Just days after receiving the backing of the network chairman, NBC has officially announced that Days of our Lives has been renewed. NBC Entertainment President Jennifer Salke made the announcement today, just two days before the network's only daytime soap broadcasts its 12,000th episode.

"We are thrilled to announce that Days of Our Lives is not going anywhere. It is NBC's longest-running drama series by far and is one of the most historic brands in television," said Salke in a press release. "We commend Ken Corday and the entire creative team on continuing to keep the stories and characters fresh, exciting and relevant year after year."

Over the weekend, during NBC's presentation at the Television Critics Association's winter press tour, the network's chairman, Robert Greenblatt, told reporters that DAYS' place in the NBC daytime lineup was almost certainly a done deal.

"I think DAYS is going to stick around," Greenblatt remarked, before dialing it back a bit. "I don't know that I'm at liberty to say that officially yet, but it's not going anywhere."

Days of our Lives, which is co-owned by Corday Productions and Sony Pictures Television, has been a fixture on NBC since 1965.

"Days of our Lives has maintained a loyal and dedicated fan base for more than four decades and continues to reach a new generation of viewers," Sony Television's president Steve Mosko stated. "We appreciate NBC's support over the years and, as the show celebrates this significant milestone, we are thrilled that the show will continue to be a part of the NBC family."

Days of our Lives was created by Ted and Betty Corday. Their son, Ken, is currently the show's executive producer.

"After so many years in the homes and hearts of our loyal fans, I'm both humbled and elated to say it's 2013 and we're still going strong," said Corday. "I am equally proud that the sense of family which my mom and dad established in our show 48 years ago, is still what drives it today. As we celebrate our 12,000th episode with an amazing cast and great support from our network, we look forward to what's yet to come!"

In 2007, Jeff Zucker, then-president of NBC Universal Television, announced that DAYS was "unlikely to continue [on NBC] past 2009."

DAYS's renewal will run through September 2014.