54 - 12/31/54)

21) THE SEEKING HEART - CBS - (5 Jul 1954 to 10 Dec 1954) - 0 years5 months5 days

1:15 PM - 1:30 PM (7/5/54 - 12/10/54)

22) GOLDEN WINDOWS - NBC - (5 Jul 1954 to 1 Apr 1955) - 0 years8 months27 days

3:15 PM - 3:30 PM (7/5/54 - 4/1/55)

23) FIRST LOVE - NBC - (5 Jul 1954 to 30 Dec 1955) - 1 year5 months25 days

3:30 PM - 3:45 PM (7/5/54 - 8/27/54)

4:15 PM - 4:30 PM (8/30/54 - 12/20/55)

24) CONCERNING MISS MARLOWE - NBC - (5 Jul 1954 to 1 Jul 1955) - 0 years11 months26 days

3:45 PM - 4:00 PM (7/5/54 - 7/1/55)

25) THE GREATEST GIFT - NBC - (30 Aug 1954 to 1 Jul 1955) - 0 years10 months2 days

3:00 PM - 3:15 PM (8/30/54 - 4/1/55)

3:30 PM - 3:45 PM (4/4/55 - 7/1/55)

26) THE WORLD OF MR. SWEENEY - NBC - (4 Oct 1954 to 31 Dec 1955) - 1 year2 months27 days

4:30 PM - 4:45 PM (10/4/54 - 12/31/55)

27) THE ROAD OF LIFE - CBS - (13 Dec 1954 to 1 Jul 1955) - 0 years6 months18 days

1:15 PM - 1:30 PM (12/13/54 - 7/1/55)

28) AS THE WORLD TURNS - CBS - (2 Apr 1956 to 17 Sep 2010) - 54 years5 months15 days

1:30 PM - 2:00 PM (4/2/56 - 11/28/75)

1:30 PM - 2:30 PM (12/1/75 - 2/1/80)

2:00 PM - 3:00 PM (2/4/80 - 6/5/81)

1:30 PM - 2:30 PM (6/8/81 - 3/20/87)

2:00 PM - 3:00 PM (3/23/87 -09/17/10)

29) THE EDGE OF NIGHT - CBS/ABC - (2 Apr 1956 to 28 Dec 1984) - 28 years8 months26 days

4:30 PM - 5:00 PM (4/2/56 - 6/28/63)

3:30 PM - 4:00 PM (7/1/63 - 9/1/72)

2:30 PM - 3:00 PM (9/4/72 - 11/28/75)

4:00 PM - 4:30 PM (12/1/75 - 12/28/84) ABC

30) HOTEL COSMOPOLITAN - CBS - (19 Aug 1957 to 11 Apr 1958) - 0 years7 months23 days

12:00 PM - 12:15 PM (19/07/57 - 11/04/58)

31) KITTY FOYLE - NBC - (22 Jan 1958 to 26 Sep 1958) - 0 years8 months4 days

2:30 PM - 3:00 PM (1/13/58 - 6/27/58)

32) TODAY IS OURS - NBC - (30 Jun 1958 to 26 Dec 1958) - 0 years5 months26 days

3:00 PM - 3:30 PM (6/30/58 - 12/26/58)

33) FROM THESE ROOTS - NBC - (30 Jun 1958 to 29 Dec 1961) - 3 years5 months29 days

3:30 PM - 4:00 PM (6/20/58 - 12/28/61)

34) YOUNG DOCTOR MALONE - NBC - (29 Dec 1958 to 29 Mar 1963) - 4 years3 months0 days

3:00 PM - 3:30 PM (12/29/58 - 9/28/62)

3:30 PM - 4:00 PM (10/1/62 - 3/29/63)

35) FULL CIRCLE - CBS - (27 Jun 1960 to 1 Mar 1961) - 0 years8 months2 days

2:00 PM - 2:30 PM (6/27/60 - 3/10/61)

