When Days of Our Lives transitioned from broadcast television to exclusive streaming in 2022, the entertainment world held its breath. Would a daytime soap opera — a format born in the age of radio and perfected on afternoon television — be able to flourish on a streaming service? The answer, as the numbers now show, is a resounding yes.
Between 2024 and 2025, DOOL achieved staggering streaming performance, accumulating billions of minutes viewed and consistently ranking among the platform’s most-watched originals. Its 60th season alone generated nearly four billion minutes of viewing time within a seven-month period, outperforming numerous high-budget series and solidifying its position as one of the streaming service’s top performers.
This success is remarkable for several reasons. First, daytime soaps have traditionally relied on habitual appointment viewing — an audience tuning in at the same time every day. Moving to streaming, however, has unlocked entirely new viewing behaviors. Fans now binge multiple episodes at once, revisit classic storylines, and watch at their own pace. This has allowed younger audiences to discover the show, often becoming just as invested as long-time viewers.
Second, the streaming platform has given the writers freedom to push boundaries in terms of pacing, story structure, and even episode length. With no need to fit strict broadcast timings or commercial break patterns, DOOL can deliver stories that feel both modern and emotionally rich. This creative flexibility has paid off: viewers praise the show for feeling more dynamic while still maintaining its signature emotional depth.
Another factor behind DOOL’s streaming triumph is its global accessibility. While broadcast limitations once restricted viewership primarily to the United States, streaming has opened the doors for international audiences to follow the drama of Salem in real time. This expanded reach has contributed significantly to the show’s renewed popularity, particularly among younger viewers who prefer digital platforms.
The show’s high engagement numbers demonstrate something important about long-form serialized storytelling: it thrives in the streaming age. Viewers today love character-driven narratives, slow-burn romances, and long-term payoff — all hallmarks of soap operas. DOOL, with its decades of character history and emotional investment, provides an experience no limited series can replicate.
As the streaming era continues to reshape entertainment, Days of Our Lives stands as a shining example of how legacy television can not only survive, but reinvent itself and thrive. With renewed seasons ahead and a rapidly growing audience, the show proves that even in a world of ever-changing media trends, there is always room for timeless storytelling.
