by Onemargaret

Created on: March 12, 2009   Last Updated: January 16, 2011

Being a soap opera fan since my early teen years, you can't imagine how happy I was to find a television cable network like SOAPnet! Working full-time didn't allow me the opportunity to watch my favorite soaps and I didn't have a VCR or DVD. Thus, at 8 p.m., each week night, I watch the shows I missed during the day. And if I missed them during the week days, I could always catch up with the weekend marathons, since all the daytime shows for the week are televised again on Saturday and Sunday.

This network was launched on January 20, 2000 by Disney-ABC Television Group. It is also owned by The Walt Disney Company. At first, the network only aired same-day episodes of ABC soaps in the evening and in the early morning hours such as All My Children, One Life to Live, and General Hospital. Its daily lineup also consisted of cancelled daytime and primetime soaps such as Port Charles, Falcon Crest, Knots Landing, the Colbys, Hotel, Sisters, and Ryan's Hope.

In 2002, the network started airing reruns of Dynasty. In 2003, Another World and Dallas were added, replacing Falcon Crest, the Colbys, Hotel, and Sisters. In 2004, it began airing same-day episodes of Days of Our Lives. Also in 2004, SOAPnet aired reruns of Paper Dolls. In 2005, it began to air reruns of Melrose Place and Beverly Hills 90210 as well as same-day episodes of "The Young and the Restless."

SOAPnet even has more original programming like Soap Center and Soap Talk. Soap Talk was nominated for several Daytime Emmy awards and it was hosted by former Melrose Place star, Lisa Rinna and former One Life to Live star, Ty Treadway. Today, my favorite recurring reality show is I Wanna be s Soap Star, hosted by All My Children hunk, Cameron Mathison. I used to watch 1 Day With, hosted by former General Hospital star, Wally Kurth, where he actually spent a day with one of your favorite soap opera stars.

In 2007, SOAPnet aired a prime-time spin-off of General Hospital called, General Hospital: Night Shift. Today, SOAPnet continues to air past episodes in thematic format like Daytime's Most Unforgettable Weddings and more.

Movies air on Sundays at 10 p.m., and they include Hitch; Fun with Dick and Jane; Sleepless in Seattle; It Could Happen to You; Cruel Intentions 2; and more. Most of the movies shown showcase a young film or soap star in the making such as Brad Pitt (Mr. and Mrs. Smith); Dylan Walsh (Nip/Tuck), Tom Hanks (Forest Grump); Patrick Dempsey (Grey's Anatomy); and more.

SOAPnet's slogan is "The New Way to Watch Soaps," which is perfect for the working mom or dad, who wants to catch up on the latest soap opera happenings. If you love soaps as much as I do, look for it in your local television listings.

Learn more about this author, Onemargaret.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.