1980s
1979–1980 Season
- 1. General Hospital 9.9 (10.5 million)
- 2. All My Children 9.2
- 3. The Young and the Restless 8.8
- 4. One Life to Live 8.7
- 5. Guiding Light 8.3
- 6. As the World Turns 7.9
- 7. Search for Tomorrow 7.6
- 8. Another World 7.1
- 9. Ryan's Hope 7.0
- 10. Days of our Lives 6.6
- 11. The Doctors 6.1
- 12. The Edge of Night 5.3
- 13. Love of Life 3.5 (Final Season; ended February 1, 1980)
1980–1981 Season
- 1. General Hospital 11.4 (14 million viewers)
- 2. All My Children 9.1
- 2. One Life to Live 9.1
- 4. Guiding Light 8.2
- 5. As the World Turns 7.9
- 6. The Young and the Restless 7.8
- 7. Ryan's Hope 6.7
- 8. Search for Tomorrow 6.3
- 9. Days of our Lives 5.6
- 10. Another World 5.1
- 11. The Edge of Night 5.0
- 12. The Doctors 3.8
- 12. Texas (spin-off of Another World) 3.8 (Debut August 4, 1980)
1981–1982 Season
- 1. General Hospital 11.2 (averaged 13.8 million viewers, according to David Gritten of People Weekly)
- 2. All My Children 9.4 (10 million viewers)
- 3. One Life to Live 9.3
- 4. Guiding Light 8.0
- 5. The Young and the Restless 7.4
- 5. As the World Turns 7.4
- 7. Ryan's Hope 6.9
- 8. Search for Tomorrow 6.8 (CBS, ending March 26, 1982)
- 9. Capitol 5.8 (Debut)
- 10. Days of our Lives 5.5
- 11. The Edge Of Night 5.0
- 12. Another World 4.7
- 13. Texas 3.6
- 14. Search for Tomorrow 3.4 (NBC, debut March 29, 1982)
- 15. The Doctors 3.3
1982–1983 Season
- 1. General Hospital 9.8 (11.4 million viewers)
- 2. All My Children 9.4
- 3. One Life to Live 8.1
- 4. The Young and the Restless 8.0
- 5. As the World Turns 7.6
- 6. Guiding Light 7.4
- 7. Capitol 6.0
- 8. Days of our Lives 5.7
- 9. Ryan's Hope 5.6
- 10. Another World 4.8
- 11. The Edge of Night 3.8
- 12. Texas 2.7 (Final Season; ended December 31, 1982)
- 12. Search for Tomorrow 2.7
- 14. The Doctors 1.6 (Final Season; ended December 31, 1982)
1983–1984 Season
- 1. General Hospital 10.0 (11.3 million viewers)
- 2. All My Children 9.1
- 3. The Young and the Restless 8.8
- 4. One Life to Live 8.2
- 5. Guiding Light 8.1
- 6. As the World Turns 7.9
- 7. Days of our Lives 7.1
- 8. Capitol 6.4
- 9. Another World 5.6
- 10. Ryan's Hope 5.0
- 11. Loving 3.9
- 12. The Edge of Night 3.5
- 13. Search for Tomorrow 3.2
- 14. Santa Barbara 3.1 (Debut July 30, 1984)
1984–1985 Season
- 1. General Hospital 9.1 (10.7 million viewers)
- 2. All My Children 8.2
- 3. The Young and the Restless 8.1
- 4. Guiding Light 7.5
- 5. One Life to Live 7.3
- 6. As the World Turns 7.1
- 6. Days of Our Lives 7.1
- 8. Capitol 5.8
- 9. Another World 5.5
- 10. Loving 4.1
- 11. Ryan's Hope 3.4
- 11. Santa Barbara 3.4
- 13. Search for Tomorrow 3.3
- 14. The Edge of Night 2.6 (Final Season; ended December 28, 1984)
1985–1986 Season
- 1. General Hospital 9.2 (10.5 million viewers)
- 2. The Young and the Restless 8.3
- 3. All My Children 8.0
- 4. One Life to Live 7.8
- 5. Days of our Lives 7.2
- 6. Guiding Light 6.8
- 7. As the World Turns 6.7
- 8. Capitol 5.1
- 8. Another World 5.1
- 10. Loving 4.2
- 10. Santa Barbara 4.2
- 12. Ryan's Hope 3.2
- 13. Search for Tomorrow 2.9
1986–1987 Season
- 1. General Hospital 8.3 (9.9 million viewers)
- 2. The Young and the Restless 8.0
- 3. One Life to Live 7.2
- 4. All My Children 7.0
- 4. Days of our Lives 7.0
- 4. As the World Turns 7.0
- 7. Guiding Light 6.3
- 8. The Bold and the Beautiful 5.6 (Debut March 23, 1987)
- 9. Capitol 5.2 (Final Season)
- 10. Another World 5.1
- 11. Santa Barbara 4.2
- 12. Loving 3.9
- 13. Ryan's Hope 2.7
- 14. Search for Tomorrow 2.5 (Final Season; ended December 26, 1986)
1987–1988 Season
- 1. General Hospital 8.1 (8.7 million viewers)
- 1. The Young and the Restless 8.1 (8.5 million viewers)
- 3. One Life to Live 7.7
- 3. All My Children 7.7
- 5. Days of our Lives 7.1
- 6. As the World Turns 6.6
- 7. Guiding Light 6.2
- 8. The Bold and the Beautiful 5.4
- 9. Another World 5.1
- 10. Santa Barbara 4.9
- 11. Loving 3.5
- 12. Ryan's Hope 2.8
1988–1989 Season
- 1. The Young and the Restless 8.1 (8.4 million viewers)
- 2. General Hospital 7.5 (3:30-4:00 PM: 7.7) (8.1 million viewers)
- 3. One Life to Live 7.1
- 4. All My Children 6.7 (1:30-2:00 PM: 6.9)
- 5. Days of our Lives 6.5 (1:30-2:00 PM: 6.7)
- 6. As the World Turns 6.4
- 7. Guiding Light 6.2
- 8. The Bold and the Beautiful 5.7
- 9. Another World 5.0
- 10. Santa Barbara 4.8
- 11. Loving 3.7
- 12. Generations 2.7 (Debut)
- 13. Ryan's Hope 2.4 (Final Season)
1980s Rankings: #1: General Hospital; #2: All My Children; #3: One Life to Live
Read more about this topic: List Of US Daytime Soap Opera Ratings