What is a soap opera?

Soap operas are known for well produced ficton. They are programmes that tell reality stories, so that the viewers can relate to all situations that happen in the programme.
Each soap opera have a big cast of characters to really complete the whole of the drama being expressed within each episode.
TV dramas have a big impact and effect on the viewers due to promising that the drama will be continued in the next episode. This is by the viewers being left with a cliff-hanger episode endings.

Many magazines, websites and talk shows are dedicated to talk about the genres of the dramas and this publication is to keep all viewers on track of whats happening or going to happen within the episodes.

History of Soap Operas.
The word 'soap' is a slang word for dramas which have been created in this style since the 1930's. Around this time, several soap companies had their drama sponsored on serial radio dramas, which aired for 15 minutes to half an hour everyday. By this happening, they collectively became 'soaps'. Through the fame of being aired on the radio, and being advertised the soaps became a weekly TV show and was shown everyday.
The most popular audience for the radio were housewives. Around this time, very few married women went out to work so stayed at home and done the domestic role of housework. This also made them the perfect audience for the companies that advertised soaps and cleaning products.
Soap Operas were invested due to an idea of companies dedicating them to a female audience and aired the Soap Operas to entertain the housewives whilst they spend their time at home.
'Soap Opera' was a name created because the programmes were simply sponsored by soap companies and 'Opera' because just like Operas themselves, they are dramatic and larger than life.
The soap and radio companies realized how popular and how cheap they were to produce to decided it would be a good idea to broadcast all around the country.
In America, after the war, radio soaps became less popular and all attention was drawn to the new invention which was a Television. Companies found that advertising would be better on TV than a radio, so by the mid 1950's, radio soaps were dead. The soaps were played 5 times a week and just like before, the target audience were women and the soaps were broadcasted in the week.
The first Soap Opera was broadcasted in Britain.