ABC, Affiliates Disagree About 'Lost' Airings

The network reportedly is looking to premiere the show after the holidays in a 9 p.m. timeslot -- typically one of the stronger hours for networks -- allowing the show to be sandwiched with other strike-shortened fare from the network. Affiliates, however, are pushing for a 10 p.m. timeslot, which will give a boost to local news broadcasts, according to TV Week.

According to most reports, ABC still intends to premiere "Lost" in February as planned, even though only eight episodes have been produced in Hawaii. The Writers Guild of America strike has halted production on most programs, and after talks broke down Friday, production of many shows are not expected to resume any time soon.

Producers for "Lost" have expressed outrage in ABC's move to move forward with the fourth season premiere despite an incomplete season, with warnings that a cliffhanger at the end of the last-produced episode intended for only a week's wait could end up driving regular viewers insane.

ABC, however, might not have much of a choice. The network has little else to work with for the spring, including shows meant to be more mid-season replacements than anything else like "Cashmere Mafia," "Eli Stone," "Miss/Guided" and a number of reality shows.

In fact, all the networks will be depending heavily on non-scripted program like reality shows. That could play to the benefit of some scripted shows saved for the winter, including a pair of genre shows, according to James Hibberd.

"Jericho" returns Feb. 12 on CBS for its second chance at life, however, the network put the show in what would typically be described as a "death slot" at 10 p.m. Instead, it could play to both the show's and the network's advantage as competition will not include much original scripted programming, and definitely not the likes of "Law & Order: SVU," which likely would've clobbered the program in terms of viewership.

On Fox, "Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles" will likely only have Howie Mandell on "Deal or No Deal" as a competitor as well as comedies, meaning that viewers looking for a drama will likely be turning their dial to Rupert Murdoch's baby.

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