While it doesn’t come as much of a surprise, Deadline Hollywood is reporting that ABC is renewing its commitment to “General Hospital” for the upcoming 2014-15 television season. The “GH” renewal follows the recent two-year “Days of our Lives” renewal by NBC, which was announced today, and last week’s renewal of “The Bold and the Beautiful” and “The Young and the Restless” by CBS.
Historically, as the network owns “GH” outright, ABC won’t necessarily make an “official” announcement as CBS and NBC have for their daytime soaps.
Per the website, “All four soaps are in positive territory year-to-year. Leader ‘The Young and the Restless’ (5.2 million viewers season to date, 1.5 in Women 18-49) is up 9% in total viewers and 7% in the female demo as it marks its 25th season as the most watched daytime drama. ‘The Bold and the Beautiful’ (3.9 million, 1.1) is up 14% in viewers and even in W18-49. ‘General Hospital’ (3.3 million, 1.4) is up 8% and 17%, respectively as it closes in on ‘Y&R’ in the demo, and ‘Days of our Lives’ (2.4, 1.1) is up 10% in both categories. ‘DAYS’ is delivering its best season in W18-49 viewers in 3 years and biggest season in total viewers in 4 years. ‘General Hospital’ is pacing for its best season in 7 years in total viewers and is on track to post a 3-year high in W18-49. During the most recent week of available data, Tuesday’s telecast (1/7) of ‘GH’ ranked as the series’ most-watched telecast in over 6 years.”
Among the four remaining daytime soaps, only the Sony Pictures Television produced “DAYS” and “Y&R” received multi-year commitments from their respective networks. “DAYS” is renewed through the 2015-16 television season, while “Y&R” is set to air at least through the 2016-2017 television season. “B&B” and “GH” are only renewed through the 2014-15 television season.