NIGHTLINE: Hard Times Come To Soap City

In a new story by John Berman and Steven Baker, "Tears in Soap City Starting to Look Real," ABC News takes a look at the state of soap operas today.

As soap fans, we have read this story before, with it being pointed out how ratings have fallen, actors are taking pay cuts and shows are in danger of cancellation. It would be nice if more of the positives were pointed out like how the genre is thriving in prime time, how some shows have actually gained viewers over the past year and that predictions of doom have been made in the past but never come true. The continuing drama will never go away. They daytime versions may end up thriving online or on cable.

It's the Great Recession.

"It is hitting Pine Valley, we are not unique," said Julie Hanan Carruthers, the show's executive producer.

So far, the tough economic times haven't actually worked their way into the soaps' ever-evolving plot lines. But behind the scenes, daytime shows face tighter budgets, shrunken ad revenues and competition for viewer attention from new media.

"The recession has affected everything and obviously, you know, my big challenge is, how do you tighten a budget and not see it on the air?" said Hanan Carruthers.

Susan Lucci commented on her pay cut.

"Everyone has pitched in, and everyone has stepped up to the plate, and we've tightened where we can," said Lucci. "I've felt it in a couple of ways, there's some missing faces on the studio floor, and that's sad because we really are an ensemble here, from top to bottom, not just the company of actors but the crew, very much so."

John Valentini believes it is more difficult to hold viewer's attention these days with the advances in media technology.

"I think the biggest challenge for the media is it is so fragmented right now that people are either multi-tasking, surfing the Net, texting, talking on the phone all at once," said Valentini. "So, I think to truly capture their attention for the 45 minutes a day, and not just those 45 minutes that day, but for the five days and the following weeks ... once a story starts, it has to start with a bang and then go from there."

Soap's secret weapon is their committed fans.

"In a bad economy, that's when the audience really wants to watch something that really helps," Lucci said. "The escape is in some ways instructive, and is also really hopeful, exciting and fun."

Apprently this will be a topic of conversation on NIGHTLINE tonight at 11:35pm ET on ABC.