Days Of Our Lives
DAYS and GH Show Increase In Younger Viewers! Daytime Soaps Getting Support From Their Networks!

Courtesy/NBC
Proof positive that your favorite daytime soaps are holding their own and then some, as we get heavily into the spring of 2014, comes a very upbeat look at the daytime dramas still on the air and the increases they have brought to key female demos and gains in total viewers from a piece in Variety.com!
In addition, with support from the network brass at the top including CBS Daytime’s Angelica McDaniel, NBC’s Bruce Evans and ABC’s Vicki Dummer, soap journalist Michael Maloney told Variety, “What the soaps seem to have is terrific support from the network. The right people are running them, and each of the remaining shows are doing a great version of their show for their core audience.”

Photo Credit: HutchinsPhoto.com
As for Days of our Lives and General Hospital, these two iconic brands have brought in the some all important younger viewers again. According to stats in the Variety article: “General Hospital has grown from last year by 9% in total viewership (to 3.32 million) but it’s also up by 19% in women 25-54 and by 11% among those 12-34, according to Nielsen. As a result, its median age of 55.5 for the current season is down from 56.1 a year ago. Days of Our Lives is up 10% (to about 3 million viewers), but its biggest gains are among females 12-34; its median age of 57.8 is nearly one full year lower than last year.”
But don’t forget the CBS soaps that are number # 1 and #2, Variety reports while, the CBS soaps skew older, they’re also the most popular overall. The Young and the Restless averages 5.3 million viewers daily and The Bold and the Beautiful bags nearly 4 million.
So soap fans, do you see the difference in the support from the network brass for your favorite shows over the last few years after the demise of four soaps in row? Are you a younger viewer who has begun to tune-in to one of the four remaining network soaps? And are you glad to see, as much as we are, some solid positive press on the state of the daytime drama? Comment below!
Days Of Our Lives
Sydney Malekeh Joins the Cast of ‘Days of Our Lives’ in Mystery Role: Who Do You Think She’s Playing?

There’s a new gal coming to Salem, or is she new and a recast? That’s what inquiring minds from Days of Our Lives fans have been trying to figure out since the Peacock soap opera dropped an Instagram video heralding actress‘ Sydney Malekeh’s arrival in Salem.
The soap did confirm that viewers will first see Malekeh on the September 9 episode. In the video, Malekeh is seen going set to set from her dressing room and in to the halls of Days of Our Lives studios.
What we do know id that Sydney has been acting professionally for 6 years and had appeared on Grey’s Anatomy, Apple TV’s Shrinking and the HBO Max’s The Sex Lives of College Girls.
Plenty of Malekeh’s DAYS castmates jumped into the comment thread with positive emojis symbols or written excitement including: Paul Telfer (Xander), Linsey Godfrey (Sarah), Sal Stowers (Lani), Conner Floyd (Chad), Eric Martsolf (Brady) and Christie Clark (Carrie) and more now that fans will finally see her on-air. Since Days of Our Lives tapes 10-11 months in advance, Sydney would have started taping the show sometime back in 2025.
DAYS fans think perhaps because the actress’ name is Sydney that she might be playing the grown-up daughter of Sami and EJ. That character hasn’t bee on the canvas since 2021.
So, who do you think Sydney Malekeh might be playing on Days of Our Lives? Drop your casting director thoughts via the comment section below.
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Days Of Our Lives
Peacock Hikes Subscription Rates for Fourth Time in Four Years; ‘Days of Our Lives’ Fans Sound Off

While recently the streaming service Peacock reported turning a profit for its first time since its infancy, now comes word that the company is raising their prices for all customers, and in some cases it stared today on August 18.
The news of the subscription rate increases marks the fourth time the NBCUniversal streaming platform has done so in four years. So, on August 18, Peacock is increasing the prices for new or returning subscribers and customers, while current subscribers will see the rate increase on or after September 17 depending on their billing cycle when they initially signed up.
