CBS To Air 'Survivor II' on Thursdays

NEW YORK (AP) â€” CBS is spoiling for a fight on Thursday nights. <br><br>The network announced Monday that the second ``Survivor'' series, which is set in the Australian outback and premieres

Tuesday, December 19th 2000, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

NEW YORK (AP) â€” CBS is spoiling for a fight on Thursday nights.

The network announced Monday that the second ``Survivor'' series, which is set in the Australian outback and premieres next month, will be shown on Thursdays at 8 p.m.

That would put ``Survivor'' opposite NBC's high-rated comedy, ``Friends.'' It's the boldest move in years for a network looking to compete with NBC on the night that it usually dominates viewership.

It also means the second ``Survivor'' will be in a tougher battle for viewers. CBS' ratings on Thursdays have been disastrous this season; it currently shows ''48 Hours'' in the 8 p.m. time slot.

The second ``Survivor'' series premieres after the Super Bowl on Jan. 28, and will start on Thursdays on Feb. 1. Before the series concludes, it will be shown twice on Wednesdays â€” March 14 and March 21 â€” because the NCAA basketball tournament will be on Thursdays.