ITV schedule chaos as soaps are pulled yet again and fans have had enough

It’s barely been a month (although, with it being January, that month has felt like four) since ITV soaps Coronation Street and Emmerdale kicked off their brand new transmission pattern, dubbed the ‘soap power hour’, that took effect after the earth-shattering Corriedale cross over.

At the start of January, Emmerdale and Coronation Street began airing back-to-back from 8pm, Monday to Friday, with both soaps losing a weekly episode.

Following audience research, bosses concluded that 30 minute episodes attracted higher audience figures throughout 2024.

ITV’s Managing Director of Media and Entertainment Kevin Lygo previously 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, pay-off and resolution.

‘Whilst viewing is growing on ITVX, we know a significant proportion of our soaps’ audience still watch us via the schedule. This new pattern is in the DNA of the soap genre – nobody else does 30 minute drama this successfully.’

It’s unfortunate that the scheduling is being impacted by sports already but alas, that will be the issue fans face again, this time at the start of February.

Here’s everything you need to know.

Why are Emmerdale and Coronation Street’s schedules changing?

In the week commencing Monday, February 2, both soaps will be off air for two nights.

On Tuesday, February 3, the Arsenal v Chelsea match as part of the Carabao Cup will air from 7:30pm, meaning there won’t be any room for our usual trips to Weatherfield and the Dales.

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Two days later (Thursday, February 5), both soaps won’t be broadcasted due to a Six Nations match between France and Ireland.

Of course, you don’t have to just watch the soaps as they air on ITV1, as they are uploaded to YouTube and ITVX each day.

Fans react to ITV’s latest schedule change

Soaps fans have, quite understandably, been left seriously irked by the changes.

Taking to social media to vent their anger, one viewer said: ‘I am fed up of soaps being cancelled due to football. Can’t they put the games on a dedicated ‘free’ channel?’, while a further two agreed by adding: ‘This is so painful. There are very few shows that I like to watch but they keep being shunted’ and ‘This whole new schedule is a ploy to tear our beloved soap episodes away from us’.

Lamenting the switch, another viewer said: ‘I remember the times we used to get episodes moved to other times because of the football (even last year), but now it seems like the new standard is simply no episode at all on the football/sports days!’

A further commenter agreed: ‘This is stupid. So they already cut all the extra episodes going from 6 to 5 per week. Now every other week it seems they lose another episode. So in 2026 how many fewer episodes will there really be compared to 2025.’