An interesting theory has been posited by Adweek, concerning the mostly-concurrent rise of social gaming via social networks- like FarmVille on Facebook- and the death of daytime soaps.

A few weeks ago, two long-running TV soaps were cut from ABC’s lineup- One Life to Live and All My Children- following Guiding Light and As the World Turns into the daytime TV sunset. Essentially, theorizes Adweek, games like FarmVille, CityVille and Mafia Wars shoved soap operas out of their once-cushy spot as the midday pastime of people who spend the majority of their day at home. The site lays out the stats behind the hypothesis:

When Zynga–publisher of massively popular Facebook games such as FarmVille and CityVille–arrived on the scene in 2007, both All My Children and One Life to Live were averaging a 1.9 rating among women 25-54. By 2011 the two shows were averaging 1.3 and 1.4 ratings respectively in that key viewer group. The drop is even steeper for other demographics. Meanwhile, by April 2009, Zynga was reaching 40 million monthly active players on Facebook, according to comScore. These days, the game has over 47 million players each month while the more recent hit, CityVille, attracts a staggering 88 million active participants.

The idea isn’t even a new one, but it’s kind of an interesting- if one-dimensional (correlation doesn’t equal causation, first and foremost)- supposition. The reality is probably a bit more complex and multi-layered, and culturally, soaps are likely just not as relevant as they once were. Do you think Zynga inadvertently put the final nail in the coffin of daytime soaps? Will you be sad to see them go?

Did Zynga’s Farmville and similar apps kill the soap opera? is a post from: The Inquisitr

Soap opera Guiding Light has been canceled by CBS after a staggering 72 year run.

Guiding Light started as a radio serial on NBC in 1937, and switched to television on CBS in 1952. Guinness Book of World Records credits the series as being the longest-running soap opera in production and the longest running drama in television and radio history.

15,700 episodes later, the show has faced declining ratings in recent years, despite adopting story lines to the social issues of the time. Producers though haven’t given up hope, and are shopping the show to other networks in an attempt to keep it on air. The last scheduled show will air September 18 on CBS.

Soap Opera Guiding Light canceled by CBS is a post from: The Inquisitr