PASADENA, Calif., Jan. 15 ABC won't force its U.S. audience to chose between its hit Dancing With the Stars and Fox's wildly popular American Idol, ABC officials said. The broadcaster will air its reality hit on Mondays and Tuesdays, timed to avoid going head-to-head with Idol, the Los Angeles Times said. The ABC show, which pairs a celebrity with a dance professional, returns to the line-up March 19. Competition episodes will air Mondays and results will run Tuesdays an hour after Idol competition airs. American Idol, beginning its sixth season Tuesday, airs its competition segment Tuesdays and results Wednesdays. Stephen McPherson, president of ABC Entertainment, said the programming decision was made because we didn't want people to have to choose between American Idol and Dancing With the Stars.During a news conference in Pasadena, Calif., McPherson said the network was disappointed over poor showings by The Nine and Six Degrees, both pulled from the fall schedule. However, there ' s a chance either show could reappear before summer, he added. He also noted the difficulty in launching comedies -- Help Me Help You is no longer on the schedule, and Big Day has earned low ratings. Copyright 2007 by UPI
