America's ABC network says its last remaining daytime soap opera, "General Hospital," will air an hour earlier starting in September.

The series, which won five Daytime Emmy Awards last season, has played at 3 p.m. ET weekdays for decades.

As of Sept. 10, it will be broadcast at 2 p.m. ET since Katie Couric's new syndicated daytime talk show is expected to air in the 3 p.m. time-slot in numerous markets.

"General Hospital" will celebrate its golden anniversary April 1, 2013.

"Approaching 50 historic years on ABC, 'General Hospital' is the longest-running American soap opera currently in production and the third longest-running drama in American television history," the network said in a news release Tuesday. (c) UPI