While "ratings for the soaps have been dropping for years, " says Marc Berman, editor-in-chief of TV Media Insights, last year's cancellation of ABC's "One Life to Live" and "All My Children" was a real blow.
For instance, those going to the Nickelodeon channel slot will see alternative choices for children's programming such as The Disney Channel, ABC Family, Cartoon Network, PBS Sprout, The Hub and Boomerang.