Soap fans were left fuming after ITV announced a scheduling reshuffle for its flagship dramas Emmerdale and Coronation Street due to the FIFA World Cup. The shows typically air at 8pm and 8.30pm during weekdays, but alterations have been implemented to accommodate the football matches.
No Episodes on Monday
ITV shared a statement on Instagram confirming that neither Emmerdale nor Coronation Street will be shown on Monday, June 29. The post read: "Team Soap fans, here's your fixture changes for this week!" From Tuesday through Friday, Emmerdale will air at 7.15pm, while Coronation Street will broadcast from 8.15pm to 8.45pm.
Viewer Reactions
Numerous viewers expressed displeasure on social media. One wrote: "It does my head in that things get moved for football. We are not all fans." Another remarked: "I do not understand in an age of stream everything why do soaps have to miss days? Surely boomers like me can stream." A third pleaded: "Please ITV can we upload episodes onto ITVX at the beginning of the week and not have this malarkey going on! It's very stressful for people like me who are autistic and need routine."
Some proposed compromises: "Can't we just miss the soaps only when England plays," while another confessed they were "sick" of the football. One viewer declared: "Football should go on the sports channels because that's what it's classified as, so put it on there, you're going to get the same figures." Another said: "I just don't get why they can't put them on ITV2 or on ITVX instead of messing soap fans around. Plus I don't understand why we need to show every single game if it's not a home game."
Some Fans Appreciate the Schedule
However, not all fans were unhappy. One commented: "At least we have almost every day not only three like the past week, I am so glad for this." Another highlighted: "For some people football really helps their mental health. Football isn't just simply people kicking a ball around the pitch."
Emmerdale and Coronation Street air on ITV.
