Editorial: TVNZ risk it with Coro

Coronation Street is more than just a television programme.

After more than 50 years of appearing on our screens, it is an institution. Like it or hate it, the fact is hundreds of thousands of people consider it important viewing and even though TVNZ says numbers are dropping, it is still popular.

Over the years, its schedule has varied at times but fans know it usually screens Tuesdays and Thursdays at 7.30pm. They know they can sit down, perhaps after dinner, and catch up with what Rosie Webster or Deirdre Barlow and the others are up to.

But they won't be doing that for long.

Television New Zealand, in its infinite wisdom, has decided to screen the show at 5.30pm weekdays, for half an hour. It will be replaced in the primetime 7.30pm slot with MasterChef Australia, which has been screening at 4.55pm. The move takes effect October 17.

MasterChef Australia finishes in early November, but there is no guarantee Coro, as it is affectionately known, will return to its 7.30 slot.

The move has already upset fans - including those in the Western Bay. The new time clashes with many people preparing dinner or coming home from work.

We report some of this reaction of page A2 today, and the outrage has been reported in other media. I suspect this anger will continue.

I used to watch Coro but don't any more. But even so, I was surprised by Television New Zealand's move when I heard about it yesterday.

You may recall that in the 1990s, TVNZ twice tried to cut the show's screening time only to back down after huge protests by fans.

So, with history in mind, I just can't figure out why the network would risk upsetting so many people again.

I was also surprised to read the comments from TV One and TV2 head Jeff Latch, who says: "I haven't made a call on what will happen at the end of the three weeks. A lot of things come into play and we will be interested to see how it impacts."

What's this I business? My reading of this is Mr Latch makes the final call on this. If true, I am surprised one person has so much power over what we watch and would have thought a panel of TVNZ programme executives would make such important decisions.

It will be interesting to see if Coro fans across the Bay and elsewhere put up with either the temporary change, or a permanent one if that's what is ultimately decided.

Perhaps they will. Perhaps there are enough people with mySky or who are prepared to record the show and watch it when they're ready for TVNZ to get this over the line.

Or perhaps not. Maybe fans will pile on so much pressure that TVNZ does another u-turn.

Only time will tell.