<Tr> <Th_colspan="2"> External links </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Td_colspan="2"> Website </Td> </Tr> <P> Days of Our Lives (also stylized as Days of our Lives; often abbreviated to DOOL or Days) is an American daytime soap opera broadcast on the NBC television network . It is one of the longest - running scripted television programs in the world, airing nearly every weekday since November 8, 1965 . It has since been syndicated to many countries around the world . Until the network's closure in 2013, Soapnet rebroadcast episodes of Days on a same - day basis each weeknight at 8: 00 and 10: 00 (Eastern and Pacific Time). The series was created by husband - and - wife team Ted Corday and Betty Corday . Irna Phillips was a story editor for Days of Our Lives and many of the show's earliest storylines were written by William J. Bell . </P> <P> Due to the series' success, it was expanded from 30 minutes to 60 minutes on April 21, 1975 . The series focuses on its core families, the Hortons and the Bradys . Several other families have been added to the cast, and many of them still appear on the show . Frances Reid, the matriarch of the series' Horton family remained with the show from its inception to her death on February 3, 2010 . Suzanne Rogers celebrated 40 years on Days of Our Lives in 2013, appearing on the show more or less since her first appearance in 1973 . Susan Seaforth Hayes is the only cast member to appear on Days of Our Lives in all five decades it has been on air . </P>

When did days of our lives first air