36) THE CLEAR HORIZON - CBS - (11 Jul 1960 to 11 Jun 1962) - 1 year11 months0 days

11:30 AM - 12:00 PM (7/11/60 - 3/11/61)

11:30 AM - 11:55 AM (2/26/62 - 6/11/62)

37) OUR FIVE DAUGHTERS - NBC - (2 Jan 1962 to 26 Sep 1962) - 0 years8 months24 days

3:30 PM - 4:00 PM (1/2/62 - 9/28/62)

38) GENERAL HOSPITAL - ABC - (1 Apr 1963 to Present) - 47 years-- months-- days

1:00 PM - 1:30 PM (4/1/63 - 12/27/63)

3:00 PM - 3:30 PM (12/30/63 - 7/23/76)

3:15 PM - 4:00 PM (7/26/76 - 1/13/78)

3:00 PM - 4:00 PM (1/16/78 - Present)

39) BEN JERROD - NBC - (1 Apr 1963 to 28 Jun 1963) - 0 years2 months27 days

2:00 PM - 2:30 PM (4/1/63 - 6/28/63)

40) THE DOCTORS - NBC - (1 Apr 1963 to 31 Dec 1982) - 19 years8 months30 days

2:30 PM - 3:00 PM (4/1/63 - 3/2/79)

2:00 PM - 2:30 PM (3/5/79 - 8/1/80)

12:30 PM - 1:00 PM (8/4/80 - 3/26/82)

12:00 PM - 12:30 PM (3/29/82 - 12/31/82

41) ANOTHER WORLD - NBC - (5 May 1964 to 26 Jun 1999) - 35 years1 month21 days

3:00 PM - 3:30 PM (5/4/66 - 1/3/75)

3:00 PM - 4;00 PM (1/6/75 - 3/2/79)

2:30 PM - 4:00 PM (3/5/79 - 8/1/80)

2:00 PM - 3:00 PM (8/4/80 - 6/26/99)

42) THE YOUNG MARRIEDS - ABC - (5 Oct 1964 to 25 Mar 1966) - 1 year5 months20 days

3:30 PM - 4:00 PM (10/5/64 - 3/25/66)

43) FLAME IN THE WIND / A TIME FOR US - ABC - (28 Dec 1964 to 16 Dec 1966) - 1 year11 months18 days

2:00 PM - 2:30 PM (12/28/64 - 6/25/65)

2:30 PM - 2:55 PM (6/28/65 - 12/16/66)

44) MOMENT OF TRUTH - NBC - (4 Jan 1965 to 5 Nov 1965) - 0 years10 months1 day

2:00 PM - 2:30 PM (1/4/65 - 11/5/65)

45) MORNING STAR - NBC - (27 Sep 1965 to 1 Jul 1966) - 0 years9 months4 days

11:00 AM - 11:30 AM (9/27/65 - 7/1/66)

46) PARADISE BAY - NBC - (27 Sep 1965 to 1 Jul 1966) - 0 years9 months4 days

11:30 AM - 12:00 PM (9/27/65 - 7/1/66)

47) THE NURSES - ABC - (27 Sep 1965 to 31 Mar 1967) - 1 year6 months4 days

2:00 PM - 2:30 PM (9/27/65 - 3/25/66)

3:30 PM - 4:00 PM (3/28/66 - 3/31/67)

48) NEVER TOO YOUNG - ABC - (27 Sep 1965 to 24 Jun 1966) - 0 years8 months28 days

4:00 PM - 4:30 PM (9/27/65 - 3/25/66)

4:00 PM - 4:25 PM (3/28/66 - 6/24/66)

49) DAYS OF OUR LIVES - NBC - (8 Nov 1965 to Present) - 44 years-- months-- days

2;00 PM - 2:30 PM (11/8/65 - 4/18/75)

1:30 PM - 2:30 PM (4/21/75 - 3/2/79)

1:00 PM - 2:00 PM (3/5/78 - Present)

