NBC announced today that the longtime soap will move exclusively to streaming beginning Sept. 12, putting an end to an era as NBC will no longer broadcast any soap operas. All new episodes of the 58-time Emmy Award-winning drama will debut on NBC-owned Peacock with the show’s extensive library (It aired its 14,000th episode in 2020.) already available to stream for Peacock Premium subscribers. The historic move to Peacock follows the successful spinoff, Days of our Lives: Beyond Salem, that premiered in 2021 and streamed a second season in 2022, and puts all new Days content in one place. Created by Ted and Betty Corday, Days of our Lives has aired Monday-Friday on NBC since its premiere on Nov. 8, 1965. The show’s success stems from its consistent commitment to excellence in writing and storytelling—supported by a diverse ensemble of performers—and an uncanny knack for anticipating viewer interests, especially the belief that people never get tired of watching stories about first love. No mention has yet been made of whether or not the move to streaming will affect the cast or the stories the daytime drama is able to tell or whether the audience will follow it to its new home. While Days may be the lowest rated of the four remaining daytime dramas, it also has the most loyal and vocal fans. Days was NBC’s final soap opera and one of only four still on the air, along with ABC’s General Hospital, and CBS’ The Young and the Restless and The Bold and the Beautiful. One year remains on its contract, so it will quickly need to find its streaming audience if it is to survive. “This programming shift benefits both Peacock and NBC and is reflective of our broader strategy to utilize our portfolio to maximize reach and strengthen engagement with viewers,” said Mark Lazarus, Chairman, NBCUniversal Television and Streaming, in a release. “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.” NBC will fill the fan-favorite soap’s timeslot with the launch of NBC News Daily. Kate Snow, Aaron Gilchrist, Vicky Nguyen and Morgan Radford will anchor the new hourlong program featuring up-to-the-minute national and international news. NBC affiliates will have the option to add local news too. NBC News Daily will be streamed simultaneously on NBC News NOW and Peacock.
