CBS - NBC'S WINTER OLYMPICS DON'T SCARE OFF RIVALS

NBC's three major rivals -- CBS, Fox, and ABC -- are not throwing in the towel in the face of competition from the Winter Olympics beginning on Feb. 10. ABC Entertainment President Stephen McPherson and Fox's Peter Liguori have indicated that they intend to air original programming, while CBS's Nina Tassler has said that her network will air both repeats and first-run programs. Thursday's Houston Chronicle quoted Liguori as saying, "We don't feel any need to modify what we're doing in a significant way. ... In terms of Idol's ability to stand up to the Olympics, we think the Idol audience is unbelievably loyal. This is their favorite show, and we anticipate that our ratings will be solid."

03/02/2006