ABC Daytime

ABC Daytime (sometimes shortened to ABC-D or ABCD) is a division responsible for the daytime television programming block on the ABC Network and syndicated programming. The block has historically encompassed soap operas, game shows and talk shows.

ABC Daytime
IndustryTelevision broadcast
Headquarters
New York City, New York
,
United States
Key people
Rebecca Campbell (president)
ParentABC Entertainment Group
( Disney Television)

History

ABC Daytime is the daytime programming division of the American Broadcasting Company (ABC) television network, which has been in operation since 1948. ABC Daytime originally began as a block of programming featuring game shows and soap operas, and it quickly became a popular destination for viewers during the daytime hours.

Brian Frons became president of ABC Daytime in 2002.[1]

  • When Megan McTavish returned as Head Writer of All My Children in July 2003, she faced criticism for a story that depicted the rape of a lesbian character, Bianca Montgomery.[2] The show also faced opposition to a story of a transgender character in 2006.
  • The Writers Guild of America East filed arbitration suits against ABC Daytime, claiming that they violated the strike-termination agreement by retaining replacement writers (those who choose Financial Core Status) who filled in during the strike (including Frons) on All My Children instead of bringing back the writers who had been on strike. "The strike-termination agreement does not allow the retention of replacement writers in lieu of allowing striking writers to return to their jobs. [ABC Daytime] are clearly violating this agreement," said Ira Cure, senior counsel for the Writers Guild of America, East, in a statement. "They have left us no other option but to file arbitrations to ensure that our members will be afforded their rights outlined under this agreement."[3]

In May 2006, ABC Daytime was enlarged with the addition of Soapnet and ABC Media Productions.[4] ABC Daytime was criticized by Susan Lucci for putting profits above their legacy for the 2011 cancellations of All My Children and One Life to Live in favor of lower-cost talk programming such as The Chew.[1] ABC Daytime was folded into ABC Entertainment in 2011.[5]

Times Square Studios (TSS) was created on December 2, 2011 under Vicki Dummer to oversee operations of ABC Daytime and the syndication programs[1] replacing separate daytime and syndicated units. Times Square took over ABC Daytime when Frons' employment contract ended in January 2012.[6] Except for Live with Kelly and Ryan, Times Square took over their remaining soap, all ABC syndicated and lifestyle shows.[7] On October 30, 2014, The View talk show was transferred into Lincoln Square Productions, an ABC News subsidiary, from ABC Entertainment after struggling in ratings and a change in hosts.[5]

One of the earliest and most popular shows in the ABC Daytime lineup was the game show Who Wants to Be a Millionaire which debuted in 1999 and quickly became a cultural phenomenon. The show's popularity helped to revitalize ABC's daytime programming and drew in a large audience of viewers.

Another popular show in the ABC Daytime lineup was the soap opera All My Children which aired from 1970 to 2011. The show was known for its dramatic storylines, complex characters, and talented cast of actors. All My Children helped to establish ABC as a leader in daytime programming, and it won numerous awards and accolades over the years.

In addition to Who Wants to Be a Millionaire and All My Children ABC Daytime has featured a number of other popular shows over the years, including General Hospital, The View and One Life to Live. These shows have helped to establish ABC as a leader in daytime programming, and they have attracted a large and dedicated audience of viewers.

Times Square Studios reverted to the ABC Daytime name by the time of the appointment of ABC Owned Television Station President Rebecca Campbell as president of ABC Daytime, which still contains syndication, as an additional position.[8]

Current programs

The View

GMA3: What You Need to Know

General Hospital

Former shows on ABC Daytime

Soap operas

Other scripted originals

Game shows

ABC Daytime has not had a regular daytime game show block since 1986, and has not had any daytime game shows since a revival of Match Game ended in 1991.

One game show aired in syndication on the network's owned-and-operated stations:

Talk shows and lifestyle programming

Executives

Gail Starkey;[11] Beth Wicke;[12] Sue Johnson;[13] Barbara Bloom (Vice President of Daytime Programming: 1996–2000); Mary Burch (Director of Daytime Programming)

NameTitleYearsNotes
Armand GrantPresident of Daytime Programming1960-1965
Harve BennettPresident of Daytime Programming1965-1967
Leonard GoldbergPresident of Daytime Programming1967-1968

