ITV has confirmed scheduling changes for its flagship soaps Emmerdale and Coronation Street due to the FIFA World Cup, leaving many fans frustrated. Typically airing at 8pm and 8.30pm on weeknights in what ITV calls the "soaps power hour," both shows will not broadcast on Monday, June 29. From Tuesday to Friday, Emmerdale will air at 7.15pm, while Coronation Street will be shown between 8.15pm and 8.45pm.
Fan Reactions on Social Media
ITV posted the schedule changes on Instagram, leading to a wave of complaints. One viewer commented: "It does my head in that things get moved for football. We are not all fans." Another wrote: "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."
Suggestions from Viewers
Some suggested airing soaps on ITV2 or ITVX instead of rescheduling. One viewer said: "Football should go on the sports channels because that's what it's classified as, so put it on there." Another added: "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."
Mixed Reactions
However, not all fans were upset. One expressed relief: "At least we have almost every day not only three like the past week, I am so glad for this." Another noted: "For some people football really helps their mental health. Football isn't just simply people kicking a ball around the pitch."