Here is the new pricing to follow along: Peacock Premium (which includes ads) will be $12.99/month, up two dollars from $10.99; Peacock Premium Plus will be $19.99/month, up three dollars increase from $16.99; and the Peacock Select tier (which includes current and past seasons of NBC and Bravo shows but excludes movies, live sports and Peacock originals) will increase a dollar from $7.99 to $8.99/month.

Photo: JPI
SUBSCRIBERS CONTINUE TO PAY MORE ACROSS THE STREAMER LANDSCAPE
It was back in June that the streamer reported that aid subscribers were up to 48 million adding a 2 million net gain during Q2 in of 2026. The subscription price hikes are rampant now in the entertainment streaming industry where over the last two years for example, Netflix, HBO Max, Apple TV, Paramount+ have all raised their fees to consumers.
Peacock’s tier-levels feature not only Days of Our Lives, but reality hits such as The Traitors and Love Island USA, Bravo series, and a vault of Saturday Night Live, Law & Order, The Real Housewives franchise, and Below Deck episodes as well. Pecock Premium and Premium Plus subscribers have access to sports and live events, as well.
DAYS OF OUR LIVES SUBSCRIBERS HAD A FEW CHOICE WORDS FOR PEACOCK
As Days of Our Lives fans know, the soap opera moved from NBC to the streamer back in September of 2022 after 57 years on broadcast television. When the news hit X on the price increase, DAYS fans had a lot to say about it. Here are just a few of the comments below:
“I can’t believe Peacock and can’t come to a deal with Cordya to air old episodes of #Days. That alone would bring a ton of subscribers,” to If Peacock actually cared about #Days of Our Lives, gave the show the budget it needs for better sets, cameras, background actors and enough time to tell proper stories, I wouldn’t mind paying more. If the money actually showed on screen, the higher price would be worth it,” to “I will continue to pay for a Peacock subscription as long as #Days is on it, but did we know there was another price increase coming?” and more.
So, what do you think of the new price hike increase to watch Days of Our Lives and your other favorite shows and events on Peacock? Let us know your thoughts in the comment section below.
Days Of Our Lives
‘Veronica & Julian’ Feature Starring ‘Days of Our Lives’ Alums Nadia Bjorlin and Kyler Pettis Releases Key Art and More (Exclusive)

In the upcoming indie feature Veronica & Julian from director Otoja Abit, two former Days of Our Lives stars, Nadia Bjorlin (ex-Chloe Lane) and Kyler Pettis (ex-Theo Carver), headline the drama feature in this story of a May-December romance that faces challenges along the way.
Veronica & Julian centers on a confident and successful marketing executive (Bjorlin) who winds up falling for a younger aspiring architect (Pettis). From there, a journey of desire and self-discovery is set against the backdrop of present-day New York City.
The cast also includes: Blake Jenner (ex-Glee), Erin Cummings, Chrystee Pharris (ex-Simone Russell, Passions and Queens of Drama), Robert Lee Leng, Mark Famiglietti and Jennafer Newberry.

Photo:
LIVE CHAT WITH NADIA AND KYLER PLANNED
Now, Michael Fairman TV can share exclusively: the key poster art below, and that current plans that call for Veronica & Julian to be released and made available late this holiday season.
In addition, Nadia and Kyler will join us for a very special livestream conversation on the Michael Fairman Channel (Monday, Aug 24 – 3PM ET/Noon PT) to chat about their roles in the film, their time on Days of Our Lives, life post-soap opera, and much more. Fans can join the live chat and pose their questions to the actors as well.

Courtesy/Bright Leicht Content LLC
THE THEMES BEHIND VERONICA & JULIAN
Director Otoja Abit shared this statement on the feature film, “Veronica & Julian is about the right people who have a chance meeting at the wrong time. It’s a look at two people who don’t grow apart—they just grow up. This film is an authentic exploration of an imminent ending and how two people deeply in love got there. It aims to be quiet while telling a relatable story about modern-day relationships.”
