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Network Competitors Set to Skate All Over NBC's Olympics

(Abc Via Reuters)

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"This is the first time NBC has had the Olympics where they haven't been the number one network," Fox scheduling guru Preston Beckman said.

So, for the first time, the Olympics will face original episodes of "Survivor." Four years ago, CBS waited until after the Winter Games to debut an edition of its tribal competition.

The Games also will tangle with "Dancing With the Stars."

Plus, original episodes of "Desperate Housewives."

And "Grey's Anatomy."

"Lost."

"24."

"House."

And, biggest of all, for the very first time, "American Idol."

"Idol" is averaging more than 34 million viewers on Tuesdays and nearly 32 million on Wednesdays this season -- up 11 and 19 percent compared with last season.

That's appointment television on almost every night of the week.

The most watched shows aren't on NBC. So it's not like any of the biggest shows in the prime-time firmament are being rested by NBC while it airs the Winter Games.

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