NEW YORK, June 30 (UPI) -- ABC is pulling the plug on its daytime serial "Port Charles" as of Oct. 3, the Hollywood Reporter said Monday
The network plans to return the show's half-hour time slot to its affiliate stations.
"Port Charles," a spinoff of ABC's long-running "General Hospital," debuted in June 1997. The show performed respectably in the ratings in its early years but has been hampered by erratic scheduling on ABC stations because of its half-hour format.
"This was an extremely difficult decision," ABC Daytime president Brian Frons said. "We were very pleased with the creative execution of the show but the 30-minute format in this time period posed significant financial challenges, which ultimately led to this decision."
Affiliates gave up an extra half-hour of their daytime lineup to ABC in 1997 to make room for "Port Charles." With the show's weak ratings, ABC affiliates are likely to welcome the opportunity to reclaim that daytime real estate.
