As if ABC didn’t have enough channels for kids, they are adding one more just for 2-7 year olds at the expense of SOAPnet in 2012.
Anne Sweeney, co-chair, Disney Media Networks and president, Disney/ABC Television Group, said: “The launch of Disney Junior in the U.S. is the next step in our global preschool strategy, which began 10 years ago with the premiere of our first dedicated preschool channel in the UK. The decision to ultimately transition SOAPnet to accomplish this was not arrived at lightly. SOAPnet was created in 2000 to give daytime viewers the ability to watch time-shifted soaps, before multiplatform viewing and DVRs were part of our vocabulary. But today, as technology and our businesses evolve, it makes more sense to align this distribution with a preschool channel that builds on the core strengths of our company.”
DVRs or not, SOAPnet was so much more than just replaying the daytime dramas at night. They aired cancelled soap operas like Ryan’s Hope, nighttime soaps like One Tree Hill and Beverly Hills, 90210 and original programming like Being Erica. I think it is a big mistake. It was SOAPnet not Disney Junior that got you in to 75 million homes and as one of the 75 million homes I would rather have SOAPnet.
This news is just another blow to daytime dramas. And the genre can’t take anymore hits because we have pretty much been losing a daytime drama every year and there are rumors at least one more is on the chopping block. So if you are fan of soap operas make sure to watch them every day because if you don’t they might not be around for us to enjoy.