Marshall H. Karp Vice President of Daytime Programming 1969-1971

Michael EisnerVice President of Daytime Programming1971-1977
Jackie SmithVice President of Daytime Programming1977-1988
Jo Ann EmmerichVice President of Daytime Programming1988-1993
Patricia Fili-KrushelPresident of Daytime Programming1993–1998Served until she resigned to join an internet company.[14][15][16] During her tenure, the network published the 1995 New York Times bestseller General Hospital tie-in novel Robin Scorpio[17] and debuted the General Hospital spin-off Port Charles.
Felicia Minei BehrVice President of Daytime Programming1999–2002
Angela ShapiroPresident of Daytime Programming1998–2002The co-founder of Soap Opera Digest who had been ABC's Senior Vice President of Marketing and Promotion since 1995.[18] Assumed the position of President in 2000.[19] Called "a champion of the soap fans," Shapiro is credited with adapting the prime time series practice of "refreshers" and "previews" — recapitulation the previous episode immediately before showing the current one and previewing the next episode at the end – and applying the concept to daytime serials.[18] The idea is still in use today, and other networks have adopted it.[18] Shapiro also utilized the established interconnection of ABC's three soap operas (General Hospital, One Life to Live, and All My Children) in a bolder synergy concept designed to "entice viewers to tune into soap operas that they might not have usually watched."[18] Over the course of six months in 2000, Daytime Emmy Award-winner Linda Dano's character Rae Cummings crossover among all four ABC daytime series.[18][20] Shapiro also created ABC Super Soap Weekend, a fan event held at Walt Disney World in Florida from 1996 (the year The Walt Disney Company bought ABC) to 2008.[18] She left ABC Daytime in 2002 to head the ABC Family channel.[18]
Brian FronsPresident of Daytime Programming8/2002–2011Joined in August 2002. In May 2006 Frons was promoted to President of Daytime for the newly created Walt Disney Television, an entity overseeing all ABC and Disney networks and Soapnet.[21] Cancelled All My Children and One Life to Live and replaced them with The Chew and The Revolution. In December 2011, Frons announced that he was resigning as president after nine years with the network.[22]
Vicki DummerVice-President of Times Square Studios2011–2020Joined ABC in 1996. Cancelled lifestyle talk show The Revolution after less than 3 months on the air. Oversees duties of unscripted shows were transferred in 2013 to colleague Lisa Hackner, while General Hospital remains under Dummer's management.[23] Dummer was let go along with Senior Vice President of ABC Daytime, William Burton, in December 2020. No replacement was announced.[24]

References
  1. Kenneally, Tim (December 2, 2011). "ABC Shake-Up: Vicki Dummer's New Times Square Studios Replaces Daytime Chief Brian Frons". The Wrap.com. Retrieved January 11, 2013.
  2. "The Advocate: The Rape of Bianca Montgomery". Archived from the original on May 14, 2019. Retrieved May 14, 2019.
  3. Broadcasting & Cable: Arbitration Suit Against ABC-D
  4. ABC public relations (September 15, 2008). "David Stone Named Vice President, Development, Buena Vista Productions". Retrieved January 28, 2014 – via thefutoncritic.com.
  5. Setoodeh, Ramin (October 30, 2014). "ABC News Takes Over 'The View' As Ratings Dwindle". Variety. Penske Business Media. Retrieved November 11, 2014.
  6. Rice, Lynette (December 2, 2011). "Exec who canceled ABC soaps is leaving network". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved January 11, 2013.
  7. Guthrie, Marisa (December 2, 2011). "Vicki Dummer will take over duties through a new integrated division called Times Square Studios.January 2013". Hollywood Reporter.com.
  8. Jessell, Harry A. (February 24, 2016). "Campbell To Oversee Daytime For ABC". TVNewsCheck. Retrieved November 29, 2016.
  9. Just, Olivia (July 3, 2014). "Disney moves filming of 'Millionaire' to Stamford". CT Post. Hearst Media Services Connecticut, LLC. Retrieved May 22, 2015.
  10. Stelter, Brian (December 2, 2011). "Head of ABC's Daytime Programming Is Leaving". New York Times. Retrieved January 11, 2013.
  11. "For Your Ears Only | GFEM - Media Database". Archived from the original on September 1, 2012. Retrieved 2013-03-06.
  12. "Catalog Navigator : Acting Program".
  13. "Reinventing the Deal".
  14. Rice, Lynette (December 17, 1999). "Alpha Female". Entertainment Weekly. EW.com. Retrieved February 19, 2009.
  15. Rice, Lynette (December 10, 1999). "On The Air: Can Soaps Float?". Entertainment Weekly. EW.com. Retrieved February 19, 2009.
  16. Rice, Lynette (April 14, 2000). "On The Air: Female Troubles". Entertainment Weekly. EW.com. Retrieved February 19, 2009.
  17. Labine, Claire; Judith Pinsker (November 1995). Robin's Diary. ABC Daytime. pp. 180. ISBN 0-8019-8775-X. Retrieved February 19, 2009.
  18. Kroll, Dan J. (April 1, 2002). "Angela Shapiro to Leave ABC Daytime Post". SoapCentral. Retrieved February 19, 2009.
  19. Rice, Lynette; Dan Snierson (March 17, 2000). "On The Air: Fast Acting". Entertainment Weekly. EW.com. Retrieved February 19, 2009.
  20. Kroll, Dan J. (December 29, 2003). "OLTL News: Dano's Run as ABC's Rae About to End". SoapCentral. Retrieved February 19, 2009.
  21. Lisotta, Christopher (May 10, 2006). "Frons to Lead Daytime for Disney-ABC TV Group". TVWeek.com (Internet Archive). Archived from the original on January 1, 2007. Retrieved January 1, 2007.
  22. "Company Town". Los Angeles Times.
  23. "Lisa Hackner Joins ABC As EVP Daytime & Syndicated Programming". Deadline Magazine. October 26, 2013. Retrieved February 11, 2014.
  24. "Vicki Dummer and William Burton Are Out at ABC, Both Veteran Executives Oversaw Daytime Programming". Soap Opera Network. December 3, 2020. Retrieved March 4, 2021.

See also
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