ITV has dropped each Coronation Street and Emmerdale from the schedules tonight, in one more deviation from the broadcaster’s new “soap power hour”.
The serial dramas diminished their weekly output by half an hour in January, in order that they may air every weeknight from 8pm. This adopted a highly-anticipated crossover episode – dubbed Corriedale – which noticed the 2 fictional worlds mix for one evening solely.
Speaking after the brand new schedule on ITV1 was introduced, Kevin Lygo, ITV’s Managing Director of Media and Entertainment, stated: “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 the place there may be a lot competitors for viewers’ time and consideration, and viewing habits proceed to vary, we imagine that is the correct quantity of episodes that followers can match into their viewing schedule, to maintain updated with the reveals.”
At the time, Emmerdale star Chris Bisson instructed Leeds Live: “[There’ll be] no extra moaning that they’re shifting Corrie round due to the soccer and no person is aware of when it’s on – all that sort of stuff. We all know the place we’re thus far – 8pm to 9pm on a regular basis of the week.”
Unfortunately, Bisson has been proved mistaken – and not for the primary time. Just one week into the brand new broadcast sample, each Corrie and Emmerdale had been taken off our screens.
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Tonight’s typical instalments have been shunted to Monday, to accommodate protection of the Six Nations Live, which begins at 7.20pm after a shorter ITV National News.
Jill Douglas presents from the opening match in the fourth round of fixtures, held at the Aviva Stadium, with Ireland facing Wales from 8.10pm.
The soaps will face similar disruption on Friday, March 14 (next week), once again being moved for the Six Nations.
Emmerdale returns Monday at 8pm on ITV1. Coronation Street follows at 8.30pm. Stream on ITVX.
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