‘NIGHTLINE’ GOING TO SOUTH AFRICA FOR SHOWS : ‘NIGHTLINE’ HEADED FOR SOUTH AFRICA

ABC’s “Nightline” is going to South Africa, while “Street Hawk” is simply going--to be replaced in the prime-time lineup March 15 by two new comedy series, the network said Friday.

ABC News reported that its late-night news program “Nightline” had received permission Friday from the South African government to broadcast five programs from the racially divided nation during the week of March 18.

“Nightline” anchor Ted Koppel, commentator Jeff Greenfield and correspondent Ken Walker will head a team of 20 to 25 ABC employees who will make the trip to send back the programs, an ABC spokeswoman said.

The shows will follow the usual “Nightline” format of a taped segment followed by interviews, and even will be conducted live at 11:30 p.m. South African time, the spokeswoman said. They will be beamed by satellite to New York, where it will still be early evening, and will be taped for broadcast in the United States at the usual hour, she said.

All five broadcasts will focus on South Africa: from its history, its people and its natural resources to its controversial policy of apartheid. The South African government has placed no restrictions on travel or subject matter, the ABC spokeswoman said.

Most of the programs will originate from Johannesberg, she said, but some may originate from other cities if technical arrangements can be made.

ABC’s entertainment division, meanwhile, unveiled plans Friday to shelve “Street Hawk,” a midseason action show, in favor of two comedy series, “Mr. Belvedere” and “Off the Rack.”

They will be interspersed with two other established comedies, “Webster” and “Benson,” in the Friday night lineup, beginning March 15.

“Webster” will air at 8 p.m., followed at 8:30 p.m. by “Mr. Belvedere,” starring Christopher Hewett (formerly of “Fantasy Island”) as a sophisticated British servant who goes to work for a middle-class American family in suburban Pittsburgh. Former baseball player Bob Uecker, now the star of comical beer commercials, will co-star with Ilene Graff as the parents with three children who employ Hewett’s character.

“Benson” will move to 9 p.m., leading in to “Off the Rack” at 9:30 p.m., a series that stars Ed Asner (from “Lou Grant” and “The Mary Tyler Moore Show”) and Eileen Brennan (from “Private Benjamin”). Brennan plays the widow of Asner’s former partner in a garment manufacturing company who takes her late husband’s place at the office instead of selling out to Asner, much to his consternation.

March 15 is also the date that CBS plans to premiere, at 8 p.m., “A Detective in the House,” a lighthearted mystery series starring Judd Hirsch.

“Street Hawk,” a police show featuring a supercharged motorcycle, premiered Jan. 4. ABC said it was being placed “on hiatus,” leaving open the possibility that the show might return at a later date.