why have reality shows replaced soap operas?

funny how we all use to watch soap operas to escape from reality, but nowadays even more so the tables have been turned. so many old school soap operas are biting the dust meanwhile more reality tv keeps going on and i ask why that is? well its cheaper to film reality tv for one and also you don't have to worry about a demanding ego to boot. back in the day a cliffhanger was worth turning into next week or you had to wait until the fall came back for the results, nowadays almost all of these reality tv shows are a cliffhanger and things are put out fast and furious with little to no meaning. i'll take the soap opera over the real life reality ones any day because the reality tv segement is more drama Queen than good drama queen.