I read that Days of Our Lives has been renewed for a 55th season.

Since Soap Operas are on basically 52 week a year, when it is a “new season” for them? Is it in May or September? What is the first day or week of a new season?

The same with morning shows like Today or Good Morning America. When is it a new season for them? Are these shows up for review every year? These shows will never be cancelled so is there a new season? How does this work?

I know the Young and the Restless starts their season in the fall around September.

It depends on when the shows production contract begins and ends, but typically soap opera seasons are based on calendar years. So a full season of episodes airs throughout the year and ends in December.

The same with morning shows like Today or Good Morning America. When is it a new season for them? Are these shows up for review every year? These shows will never be cancelled so is there a new season? How does this work?



These shows all are part of production contracts that last a specific amount of time and are constantly under review by the networks for ratings performance and cost factors.

Contracts however specific a number of episodes (or months) the show is under contract for, after that period of time the show is either renewed or cancelled.

A new season refers to the production season, when the show is producing new episodes under a new contract. If you see a show mention on-air they are starting a new season, or you see promos for a new season it usually just means they've started a new production contract.