Why are soap operas called as such?

Question

Why are soap operas called as such? Do they have anything to do with soap at all or is it something metaphorical?

Answer 1

Great question! In early TV most of the ads during daytime television were directed at women homemakers as they were the main people at home watching TV who had purchasing power. Men wouldn't have admitted they watched these shows and the producers were targeting women with ads from sponsors. The mains sponsors of these shows were mostly selling soap - products to wash clothes, dishes, etc. So these shows got the nickname "soaps" and "soap operas" because of all the drama.