Capitol (TV series)
"Capitol" debuted on CBS in 1982 in 8th place in the ratings, roughly the same as "Search for Tomorrow" had done. "Capitol" remained in the middle of the ratings pack throughout its five-year run ranking between 7th and 9th, with its best ratings points of 6.4 achieved in the 1983-1984 television season, in which it ranked 8th. In 1985, ratings fell slightly from a 5.8 to a 5.1, prompting some CBS affiliates to drop the show. CBS subsequently canceled the show and replaced it with "The Bold and the Beautiful" on March 23, 1987. However, CBS put "The Bold and the Beautiful" in the 1:30/12:30 timeslot, bumping "As the World Turns" to 2/1. "The Bold and the Beautiful" became both CBS' and America's second-highest rated soap opera, but its ratings never surpassed "Capitol" ratings peak.
The Bold and the Beautiful
Upon its debut as the replacement of former soap opera "Capitol" in the CBS Daytime lineup, "The Bold and the Beautiful" ended eighth in the final year ratings. Initially CBS' lowest-rated soap, its numbers were still respectable and began to climb. By 1992, after a successful crossover involving villain Sheila Carter from "The Young and the Restless", it had climbed to third. By the mid-to-late 1990s, following yet another crossover, it moved up to second and has consistently remained there since. Throughout the 2000s (decade), "The Bold and the Beautiful" and all the other remaining network daytime dramas have witnessed a steady erosion of viewers, mainly due to vastly altered viewing habits induced by cable networks and alternative genres such as reality, court shows, and talk shows on minor network affiliates.