Abit continued, “As a society, mainstream romantic films are often delivered through fantastical aspirations. I created this film believing that viewers who have experienced a breakup can relate to Veronica and Julian, depending on their perspective. They’re a couple navigating some of the most familiar obstacles in love: miscommunication, timing and pride.”
He concluded, “It’s a story about endings told through the small moments we often don’t recognize until they’re gone. With the support of the Panavision New Filmmaker Program, I approached the story with a deeper sense of visual control while maintaining the naturalism that defines each character.”

Photo: Bright Leicht Content LLC
NADIA AND KYLER GOT THEIR FIRST BIG BREAK IN SOAPS
As Days of Our Lives fans know, Bjorlin is best known for her long-running role as Chloe Lane. Nadia played the part from 1999-2023 with various runs in Salem. She is also known for her role as Lara in the Venice the Series since 2009. Nadia’s other TV and film credits include: A Murder Between Friends, NCIS, Two Broke Girls and more.
Pettis played Theo Carver on Days of Our Lives from 2015-2018 and earned himself a Daytime Emmy for his work in the now defunct Outstanding Younger Actor in a Daytime Drama Series back in 2019. His other TV credits include roles on: The Rookie, All American: Homecoming and Ray Donovan.
Veronica and Julian is written, produced and directed by Abit and produced through his Willful Productions alongside Kory Apton and Ian Phillips. Executive producers include: Nick Leicht, Gregory Sinche, Shelly Sinche, Torsten Sippel, Tim Freydberg, Ryan Schulke and Matthew Conlin.
So, intrigued to see Nadia and Kyler as a romantic couple in the film Veronica & Julian? Miss them on Days of Our Lives? Share your thoughts in the comment section.
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Yes!!
The Young and Restless is any thing but young or restless..
It is senior citizens who are the main characters and the younger ones are gawd awful!!
Y&R tries to attract younger ones with grandma and grandpa sex stuff and now they try to make an older women look young by making her pregnant, good grief..
Then they will have Lauren lose the baby because she too old to be a mother..
Fen is at the age of marriage and babies, not Michael and Lauren..
I have found, theses days, when I watch Y&R I laugh a lot at the stupidity of it all, and senior citizens have boring lives and they all are boring me!!
GH rocks!! mega drama and the couples are not using walkers!!
And a lot of really good looking men to drool over..
I watch Y&R every day, and it has become empty of the great soap it once was.. 🙁
(a music box story and DNA switch story going on for a year, yawn..
With Katherine , Billy miller/Billy, MM/Adam, Phyllis, and others who are gone it just is not right, not at all..
And recasting will fail..
I’m sorry, but– there is not one couple of interest on Y&R..
And- most all the women have hair styles from the 70’s, and bad wigs..
Nonetheless; I tune in every evening..
I may need bad soap opera therapy to break my Y&R watching habit and free myself….
I agree! If it wasn’t for Nursing homes Y&R would not be #1.
Love my Days!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Glad the networks are again supporting our Soaps. WE don ‘t want talk in the afternoon, we want good stories about good characters we care about. Keep the drama coming!!!!
Days of our Lives and General Hospital are hip and happening!!!
Y&R and B&B are broken hips and helpless!
DOOL and GH…relevant and unique!!!
Now it’s time to bring back amc and oltl!!!!
NO no Skye, get over it oltl and amc will never come back. I have moved on, to the other soaps. gh and days of our lives are on fire. great soaps to watch.
I agree with Justin. It’s people like Skye that make people think that soap fans are delusional and out of touch with reality.
This can still happen!!!! It’s not to late. I truly believe that abc will bring back those shows. Even as a 30 minutes like B&B. There is a reason why abc is suing pp. The
And beside we can only hope…
It’s great to see the soaps getting positive press.
