The coronavirus could force soaps such as Coronation Street and Emmerdale down to as few as two episodes a week.
TV chiefs have held high-level talks to discuss the ongoing crisis and how to handle filming schedules.
Both soaps air six times a week and are filmed eight weeks in advance.
One Corrie actor is already in self-isolation after holidaying in a virus hotspot. And that has spurred bosses to come up with a plan of action in case more staff are struck down with sickness.
One option is to drop the number of episodes screened each week so they can ration out the existing episodes until the crisis calms down.
But soap bosses have privately admitted that if the virus hits them hard, the programmes could go off air.
A TV source revealed: “The rationing of episodes is a sensible bet.
"But the bigger problems would come if they can’t get people behind, or in front of the camera to make new ones.
“If that was the case for an extended period they’d simply run out of episodes.
“That is an eventuality no one wants but is something that could happen.”
An ITV spokesman said they were “confident” the filming schedule could continue.
He added: “We’re keeping a close eye on the situation and putting our people first.”
Last week, public tours of the soap sets near Manchester and Leeds were halted because of the crisis.
