Search »

Close Sweeps Battle Between CBS, Fox Looming in Feb.

Media watchers are likely to enjoy February sweeps month, as strong programming from several contenders makes it difficult to predict an outcome.

Fox has the continuing success of American Idol, while CBS gets to air the Super Bowl and the Grammys and ABC gets the Oscars.

The winner in the adult 18-49 race is expected to be either CBS or Fox, writes Media Life. Networks are cutting back on “stunts,” banking on series returns to boost ratings. ABC, for example, will see the return of Lost on Feb. 7, while CBS will bring Jericho back on Feb. 21, Survivor: Fiji on the 8th and The Amazing Race: All Stars on the 18th.

Fox’s American Idol will bring back its two-hour back-to-back episodes on Feb. 20 and 21, with a one-hour results show following on Feb. 22. On Feb. 27 and 28, the shows will be 90 minutes long each night, again with a one-hour results show following, though it will fall outside sweeps, on March 1.

But while American Idol gives Fox an enormous advantage, it’s tough to beat the Super Bowl. Fox expects to come in a strong second, while ABC should maintain a solid third.

NBC, too, will avoid stunts, relying mostly on original episodes of regular programming, staying true to its focus on a “longer, more strategic rebuild of the network,” Mitch Metcalf, executive vp of programming, planning and scheduling for NBC Entertainment, is quoted as saying.