Emmerdale viewers must adjust to a revised schedule as the long-running ITV soap, alongside Coronation Street, is moved to accommodate World Cup broadcasts. The Yorkshire-based series, which debuted in 1972, typically airs at 8pm on weekdays for 30 minutes, leading into Coronation Street as part of the broadcaster's 'soap power hour' introduced earlier this year amid budget cuts.
World Cup Disruption
With the global sporting event taking centre stage, fans will face new timings due to extended football coverage. On Thursday night, both Emmerdale and Coronation Street are off air to make way for the Mexico vs South Africa match, with no episode broadcast that evening.
Instead, Emmerdale returns on Friday at 8pm for a full hour, followed by Coronation Street from 9pm to 10pm. The soap will not air over the weekend and returns on Monday 15 June at 8pm for another hour-long episode. A further hour-long episode airs on Tuesday at 8pm, compressing four episodes into two broadcasts.
Fan Reaction
Soap fans took to social media to remind bosses of previous World Cup solutions, where episodes were made available on ITVX ahead of time. However, on Thursday, no Emmerdale episode was available on the streaming service at 7am, as is usual on linear broadcast days.
One fan wrote on X: 'Last World Cup @ITV had a proven plan to upload a full week of #Emmerdale on the Monday to the Hub (@ITVX) to reduce the impact. Have you got a plan this time?' Another said: 'Nothing tonight oh joy the football is on!'
A third commented: 'I don't mind the football tonight cos that means 2 hours of #Emmerdale and #Corrie tomorrow, but what am I supposed to watch tonight?' A fourth raged: 'ITV has so many channels they could put football on without interrupting soap schedules. Not everyone enjoys football.'
Emmerdale airs weeknights at 8pm on ITV1 and ITVX.
