Coronation Street fans face a schedule shake-up tonight (Friday 7 August) as the ITV soap is replaced by live football coverage. The EFL Cup match between Middlesbrough and Wrexham kicks off at 8pm, with coverage expected to air from 7:30pm to 10:25pm on ITV1.
This means there is no early release episode on ITVX, which usually makes episodes available from 7am on the day of broadcast. The soap typically airs Monday to Friday at 8:30pm on ITV.
Soap schedule disruption
The football also impacts Emmerdale, which usually airs at 8pm before Coronation Street in ITV's soap "power hour". Both soaps are replaced by the EFL Cup Live tonight.
In better news, the soaps return to screens on Sunday (9 August), with Coronation Street airing an hour earlier than usual at 7:30pm, and Emmerdale following at 7:00pm.
Viewer reaction
Soap fans have expressed frustration on social media. One person said: "Thought things would go back to normal after the World Cup ended? Unfortunately there's no Emmerdale or Coronation Street this Friday as the Carabao Cup airs on ITV1."
Another account replied: "Oh for god's sake it's a joke", while a different viewer put: "That didn’t last long being football free did it" and another added: "Football should have its own channel!!!!"
ITV defends soap strategy
Previously discussing the new "power hour" of soaps, Kevin Lygo, director of television at ITV, said: "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.
"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."
"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 ITV and ITVX.
