Days of our Lives will move from NBC to Peacock this fall, bringing up the question of whether this is the direction soap operas are headed in the future.
It marks the end of an era for NBC, which will no longer have a soap opera on the airwaves. For the first time since 1949, the network will not be in the soap opera business.
The heyday of soap operas has been long gone, with only four shows on network television today.
ABC has General Hospital. CBS has The Young and the Restless, and The Bold and the Beautiful, and NBC has Days of our Lives.
Days moving to Peacock this fall means only three soap operas with air on network television, bringing the industry’s future into question.
So, what does the move mean for Days of our Lives and the other soap operas? Let’s take a look.
Days of our Lives moves from NBC to Peacock
On Wednesday, Deadline broke the news that NBC will no longer air new episodes of Days of our Lives for the first time since the show debuted in 1969. The daytime drama will move to Peacock on Monday, September 12.
Mark Lazarus, Chairman, NBCUniversal Television and Streaming, revealed the decision would benefit both NBC and Peacock.
“With a large percentage of the Days of Our Lives audience already watching digitally, this move enables us to build the show’s loyal fanbase on streaming while simultaneously bolstering the network daytime offering with an urgent, live programming opportunity for partners and consumers,” he shared with the website.
NBC News Daily, anchored by Kate Snow, Aaron Gilchrist, Vicky Nguyen, and Morgan Radford, will replace the hit daytime drama.
In May 2021, NBC renewed Days for two years, meaning the contract will expire in May 2023. There is no news if the move to Peacock means more Days of our Lives or if this is strictly until the contract runs out.
All signs point to more Days on Peacock even after the current contract is up. Peacock has been a big supporter of Days of our Lives and the spin-offs Beyond Salem and A Very Salem Christmas.
Perhaps it just means Peacock will be the new home for all things Days. Only time will tell.
Is streaming the future for soap operas?
Days of our Lives moving to a streaming service could mean the soap opera landscape is changing once again.
As mentioned above, it’s, unfortunately, kind of a dying breed. However, streaming could help save the soap opera world. Not only does it bring the possibility of spin-off shows, but a streaming service can also save a show from cancelation.
The same parent company owns ABC and Hulu. General Hospital already airs episodes on Hulu, although later in the day once the episode has aired on network television.
CBS has the option of Paramount+, which currently airs new episodes of The Bold and the Beautiful and The Young and the Restless.
While Days getting a new home on Peacock doesn’t necessarily mean anything with change for the other three soap operas any time soon, it does mean the powers that be on all three shows have been given something to think about.
What do you think of Days moving to Peacock?
Days of our Lives airs weekdays on NBC.
THIS SUCKS! Producers of Days has made some REALLY bad choices this year by elimanating favorite characters, taking one character off & then putting him back on to play a different character (who STUPID is that?), now MOVING the soap to a pay streaming service. How is that going to help improves their profits whe MOST of the people who watch Days are Baby Boomers. most of which can’t afford to pay additional TV bills. Any way, IF I decided to subscribe to Peacock and they end up cancelling Days, I will cancel it in a heartbeat.
I absolutely think this is ridiculous. Not everyone has the means to afford to purchase all of these options of Cable, Dish, Spectrum, or even know what streaming is. I do not have any of these options and have an antenna which pulls in more programming than any one person can possibly watch. Just what we need is another NEWS PROGRAM when NBC is constantly breaking into programming with “breaking news”. I do not think it’s necessary that everyone knows minute by minute what is happening. No wonder so many shootings happen when the shooter gets all of this publicity. That’s what they’re after. I DEFINITELY AM NOT HAPPY WITH THIS DROPPING BY NBC OF DAYS OF OUR LIVES. Finally have supposedly gotten rid of the ridiculous Devil storyline and now you cancel the show.
Not happy. I hate streaming. You can’t fast forward through commercials or DVR the program. I won’t be watching, and I’m sure a lot of people won’t watch. Believe it or not there’s a lot of people who don’t stream programs.
Not happy with it ? ?
Many older fans that don’t have a Smart TV or a computer will now loose their soap after years of watching. Doesn’t seem fair to such loyal fans.
Not fair to the loyal fans who have been watching since the show since it began. Can t afford to keep adding new stations and paying for it. My cable bill is already way to high. I will not be watching anymore. ???
If Peacock will offer Days from the first episode on, I will be able to catch up on the few years that I did not watch – that may be a plus.
I will not support this Peacock and NBC money grab. I am satisfied with the cable co. I have. They can stick it where the sun don’t shine!! Prices are out of control all over the economy. I will not participate in this sham of robbing people of their money because of their loyalty. There are other shows on other networks. They’ll probably cancel it after you start paying. I will not pay to watch Days of our lives!!!! I am on a fixed income and this really sucks big time! I will also not be watching NBC’S daily news show in it’s place. What a bitter disappointment to loyal fans. Good bye Days!! ?? Good bye NBC!!! ?? I will be watching Gunsmoke instead!! ❤️?
Hate this. I love days of our lives. It is the highlight of my day. It is better than most shows aired on tv these days. With inflation the way it is who can afford more cable charges or having to purchase new devices to watch it on anymore. Think I’ll quit watching NBC totally after it ceases to broadcast Days of our Lives.
At 86 I feel this generation can’t wait until they can get rid of us old people. We have so few things that we can enjoy without having to spend money which goes out faster than it comes in. Thanks a lot to you all for making our lives miserable. And yes there are some people my age who can afford life and like using credit cards. I enjoyed Days while it lasted but will never pay to watch as long as I have to pay for cable and that may no longer be.
i think its awful i am old and don t know how to stream
I THIN IT IS BS!!!!!!
I will no longer watch Days.
i hate it leave nbc i do not pay peacock any money watch show. hard to watch show .because easy put on dvr so fast forward stuff do not want to watch/ big mistake people stop watch it then peacock lose out so will days and nbc to not all people want to stream because charge way to much for shows want to watch
I have watched since the beginning and enjoyed it everyday but will watch no more. Everything seems to be about money these days and I will not stream to watch Days. Very sad for alot of loyal fans.
I wish they would leave it on NBC, I love this show & have been watching it for man many years. Streaming is new to me, & I’m not paying for it, don’t even know how to find it. Very upset this will be happening!!
I am very upset over this. Days of our lives is a great show. I am not paying to have Peacock. I cannot believe that. NBC. Is doing this. What about all the people that have been watching Days for alot of Years? I am not happy I won’t be able to watch it anymore…..
Have no idea of what streaming is. Won’t pay for anything more. I’ve been watching and enjoying Days for many years. Will miss it.
I have watched Days since it came on,at that time it was on a half hour each day. I don’t think you should take it away from us
I’m afraid NBC will find out that they will LOSE a lot of viewers when they switch Days to Peacock. After all, it is the baby boomers & Gen X who watch the Soaps and DON”T stream or pay for all the extra TV channels.
I absolutely agree with other comments; couldn’t say any better! Feels like loss of a loved one & have already experienced that more times than want to think about over last two years. Now NBC you’ve added to my grief. NO WAY am I paying!!
We have been around since the very first episode so you can tell my approximate age and on a fixed income so we can’t afford streaming or whatever you call it so will not be seeing in the fall. If you look at the new cast and the story??? line, they really don’t want or care for our viewing any longer. By the by, what is the crazy story now? At one time it made sense but now people die and come back and then some leave and comeback a someone else so I don’t know about you folks but it’s become just to to.
It SUCKS!!!