Coronation Street fans have been left furious after the soap announced a significant scheduling update. The ITV programme first hit screens back in 1960, created by the late Tony Warren. As the world's longest-running soap opera, Corrie has remained a fixture on British television for decades.
Power hour schedule shake-up
Earlier this year, ITV launched its new "power hour" soap schedule, with Coronation Street and Emmerdale shifting to a revised broadcasting pattern, which left viewers divided. From Monday to Friday, 30-minute Emmerdale episodes air at 8pm, followed by 30-minute Coronation Street episodes at 8.30pm. Both are also available to stream from 7am on ITVX.
However, on Wednesday (August 11) both soaps were displaced from their regular timeslot. The scheduling shake-up came as a result of ITV broadcasting live coverage of the Manchester United and Leeds football match, reports the Daily Star. The soaps returned to screens on Thursday (August 12) when Coronation Street aired at 8:30pm, with Emmerdale airing at 8pm.
Viewers react to disruption
Confirming the schedule change, Coronation Street posted on social media: "No episode tonight, but we'll be back tomorrow at 8:30pm on ITV1, or stream from 7am on ITVX and YouTube!". Unsurprisingly, viewers were incensed at yet another scheduling disruption. One person said: "This is a wind-up to put football on a different channel." Another added: "With all the channels we have, surely they could put football on one of those instead of interfering with the soaps. Boils my pee how everything stops for blokes kicking a football about for 90 minutes! ! ! ! !" Sharing similar sentiments, a third person added: "Cos it's bloody football AGAIN. Haven't we had enough already?" While a fourth commented: "I'm sick of all this messing around because of football."
ITV defends new pattern
Previously discussing the new "power hour" of soaps, Kevin Lygo, ITV's director of television, explained: "The new commissioning pattern is viewer-led. We already give more choice than ever to viewers on how they watch us through ITVX and we want to present their favourite soap to them in the most digestible way." He continued: "In a world where there is so much competition for viewers' time and attention, and viewing habits continue to change, we believe this is the right amount of episodes that fans can fit into their viewing schedule to keep up to date with the shows." He added: "Research insights also show us that soap viewers are increasingly looking to the soaps for their pacey storytelling. Streaming-friendly, 30-minute episodes better provide the opportunity to meet viewer expectations for storyline pace, payoff and resolution." Coronation Street airs Monday to Friday at 8:30pm on ITV1 and ITVX.