I can understand why Days is on an upswing with younger viewers. They have some really talented teen performers…who are in teenage, age appropriate stories. Casey Moss is outstanding as JJ, and I love his friend Rory. He is such a typical carefree kid. I like Bev, and this new Paige girl is cute too. JJ and Paige are starting one of those old school awkward teen soap romances and it is refreshing and fun and there’s no angst and misery. No teenager is pregnant here…no teenager is getting married…no teenager is desperate to get pregnant…they are just being written as kids. For the life of me, I cannot figure out what or who is responsible for younger people tuning into GH. It is a show full of creepy disgusting people wishing death on one another.
Days should expand on the Rory character! I see Rory living in a trailer with his mentally abusive and bipoler mother, and his father had abandon them and run off with another woman years ago. Rory has a younger kid brother in foster care because of their mothers mental health issues. Rory had turned to drugs because of his unstable family life(thats the backstory id like for him)…J.J. and Paige are far more interesting than GHs boring T.J. and Molly…i can see Bev as Paiges rival…id like to see that written the way Julie and Susan’s were rivals for the same men like it was when i first watched back in the 60s!!!
Imo…The actress playing Days’ Paige reminds me of a young Sydney Penny!!!
I agree about expanding the rory character. Respectfully, I don’t like the circumstances you present. DAYS has done that story over and over and over….the teen with the crappy, abusive background…they did it with Steve and Adrienne, they did it with Billie and Austin, they did it with April and Emilio, they did it with Nicole and Brandon, they did it with Mim and Connor. For once, I would like to see some teens without all the serious, intense drama that stems from their parents. i would LOVE to see a soap write teens in a Gilmore Girls/Dawson’s Creek kind of way. Where they are just teens, yet have intelligence, and wit, and lives that are normal for the most part. There is so much drama and humour and interest just being a teenager. One of the best examples of a teen storyline was on DAYS…from 1999-2002, involving Shawn, Belle, Philip, and Mimi. Their parents all had major issues, and yes, the teens were affected by it, but their normal teen problems took precedence. They worried about things like dances, and exams, and first crushes, and all those things that to teens, seem SOOOO important. Even though I don’t smoke pot myself, it is a fact of life that MANY teens just smoke pot. They are not drug addicts, they are not out of control bad-asses, they are not criminals, they just smoke pot. I love that that the show can have teenagers who do normal teenage things without resorting to the cliched drug storylines that are usually written terribly. I also love that Days makes conversations between teens and parents very awkward and uncomfortable. Contrast this with GH, and their horrifically written story of Molly and TJ wanting to have sex, and Alexis’ involvement. WHAT teenage girl spends endless amounts of time telling her mother that she wants to/plans to/is going to have sex, and have that be ALL they talk about?? If she is going to do it, she will not tell her mother all that, she will just go and do it, and then either hide it from her mother, or just NOT discuss it. I know these are soaps, and not realistic or real-life, but when teen stories are written and acted badly, which they normally are on soaps, it is just cringe worthy and embarrassing and painful to watch. I am LOVING this burgeoning, blossoming teen scene on DAYS, and am hoping they don’t ruin it with the same-old, same-old tales of unwanted pregnancies, drug addictions, psycho stalkers, teen marriage, etc. Let them be kids! Let them have fun ancd be reckless, and rebellious, but learn a few lessons along the way, and we as the audience can enjoy watching them grow, much as we did with Jennifer back in the day. And about rory…heck yeah…the actor is not stellar, LOL, but he plays the part of a teenage pothead SO well. He has the look, the talk, the posture, etc. He could be linked to any number of families on the show through newly created backstory. He could be some long lost Horton, or Brady. If GH can make Liesl Obrecht and Madeline Reeves sisters (just about the most unbelievable sisters and plot twist EVER), then DAYS can find a clever way to work Rory into this canvas. I’d like Bev and Paige to be frenemies, not enemies. You know, like they are friends, but there is that underlying teen girl thing going on. Best of all, these kids LOOK like teens. They don’t 32 look years old and worn out from life like Andrea Zuckerman from the original 90210, or that Taylor on GH, who has mercifully and thankfully not been seen or heard from for MONTHS. I LOVE the innocence and cute awkwardness that JJ and Paige have. Contrast this to when Taylor on GH was pursing her lips like a trashy pornstar and disrobing in front of TJ, a boy she had just met. Ron Carlivati ( and most soap writers) writes ALL characters, regardless of whether they are 14 or 73, as if they are somewhere around the generic 30 age range. they all talk the same, use the same vocabulary, and there is nothing to distinguish the way Molly talks or acts from the way Monica Quartermaine talks. It is a good writer who knows how to be the mouthpiece for different age groups for different aged characters. Sadly, most soap writers have no idea how to do that. Keep it up DAYS…you have a winning teen quartet in JJ, Rory, Bev, and Paige. It is kind of a Shawn (JJ), Philip (Rory), Belle (Paige), Mimi (Bev) redux, only 12 years later, and I’m digging it, dude (as Rory would say).
