ITV's beloved soaps, Coronation Street and Emmerdale, will see a reduction in their weekly content starting January 2026. The change will involve both shows airing only 30-minute episodes each, resulting in a combined cut of an hour of weekly content. This adjustment introduces a "soaps power hour," with Emmerdale scheduled at 8 pm and Coronation Street following at 8:30 pm every weekday.
Currently, Coronation Street entertains its audience with three hour-long episodes weekly, while Emmerdale airs four 30-minute episodes, along with one hour-long installment. The decision to alter the schedule is driven by viewer preferences, according to ITV's Kevin Lygo, who describes the change as "viewer-led" and aimed at making the soaps more "streaming-friendly." Despite concerns from the performing arts union, Equity, about potential impacts on employment, ITV has assured that cast pay and contracts will remain unaffected.
"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." – Kevin Lygo
This strategic move by ITV comes amidst a challenging period for the television industry, marked by a downturn in advertising revenue. Channel 5 has already withdrawn its funding for Neighbours, while the BBC has discontinued Doctors and Holby City, alongside reducing Casualty episodes. These cuts reflect broader industry trends necessitating adjustments to programming in response to financial pressures.
"We will support our colleagues in ITV Studios as they work through these changes, and will do what we can to mitigate the impact on our people," – Kevin Lygo
Despite reassurances from ITV regarding job security, Equity expressed concerns, highlighting the potential reduction in opportunities for guest and supporting artists. Natalie Barker from Equity noted the implications fewer episodes could have on their members' work prospects.
"We do know that fewer episodes will mean fewer opportunities for work for our members engaged as guest and supporting artists on these productions." – Natalie Barker
ITV maintains that these changes are essential for the long-term success of the shows and to optimize their competitiveness in a crowded market. Additionally, releasing episodes at 7 am on ITVX before their evening broadcast aims to cater to evolving viewer habits.
"These changes are motivated by doing what we believe is best for the continuing success of these important programmes in the long term." – Kevin Lygo
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