英语文摘:ABC cancels two soap operas

BEIJING, April 15 (Xinhuanet) -- ABC television Friday announced it will cancel two of its three long-running daytime soap operas, media reports said.

ABC said the two dramas, "All My Children" and "One Life to Live", would be replaced by new programing focused on "transformation, food and lifestyle."

It added that audience research had shown that these issues were of more interest to viewers.

The final episodes of the two shows will air in September 2011 and January 2012 respectively, ABC said in a statement.

The move leaves "General Hospital", the second-most popular show in daytime TV, as ABC's only daytime drama.

Soap operas have slowly been fading as a TV force, with many of the women who made up the target audience now in the work force.