question about US Daytime soaps

[wamdue]

a few questions for a discussion on another forum

1) how much does an average actor in a US soap get paid per year (or episode), and how much would a "star" of the genre be paid?

2) what are the normal ratings for these shows?

yes ive looked on the web, but cant find one, but its not a genre I am a big fan of.

*going off to look for ratings*

 

[Starbreaker]

http://onelifetolive.about.com/od/articles/a/stars_salaries.htm

 

[wamdue]

thanks, that is very helpful

 

[cylkoth]

Here are the latest ratings, courtesy of Soap Opera Network

Ratings for the week August 24-28, 2009

(Compared to Last Week/Compared to Last Year)

Total Viewers
1. Y&R 4,962,000 (+148,000/-188,000)
2. B&B 3,227,000 (-235,000/-128,000)
3. DAYS 2,761,000 (+206,000/+170,000)
4. GH 2,401,000 (-91,000/-362,000)
5. ATWT 2,397,000 (+74,000/-118,000)
6. OLTL 2,279,000 (-48,000/-231,000) <------ new low (Previous low: 2,288,000 for April 20-24, 2009)
7. AMC 2,208,000 (-75,000/-147,000) <------ new low (Previous low: 2,267,000 for August 18-22, 2008)
8. GL 2,012,000 (-40,000/-116,000)
HH
1. Y&R 3.5/12 (+.1/-.2)
2. B&B 2.3/8 (-.1/-.2)
3. DAYS 2.1/7 (+.2/+.2)
4. GH 1.8/6 (-.1/-.3)
4. OLTL 1.8/6 (same/-.1) <----- ties low rating (Last time: August 17-21, 2009)
6. AMC 1.7/6 (same/-.2) <----- ties low rating (Last time: August 17-21, 2009)
6. ATWT 1.7/6 (same/-.2)
8. GL 1.5/5 (same/same)


And the demographic breakdowns
http://boards.soapoperanetwork.com/topic/31827-latest-ratings-oltlamc-hit-new-lows-in-total-viewers/

Salaries are trickier to determine, as most people-and that does include actors, don't like disclosing how much they make publicly. But a top star can haul in as much as a million a year. However the ratings slump and economic downturn, are allowing the networks to scale back the license payments to the studios that produce several shows, and star salaries are being contacted just as they are for prime time.

 

[Daneel]

There's been a sharp decline in the ratings of all daytime soap operas over the past decade. Guiding Light was recently cancelled due to its low ratings, and from what I gather, As The World Turns will probably be following it soon. I'd imagine that within the next decade, the daytime soap genre will probably be more or less finished.

As for actors' salaries, the economy and decline in ratings has led to many soap actors, including some that have been on their shows for decades, having to take sizable paycuts... or just being written out entirely. It's quite a turbulent and uncertain time for many soap opera actors.

 

[wamdue]

ive noticed some long running soap operas being axed, when you read that a show of 70+ years has been axed it seems like a piece of US TV history being axed not just a day time soap opera.

 

[cylkoth]

As for actors' salaries, the economy and decline in ratings has led to many soap actors, including some that have been on their shows for decades, having to take sizable paycuts... or just being written out entirely. It's quite a turbulent and uncertain time for many soap opera actors.

Looks like Eric Braeden couldn't Victor Newman his way out of avoiding a pay cut, and is leaving YR because of it..
http://www.thewrap.com/ind-column/showdown-genoa-city-rocks-soap-world-8970

Under his existing deal, Braeden pulls down roughly $1.5 million per year, according to two people with an understanding of his deal. Sony said it needed to reduce that figure to just over $1 million. (A standard clause in soap deals allows terms to be renegotiated every quarter.)
Even at the reduced level, Braeden would remain the highest-paid actor on the series, as well as one of the top-paid soap stars, period. The reduction was in line with pay cuts other top stars had taken.
Braeden, however, doesn't think he should take such a big cut. And, according to insiders, he doesn't think Sony paid him enough respect in approaching him about the decision.
"My God, after 30 years. the perfunctory manner with which one is dealt with!" Braeden told reporter Michael Logan in a TV Guide Magazine story posted earlier this month.