Lever Brothers, et al. Missed the Boat Here

The term "soap opera" as applied here in the United States is defined as "a metaphor applied to any narrative that appears to be excessively laced with emotion and contains unlikely dramatic twists." That according to Wikipedia (not necessarily the best source, but good enough for this post)
Such programming has existed in the national consciousness for a long time. Sponsored by Procer and Gamble, Coplgate-Palmolive and Lever Brothers, the dramatic serial presentations dominated the TV airwaves and continue to do so today though the audience has changed somewhat. Time magazine featured "The Days of Our Lives" on its cover 'way back in 1976.It used to be aimed at housewives stuck at home and longing for any kind of excitement in their lives that did not involve poopy diapers, vomit or hundreds of loads of wash...which, I admit, CAN be exciting, but not on an everyday basis.
Each story line involved an open-ended narrative with stories spanning several (and sometimes many) episodes. This was designed to keep folks coming back for the next installment, I suspect, though most people knew the programming was merely fiction. I got a little creeped out when my father began referring to a particular program as "my show" (as in, "I've got to be home by one to see my show.") Fortunately, retirement has been somewhat more interesting for me in that I don't have my own show yet, but I do have Wendi Nix. And that's why it's been so amazing to me that the soap manufacturers have not picked up on the potential goldmine that exists for them here in Green Bay.
One cannot watch any kind of programming here without a minute-by-minute update on the continuing saga that is the Brett Favre vs the Packers storyline. Wendi Nix has been here representing ESPN for the last week, and she was here again today, repeating virtually the same storyline every half hour. So, it stands to reason that advertisers could make a killing over the next few months (if you think this story is almost over, you have not been watching daytime TV).
Think about it: open-ended, long-running (3 years and counting) narrative episodes, almost vitriolic emotion involved, daytime (and nightly) programming, and definite unlikely dramatic twists.
You can see I'm right, can't you. If we can see it, why haven't the soap manufacturers seen it and capitalized?
Hmmmmmm.