50) DARK SHADOWS - ABC - (27 Jun 1966 to 2 Apr 1971) - 4 years9 months6 days

4:00 PM - 4:30 PM (6/27/66 - 3/31/67)

3:30 PM - 4;00 PM (4/2/67 - 7/12/68)

4:00 PM - 4:30 PM (7/15/68 - 4/2/71)

51) LOVE IS A MANY SPLENDORED THING - CBS - (18 Sep 1967 to 23 Mar 1973) - 5 years6 months5 days

2:00 PM - 2:30 PM (9/18/67 - 9/1/72)

3:00 PM - 3:30 PM (9/4/72 - 3/23/73)

52) ONE LIFE TO LIVE - ABC - (15 Jul 1968 to Present) - 41 years-- months-- days

3:30 PM - 4:00 PM (7/15/68 - 7/23/76)

2:30 PM - 3:15 PM (7/26/76 - 1/13/78)

2:00 PM - 3:00 PM (1/16/78 - Present)

53) HIDDEN FACES - NBC - (30 Dec 1968 to 27 Jun 1969) - 0 years5 months28 days

1:30 PM - 2:00 PM (12/30/68 - 6/27/69)

54) WHERE THE HEART IS - CBS - (8 Sep 1969 to 23 Mar 1973) - 3 years6 months15 days

12:00 PM - 12:25 PM (9/8/69 - 3/23/73)

55) BRIGHT PROMISE - NBC - (29 Sep 1969 to 31 Mar 1972) - 2 years6 months2 days

3:30 PM - 4:00 PM (9/29/69 - 3/31/72)

56) ALL MY CHILDREN - ABC - (5 Jan 1970 to Present) - 40 years-- months-- days

1:00 PM - 1:30 PM (1/5/70 - 7/4/75)

12:30 PM - 1:00 PM (7/7/75 - 12/31/76)

1:00 PM - 1:30 PM (1/3/77 - 4/22/77)

1:00 PM - 2:00 PM (4/25/77 - Present)

57) THE BEST OF EVERYTHING - ABC - (30 Mar 1970 to 25 Sep 1970) - 0 years5 months26 days

12:00 PM - 12:30 PM (3/30/70 - 9/25/70)

58) A WORLD APART - ABC - (30 Mar 1970 to 25 Jun 1971) - 1 year2 months26 days

12:30 PM - 1:00 PM (3/30/70 - 6/25/71)

59) SOMERSET - NBC - (30 Mar 1970 to 31 Dec 1976) - 6 years9 months1 day

4:00 PM - 4:30 PM (3/30/70 - 12/31/76)

60) RETURN TO PEYTON PLACE - NBC - (3 Apr 1972 to 4 Jan 1974) - 1 year9 months1 day

3:30 PM - 4:00 PM (4/3/72 - 1/3/74)

61) THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS - CBS - (26 Mar 1973 to Present) - 37 years-- months-- days

12:00 PM - 12:30 PM (3/26/73 - 2/1/80)

1:00 PM - 2:00 PM (2/4/80 - 6/5/81)

12:30 PM - 1:30 PM (6/8/81 - Present)

62) HOW TO SURVIVE A MARRIAGE - NBC - (7 Jan 1974 to 18 Apr 1975) - 1 year3 months11 days

3:30 PM - 4:00 PM (1/7/74 - 4/18/75)

63) RYAN'S HOPE - ABC - (7 Jul 1975 to 12 Jan 1989) - 13 years6 months5 days

1:00 PM - 1:30 PM (7/7/75 - 12/31/76)

12:30 PM - 1:00 PM (1/3/77 - 10/5/84)

12;00 PM - 12:30 PM (10/8/84 - 1/13/89)

64) LOVERS AND FRIENDS / FOR RICHERFOR POORER - NBC - (3 Jan 1977 to 6 May 1977 & 5 Dec 1977 to 29 Sep 1978) - 1 year1 month27 days

12:30 PM - 1:00 PM (1/3/77 - 5/6/77)

1:00 PM - 1:30 PM (12/6/77 - 9/29/78)

