ABC moves ‘Lost’ away from competition

Popular drama moves from 9 p.m. to 10 p.m. to avoid ‘Criminal Minds’

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updated 7:01 p.m. ET Dec. 6, 2006

NEW YORK - Fans of ABC’s “Lost” will have to wait later on Wednesday nights to see it.

ABC said that its hit mystery will move to a new time slot — Wednesdays at 10 p.m. — when it returns with new episodes on Feb. 7.

It’s a move to shore up the drama and keep it away from stiff competition. The CBS drama “Criminal Minds” has blossomed at the 9 p.m. time slot, even beating “Lost’ head-to-head the last two times both shows aired original episodes.

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Fox also returns in the new year with the results show of the powerhouse “American Idol” in the 9 p.m. slot.

That raised the possibility of further erosion in the “Lost” audience. The drama’s typical audience of 16.7 million people is off by 14 percent from the 19.3 million of last year, according to Nielsen Media Research.

“Lost” will take over for the newsmagazine that, in turn, replaced ABC’s failed drama “The Nine.” On Jan. 3, ABC will start two sitcoms, “The Knights of Prosperity” and “In Case of Emergency” at 9 p.m. ET on Wednesdays.