NBC Extends Days Of Our Lives 18 Months

NBC has inked a deal to extend its run of daytime soap opera Days of Our Lives. But in a sign of uncertain times for the daytime soap audience, the network’s pickup runs just 18 months. The previous renewal deal had a five-year term. NBC’s current deal for Days of Our Lives was set to expire in March, which means the new arrangement will keep the soap on the network only through September 2010. However, it’s understood that another year will be triggered if certain perameters on the show are met. That would keep the show on the air through September 2011. Shortened renewal comes as the economics of daytime TV – particularly soap operas – continue to decline. NBC has gradually eliminated most of its daytime soap operas, most recently moving Passions to DirecTV, before eventually pulling the plug on that show altogether.