Overview
- ITV replaced its usual Friday evening soaps with live EFL Cup coverage of Middlesbrough v Wrexham, a change confirmed by broadcasters and listings.
- Because the match took the primetime slot, ITVX did not publish the usual early-release episode for Coronation Street on Friday.
- ITV has rescheduled the soaps to Sunday 9 August with Emmerdale at 7:00pm and Coronation Street at 7:30pm, earlier than their normal weeknight times.
- The EFL broadcast from the Riverside Stadium is presented by Mark Pougatch with analysis by Tommy Smith and Steven Fletcher and commentary from Seb Hutchinson and Lucy Ward.
- The disruption follows ITV's recent 'power hour' shift to 30-minute, streaming-friendly soap episodes and has prompted viewer frustration over recurring football-driven schedule changes which could push more viewers to on-demand services.