It’s official, soap fans are seething at sport and the rage comments are wild

It’s all kicking off among Metro readers ahead of yet another evening of soap schedule disruption, with Coronation Street and Emmerdale being taken off air for the second time this week.

Fans have taken to Metro‘s Facebook comments to share their anger, with words like ‘disgusting’ and ‘disgrace’ being thrown into the mix.

It was only a month ago that ITV launched its brand new soaps ‘power hour’, with both Corrie and Emmerdale cutting down their output to five half-hour episodes per week.

We were just starting to get used to the new schedule when we were hit by further changes this week.

ITV has booted both shows out of their usual slots to air the Six Nations rugby match between France and Ireland this evening, once again sparking the age-old debate – should our soaps be affected by sports coverage?

It’s safe to say that Metro readers are very passionate about this topic, and there were some strong arguments in support of keeping our soaps on the air…

ITV has more than one channel

Metro readers have made a very valid point in favour of leaving our soaps exactly where they are: Put the sports on a different channel!

There are countless dedicated sports channels around, but even without those, there are numerous ITV channels that could air live sports.

‘When ITV have four terrestrial channels there’s no need to disrupt programmes on their main channel,’ Metro reader Simon argued.

‘Sport should be on their own sports channels. STOP TAKING THE SOAPS OFF. WE DONT ALL WANT TO WATCH SPORT,’ Diane passionately agreed.

And it isn’t just soap fans who share this opinion, with John offering a viewpoint as someone who enjoys both.

‘I love my football. I also like watching emmerdale and corrie. Why can’t tv put football on another channel or make another channel for sport then everyone will be happy. Not everyone likes football or any other sport.’

Tracey shared this opinion, adding: ‘I watch the soaps & like football too, but I think the soaps should be on in their regular spots & the sport shown elsewhere.’

However, this argument goes both ways. While there are plenty of channels that could show the sports, the same could be said for the soaps, as several readers pointed out.

‘Just move them to itv2 instead of taking them off problem solved,’ Donna suggested, while Rachel said: ‘Maybe the soaps can be moved to ITV2 when sports on, so we can still watch them.’

Meanwhile, Carol has suggested an entire soap channel, and honestly, we’d be fully in support of that!

Even readers who don’t watch soaps or sport were backing the soap fans, with David writing: ‘I watch neither but there is room for both. With all these sports channels and streaming services I don’t understand regular TV being disrupted by it. I haven’t got a dog in this fight but be fair.’

Make up for lost time

Other Metro readers aren’t worried about the schedule disruption, but believe we should still get the same amount of soap viewing time per week, no matter what day the episodes air.

‘Why not show a hour long episode the previous day makes sense,’ Martin suggested, while Carol shared a similar sentiment: ‘Couldnt we have extra episodes the next day to make up for the night before.’

‘It’s ok as long as we get a hours worth of soaps the next day. They’ve already been moved to a later slot , and we only get half hours now,’ Ian added.

Dee had a different solution, sharing: ‘Think they should put soaps on earlier if football is going to be on, then everyone would be happy.’

‘Put soaps on first sport after,’ Susan agreed, while Carol echoed: ‘Put the soaps on earlier win win situation.’

Nowadays, soap episodes are released on streaming sites in the morning, ahead of their TV broadcast that evening. While EastEnders sometimes keeps its BBC iPlayer schedule the same even when the evening broadcast is affected, ITV prefers to air its ITVX releases on the same day as the TV broadcast, meaning viewers have to wait even longer for their soap fix.

‘I don’t get why still can’t be put onto ITVX least then we don’t have to miss out,’ Kelly said, while Helen agreed: ‘Awful put it on itvx then they can watch that if they want to.’

Metro reader Denise had another good point, writing: ‘It doesn’t worry me usually as I record them n watch at weekends but with this new format, im struggling to think how they will keep up with showing the episodes.’

It’s always the soaps!

Some soap fans couldn’t help but get frustrated by the fact that it always seems to be the soaps that are affected by the football.

‘Annoyed but resigned to the fact that soap always gets cancelled. I wouldn’t mind but it’s the hour before and after the game that gets on my nerves,’ Yvonne explained, while Jude thought it was ‘disgusting,’ continuing: ‘Why is it it’s always the soaps and they run regularly every week so football…… do one!!’

‘It’s always the soaps they take off it’s not fair, I’m sure there are other things they can change,’ Lorraine echoed.

The soaps are supposed to maintain a regular schedule, and Mick argued that this should be respected: ‘If a program has a regular slot then that’s it fit around it.’

Of course, sports broadcast times do have a lot to do with kick-off and match starting times, but it is certainly frustrating for soap fans when they continually fall at the same time.

However, Loz made a valid point, writing: ‘Soaps are pre recorded so can be put on at any time but sport is live and at set times so hence why it’s easier to move soaps to another time/day.’

Turning the tables

Soap viewers are also calling for sports fans to consider how they’d feel if the shoe were on the other foot, and their sports matches were replaced by the soaps.

‘How would people feel if it was the other way round?’ Angela asked, while David added: ‘How would they like it if we put Coronation Street on sky sports?’

‘How abouts when football events are scheduled…… how do fans feel about football slots being replaced with soaps?’ Kirsty agreed.

‘They probably say the same about soaps but to be fair, sport isn’t taken off the television for soaps. We just have to share and play nicely,’ Donna mediated.

Sports fans have their say

It would be remiss of us not to give sports fans a voice in this debate, and as much as it pains this soaps reporter to admit it, some do make valid arguments.

‘To be fair ITV exists on advertising revenue and the bigger the audience income will increase. Like it or not sports helps pay for soap production with the increase in revenue,’ David pointed out. (Yes, this is a different David to the two previously mentioned Davids.)

Faye agreed, adding: ‘It’s really not that big of a deal. If the sports weren’t on tv, there wouldn’t be any money for the soaps. So if you like the soaps you won’t mind missing episodes here and there.’

Other fans argued that it’s only fair for the sports to take the prime-time spot every now and then.

‘It’s only occasionally. So no worries,’ Harry said, while Alison agreed: ‘It’s fine it’s not as if it’s every week’.

‘Soaps can easily by rescheduled and they are on multiple times in the week. Missing one day isn’t going to hurt,’ Paul added.

So, should sports replace soaps?

Well, after all of that, it seems Metro readers are never going to agree, but as soap reporters, we live for the drama, and we’ve had a great time hearing everyone’s points of view.

Of course, the Metro Soaps team are always going to side with our favourite dramas, but even the Metro Sports team are sympathetic, adding: ‘We actually understand, sport is a beast that’s impossible to keep tabs on as well, so full solidarity with soap fans.’

What an unexpected twist! Enough to rival any soap cliffhanger.

Honestly, we can’t stop thinking about the concept of a dedicated soap channel. What a life that would be…

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