Home and Away UK scheduling change for 2026

[Pantherboy]

H&A in the UK is "moving exclusively to streaming for daytime viewing" in 2026 (& will return from its Christmas break on Friday 2 January).


DS article:

Home and Away to leave Channel 5 daytime slot with major focus change in 2026
A big scheduling update for the Aussie soap.

https://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/hom...-daytime-slot/

There's big news for Home and Away fans today, with Channel 5 announcing plans for the soap to leave its familiar daytime slot next year. The revelation comes just as the show's annual Christmas break begins, but don't worry: you'll still be able to watch it every weekday.

When Home and Away returns to UK screens in January, it won't be back in its familiar 1.45pm timeslot on 5. Instead, network bosses are doubling down on the soap's new stream-first strategy, where episodes drop first for online viewers.

5 has said that the show is "moving exclusively to streaming for daytime viewing" ? so fans who want to watch during the day will have to use the station's streaming app and view it on demand.

Evening showings will continue to air on 5Star, with the newest episode at 6.30pm and another chance to watch the previous day's edition just before at 6pm.

The shift comes amid changing viewing habits, with Home and Away fans embracing the chance to watch early online.

Back in March this year, 5 started releasing new episodes at 6am every weekday ahead of any TV broadcast.

Since then, the show has seen consistent growth via this platform ? viewing hours increased by 17% year-on-year in the first month.

"This momentum continued throughout the year with every month outperforming its counterpart from the previous year," a statement from 5 explained.

"Audiences have now become accustomed to accessing the title via streaming - the latest month delivered record-breaking engagement, with viewing hours climbing 23% year-on-year."

Greg Barnett, Commissioning Editor at 5, added: "Home and Away has been a phenomenal success for us on streaming. Viewers have fully embraced the flexibility of on-demand viewing, driving double-digit year-on-year growth and making streaming the preferred way to watch the show.

"Moving daytime episodes exclusively to streaming is a natural next step, reflecting how audiences want to engage with their favourite content."

Home and Away finished for the year last week and will return from its Christmas break on Friday 2 January. The first episode will be available to stream from 6am and the evening double bill will follow on 5Star from 6pm.

Fans don't need to worry about the show's future, as it's well-known that Channel 5 has the soap on a life-of-series deal ? which guarantees an ongoing commitment. The network has also said that the new changes cement "the show's place at the heart of 5's streaming strategy after a year of record-breaking engagement".

[Ruffed_lemur]

H&A in the UK is "moving exclusively to streaming for daytime viewing" in 2026 (& will return from its Christmas break on Friday 2 January).


DS article:

Home and Away to leave Channel 5 daytime slot with major focus change in 2026
A big scheduling update for the Aussie soap.

https://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/hom...-daytime-slot/

There's big news for Home and Away fans today, with Channel 5 announcing plans for the soap to leave its familiar daytime slot next year. The revelation comes just as the show's annual Christmas break begins, but don't worry: you'll still be able to watch it every weekday.

When Home and Away returns to UK screens in January, it won't be back in its familiar 1.45pm timeslot on 5. Instead, network bosses are doubling down on the soap's new stream-first strategy, where episodes drop first for online viewers.

5 has said that the show is "moving exclusively to streaming for daytime viewing" ? so fans who want to watch during the day will have to use the station's streaming app and view it on demand.

Evening showings will continue to air on 5Star, with the newest episode at 6.30pm and another chance to watch the previous day's edition just before at 6pm.

The shift comes amid changing viewing habits, with Home and Away fans embracing the chance to watch early online.

Back in March this year, 5 started releasing new episodes at 6am every weekday ahead of any TV broadcast.

Since then, the show has seen consistent growth via this platform ? viewing hours increased by 17% year-on-year in the first month.

"This momentum continued throughout the year with every month outperforming its counterpart from the previous year," a statement from 5 explained.

"Audiences have now become accustomed to accessing the title via streaming - the latest month delivered record-breaking engagement, with viewing hours climbing 23% year-on-year."

Greg Barnett, Commissioning Editor at 5, added: "Home and Away has been a phenomenal success for us on streaming. Viewers have fully embraced the flexibility of on-demand viewing, driving double-digit year-on-year growth and making streaming the preferred way to watch the show.

"Moving daytime episodes exclusively to streaming is a natural next step, reflecting how audiences want to engage with their favourite content."

Home and Away finished for the year last week and will return from its Christmas break on Friday 2 January. The first episode will be available to stream from 6am and the evening double bill will follow on 5Star from 6pm.

Fans don't need to worry about the show's future, as it's well-known that Channel 5 has the soap on a life-of-series deal ? which guarantees an ongoing commitment. The network has also said that the new changes cement "the show's place at the heart of 5's streaming strategy after a year of record-breaking engagement".

So I will continue to watch on 5Star, as I do not stream!

[Pantherboy]

DS article:


Home and Away is back on TV today - but there's a catch
Here's the new schedule for 2026.

https://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/hom...2026-schedule/

Home and Away is back on UK screens today after its Christmas break, but things are playing out a little differently as 5's new plan for how it releases episodes goes into effect. Read up on what's changed so you don't get caught out.

As you might have already noticed, the show didn't air in its 1.45pm slot on 5, and that's the new normal for the show now.

If you want to watch the show the old-fashioned way, 5STAR is still airing new episodes at 6.30pm every weekday, following the 6pm repeat of the previous episode.

Or you can watch at your own leisure via streaming, as episodes drop on 5's on demand service at 6am every weekday.

It's a continuation of 5's streaming-first strategy that was implemented last March, which the broadcaster called a "phenomenal success". By dropping the daytime slot, 5 hopes to get more people watching via streaming.

"Viewers have fully embraced the flexibility of on-demand viewing, driving double-digit year-on-year growth and making streaming the preferred way to watch the show," said Greg Barnett, Commissioning Editor at 5.

"Moving daytime episodes exclusively to streaming is a natural next step, reflecting how audiences want to engage with their favourite content."

5 states that it is committed to the soap, and the change has cemented it "at the heart of 5's streaming strategy after a year of record-breaking engagement".

For those of you who haven't streamed the episode already, here are some light spoilers.

The Summer Bay community are still mourning for Theo after the shocking events of Cash and Eden's wedding, while one Summer Bay resident is rocked by news of another death.

Home and Away drops new episodes on weekdays at 6am on 5?s streaming service with a 6.30pm screening on 5STAR. Selected classic episodes are available via Prime Video in the UK.

In Australia, the show airs Mondays to Thursdays at 7pm on Channel 7 and streams on 7Plus.