( EW.com ) -- Though `` All My Children '' and `` One Life to Live '' are history , `` General Hospital '' -- for now -- is firmly ensconced in ABC 's daytime lineup . But since ratings are n't as strong as they used to be -- the show 's averaging a 1.1 rating among adults women 18-49 , down 21 percent from last year -- and given how Katie Couric 's syndicated talk show is coming to ABC stations this fall , it 's still possible that the good people of Port Charles may lose their home in daytime . But it could have a future in primetime : EW has confirmed that ABC entertainment chief Paul Lee is pondering one scenario that would allow the soap to air as an evening summer series . Not a bad thought , right ? Granted , it 's not exactly a new idea : CBS used to air primetime specials of `` The Young and the Restless '' that averaged anywhere from 11.5 million to 13.7 million . But those aired in the '90s , when there was far less competition for eyeballs . Even then , the network realized they were n't exactly bringing the house down so it stopped airing them after 1998 . It may be hard for ABC to pull off financially . At a reported $ 200,000 per episode , a primetime episode of `` GH '' is still a lot cheaper to make rather than an original for a scripted show ( which can ring in at well over $ 1 million ) . A move to summer nights would certainly buy ABC some good will with daytime fans , who are still reeling over the cancellations of `` AMC '' and `` OLTL '' -- especially since a plan to continue them online was quashed late last year . There 's always the chance that `` GH '' would stay put , but that 's looking unlikely . Back when Katie Couric 's talk show deal with ABC-Disney was announced , the company also said it would be giving the last hour of daytime back to its affiliates in September 2012 . That 's the hour currently occupied by `` General Hospital , '' which airs either at 2 p.m. or 3 p.m. across the country . Once it gives that fourth hour back to the stations , ABC will only have three to fill but four shows to do it with -- `` The View , '' `` General Hospital , '' `` The Chew '' and `` The Revolution . '' ( Couric will be airing on the ABC owned-and-operated stations ) . There 's a chance that one -- or both -- of the latter programs will fail , which means `` GH '' could continue to have a spot on the lineup . But lifestyle shows , unlike soaps , are more relevant and profitable . For one , they are cheaper to make . Two , they can spawn side businesses like cookbooks . The same ca n't be said for the aging daytime soap genre . See the full article at EW.com . CLICK HERE to Try 2 RISK FREE issues of Entertainment Weekly . © 2011 Entertainment Weekly and Time Inc. All rights reserved .
Time Inc. is averaging a 2 rating among adults , down 21 percent from summer . A primetime episode of GH is still a lot cheaper to make rather than an original . But lifestyle shows , unlike soaps , are more relevant and profitable .