Yes jimh, I can see that happening! We already had a glimpse of Rory’s mom at the police station after Rory was arrested. It makes sense to me!
TJ and Molly are so DULL! It was around this age in the 80’s that the phenomenal Luke and Laura story came about… we all need one of those epic love stories… it has been years! In fact I am still peeved at Tony Geary for saying he wanted to move on from that….
I felt pretty close to the magic when Jack and Phyllis got back together….
Also I have to say Sonny and Brenda had undeniable sparks as well….
Im agree with you…Shawn, Mimi, Belle and Philip were one of the best teen storylines ever in daytime…let kids be kids. Rory could easily be a Horton…grandson of Sandy Horton, a Days character we havent really heared from in over 30 years…now id like that idea! Maybe Sandy got married and had a son who married Rorys mother at an early age and 9 months later Rory was born…there could be several reasons why he doesnt know he was related to the Hortons…i remeber having hair like Rorys when i was his age…where did that go…lol
In spite of mixed feelings i have with the storylines on both GH and Days im grateful both are doing well enough in the ratings to keep them on the air…im still entertained…also watching B&B!!! I still ocassionally watch Y&R!!!
Such a relief, it was a worrying time when all the soaps were going off the air. I have always watched 4, except I used to have a choice, now I watch the 4 that are on but am very happy with them all 🙂
I absolutely love Casey Moss on DAYS! He is incredibly talented! I’m not a big “Wilson” fan, especially since Will has been recast. I find the pair nauseating. I can’t stand Teresa. Talk about a waste of air-time!
I’m glad that the networks are behind the soaps.Yeah DOOL and GH attract younger viewers and Y&R and B&B attract older ones but maybe that’s the way each soap likes it.
Love my General Hospital. Way to go, keep gettn younger and younger 🙂
I absolutely LOVED the soaps as a teen. I recall the late 1970s when the Rick-Monica-Alan triangle was at the fore on GH. Oh, how we marching band geeks were abuzz. And we loved the drama surrounding the murder of David Hamilton with Leslie taking the charge for her daughter Laura. And I could not get enough Karen Wolek and Marco Dane on OLTL. We all rode the Luke & Laura wave on GH, too, but there was so much more to enjoy as I wasin college and my early 20s. The launch of LOVING, my discovery of THE YOUNG AND RESTLESS before Jess Walton was Jill Abbott. I checked in with ATWT and AMC eventually and thank God to this day for the VCR. Daytime dramas are for everyone and I learned a lot I am sure, especially about some key social issues along with an appreciation for storytelling, acting and production. Theater remains an important part of my life and soaps helped inform that interest.
They need to bring back Santa Barbara! That was my favorite soap. Or 666 Park Avenue which was really good. Yes, I know it wasn’t a serial but I enjoyed it.
I loved both those shows…
I’m still waiting to see the support from ABC / Disney for General Hospital. Not only do they continue to cut General Hospital’s budget every year but not once have they run a GH promo during any of their primetime shows, even though they run promos for their primetime shows during General Hospital every single day. If they’re trying to be supportive of GH, then why not run a promo during some of their primetime scripted soap dramas such as Nashville which stars Jonathan Jackson who used to star on General Hospital? And a GH promo would be perfect to run during Revenge and Scandal as both are evening soaps. When I see a GH promo during those three shows then I will believe that ABC and Disney are being supportive of General Hospital. For now I just don’t see it!!!