65) HIGH HOPES - SYN - (11 Apr 1978 to 5 Oct 1978) - 0 years5 months24 days

66) TEXAS - NBC - (4 Aug 1980 to 31 Dec 1982) - 2 years4 months27 days

3:00 PM - 4:00 PM (8/4/80 - 4/23/82)

11:00 AM - 12:00 PM (4/26/82 - 12/31/82)

67) ANOTHER LIFE - CBN - (1 Jun 1981 to 5 Oct 1984) - 3 years4 months4 days

68) CAPITOL - CBS - (26 Mar 1982 to 20 Mar 1987) - 4 years11 months22 days

2:30 PM - 3:00 PM (3/26/82 - 3/20/87)

69) THE CATLINS - TBS - (1 Apr 1983 to 31 May 1985) - 2 years1 month30 days

70) CAPITOL - CBS - (26 Mar 1982 to 20 Mar 1987) - 4 years11 months22 days

2:30 PM - 3:00 PM (3/26/82 - 3/20/87)

71) LOVING - ABC - (26 Jun 1983 to 10 Nov 1995) - 12 years4 months15 days

11:30 AM - 12:00 PM (6/26/83 - 10/5/84)

12:30 PM - 1:00 PM (10/8/84 - 11/10/95)

72) SANTA BARBARA - NBC - (30 Jul 1984 to 15 Jan 1993) - 8 years5 months16 days

3:00 PM - 4:00 PM (7/30/84 - 1/15/93)

73) THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL - CBS - (23 Mar 1987 to Present) - 23 years-- months-- days

1:30 PM - 2:00 PM (3/23/87 - Present)

74) GENERATIONS - NBC - (27 Mar 1989 to 11 Jan 1991) - 1 year9 months15 days

12:30 PM - 1:00 PM (3/26/89 - 1/25/91)

75) TRIBES - FOX - (5 Mar 1990 to 13 Jul 1990) - 0 years4 months8 days

76) THE CITY - ABC - (13 Nov 1995 to 23 Mar 1997) - 1 year4 months10 days

12:30 PM - 1:00 PM (11/13/95 - 3/23/97)

77) PORT CHARLES - ABC - (1 Jun 1997 to 3 Oct 2003) - 6 years4 months2 days

12:30 PM - 1:00 PM (7/1/97 - 10/3/03)

78) SUNSET BEACH - NBC - (6 Jan 1997 to 31 Dec 1999) - 2 years11 months25 days

3:00 PM - 4:00 PM (7/97 - 10/03)

79) PASSIONS - NBC - (5 Jul 1999 to 7 Aug 2008) - 9 years1 month2 days

2:00 PM - 3:00 PM (7/5/99 - 7/07/08)

Tally

NBC: 38

CBS: 23

ABC: 15

DuMont: 1

SYN - 1

CBN - 1

TBS - 1

FOX - 1

DirectTV - 1

WowI never would have thought that NBC would have had the most soaps. Howeverthat also means they did not have a very good track record of successful long running shows. They only had 2 soaps that lasted longer than 10 years in Another World and Days of Our Lives.

... and THE DOCTORS! Though technicallyyou could add SEARCH FOR TOMORROW as well.

Edited April 5201015 yr by Amello

Oopsmy bad as I did miss the Doctors on NBC which lasted 19 years. That show ended before I started watching soaps in 84.

PersonallyI've always favoured THE DOCTORS over its similar product GENERAL HOSPITAL.

Edited April 5201015 yr by Amello

LOL at NBC having the most soaps.

Maybe if the heads of NBC weren't so against soaps they could have more successand a strongconsistent line-up.

never knew there was a soap on FOX and Syndication. They should try one on Syndication again and see if it works.

never knew there was a soap on FOX and Syndication. They should try one on Syndication again and see if it works.

It seems to me there are a couple of syndicated soaps not on this listnamely the mid-80s soap Rituals and the 1969 soap Strange Paradise but neither lasted long.