Key Highlights
- Coronation Street is taken off tonight’s TV schedule due to coverage of the Carabao Cup.
- The second episode of the week will air on Thursday, October 30 instead of today.
- A full revamp of the broadcast schedule for Coronation Street and Emmerdale is planned for next year.
- New episodes of Coronation Street will be split into 30-minute segments airing every night.
Coronation Street Schedules Adjustment Due to Sports Coverage
ITV’s popular soap opera, Coronation Street, is facing a temporary schedule change this week due to the extensive coverage of the Carabao Cup. The show will not air tonight as planned, but viewers can catch up on Thursday evening when it resumes at 8 pm.
The second episode of the week has been moved back by one day following the live broadcast of the Newcastle United vs Tottenham Hotspur match. This coverage is set to take place on ITV1 starting from 7:30 pm, with an 8 pm kickoff time at St James’ Park.
The match will be presented by Mark Pougatch alongside Les Ferdinand and Andrew Cole.
Viewers should not worry too much about the disruption as Coronation Street is expected to return to its regular schedule on Friday night at 8 pm. This temporary change highlights how sports events can sometimes impact the broadcasting of other programs, especially when they attract significant public interest.
Upcoming Schedule Changes for Coronation Street
Beyond this week’s adjustments, there are broader plans in place to alter the broadcast schedule of both Coronation Street and its sister show, Emmerdale. According to Kevin Lygo, a senior executive at ITV, next year will see a shift towards 30-minute episodes airing every night.
The new format is being described as a “soaps power hour,” which means that each episode of both soaps will run for half the time, allowing viewers more frequent access to their favorite stories. This change aims to cater better to modern viewing habits and ensure that fans can keep up with the latest developments in these long-running drama series.
Lygo elaborated on the reasoning behind this decision: “The new commissioning pattern is viewer-led.
We already give more choice than ever to viewers on how they watch us through ITVX, but we want to present their favorite soap to them in the most digestible way.” He further added that these shorter episodes would help meet viewer expectations for storyline pace, payoff, and resolution.
While some fans might initially be concerned about the reduced runtime of each episode, Lygo reassured that this change aligns with industry trends: “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.” He also noted that research insights support these changes, indicating an increasing demand from soap opera audiences for more rapid and satisfying storytelling.
These alterations will significantly impact the way viewers follow both Coronation Street and Emmerdale. Fans may need to adjust their viewing habits slightly to accommodate the new broadcast times, but the overall goal is to enhance the viewer experience by providing a consistent and easily accessible schedule that fits into today’s fast-paced media environment.
Impact on Soap Opera Cast and Fanbase
The upcoming changes will also affect the cast of Coronation Street. Recently, actress Catherine Tyledsley returned to the show as Eva Price, reprising her role after a seven-year hiatus. Her return has been met with excitement from fans, who have been eagerly awaiting her return to Weatherfield.
In Monday’s episode, viewers witnessed the arrival of Eva’s new boyfriend, Ben Driscoll, and his family.
This storyline addition adds depth to the narrative and keeps the audience engaged as they await more developments in this well-known soap opera community.
The broadcast schedule changes are part of a broader effort by ITV to modernize its approach to television drama. As traditional viewing habits evolve, so too must the way these shows are presented to audiences. Whether these changes will be welcomed or met with resistance remains to be seen, but they represent an important shift in how soap operas can remain relevant and appealing to today’s viewers.
For now, fans of Coronation Street should plan their viewing around the adjusted schedule while looking forward to more exciting storylines that will unfold as the new format takes shape.