I agree…
Days of OUR Lives : #1 : the best show : cast aplomb : Salem’ites stand together
Love ’em or hate ’em, WilSon brings in younger viewers as do JJ and even the out of control Teresa. Younger viewers relate to their peers — not their parents — and (usually) don’t have the hang ups their parents do. GH and Days do well online, with GH doing a bit better, actually. PP’s AMC is way down online, yet OLTL viewers are keeping their show relevant as of right now (according to what’s popular on H*l*.) I think OLTL fans may feel if PP can pull it back together, they may see OLTL as the more viable project to continue. Fans of hip, young soaps should check out Hollyoaks (also on H*l*, it’s amazing! Coronation Street is also an excellent soap!) JMOP.
I love Coronation street…the lives of everyday middle class families with real life issues and children who act like real children and the dead stay dead!!!
Check out Hollyoaks. It skews younger but has some older characters, too. It’s a great show. So is EastEnders (if you can find it in the US, some PBS stations carry it). Classic and current Aussie soaps like Neighbours, Sons & Daughters, Home & Away, Prisoner are also great soaps to watch. NZ soap Shortland Street is fun but sometimes light entertainment (it’s on the Y as are most of the Aussie soaps). With US soaps down to 4, we have to get our soap “fix” somewhere — and fortunately there are lots of great soaps out there.
I doubt that Prospect Park can pull up their pants let alone put together another soap Matthew but I do appreciate your optimism. I don’t like their lack of communication with the fans of both AMC and One Life but that’s my opinion. Sorry, don’t want to go off-topic here – so let me say that I am glad that
younger people are enjoying soaps these days, I hate to think of soaps as a dying genre, I think they can survive in today’s entertainment market if produced and handled properly.
I wasn’t being optimistic. It was purely an observation. Period. I agree that soaps can survive if handled properly. Soaps have been having identity crises for some time, both soaps themselves and, unfortunately, viewers — from changing viewing habits to some viewers no longer wanting soaps to be as “broad” in terms of social issues, etc. Of course, soaps have reflected the times (including social issues) in the past and will probably have to continue to do so, if they are to truly survive. I prefer soaps to reflect how (soap) people live and how they cope with life’s and society’s ups and downs, but I know others watch for their own reasons. Many of the soaps I mentioned, past and present, reflect my interest in seeing people deal with life (much as jim said about CS).
Love my GH.
Well it’s evident that DAYS is concentrating on the younger storylines with summer just ahead of us – don’t soaps generally do that to attract the younger set for the summer months – but it seems to be well executed and well acted – there are so very few shows to follow these days –
Yes, soaps traditionally have concentrated on younger storylines in summer months to bring in younger viewers, but these days soaps need to be wooing these younger viewers (and all others as well) year-round. Passions appealed to younger views overall and was given an extra year on TV (even after NBC pulled the plug), thanks to a satellite channel for picking them up. I also agree that Days is one of the better written (and acted) soaps on the air right now.
DOOL : Sheryl exit
dang it all
she was so real : crying… as she tells Jordan she’s been promoted and moving to Houston
THIS is the ONE time : I hope she is pregnant with Lucas child…. what a way for her to return
sorry to see her go… she could have been a great contributor to the DAYS canvas
I have a feeling that perhaps that’s the way Sami will be ushered out…finding out about EJ’s affair and falling back to Lucas….
Their Swan Song…
I am ok with that…..EJ is terrific…and now there’s Kassie DePavia coming to DOOL…. that would be chemistry for sure!
I’m with you there, Patrick!
In my house we represent all those demographics. My mom is 50, I’m 25 and my sister is 12. My mom watches Y&R and GH. My sis and I only watch GH. My sister even tells the kids at her school what’s going on in Port Charles lol! She is the next generation of GH fans!!!