Lingerie special to air even earlier

Despite controversy related to last year’s telecast, CBS has rescheduled its Nov. 20 telecast of this year’s “Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show” from 10 p.m. to 8 p.m., the network announced Friday.

The 2001 version of the lingerie special was broadcast at 9 p.m. on ABC and prompted complaints to the Federal Communications Commission, which ruled in March that “it does not appear we have any basis for action.”

Some parents groups and legislators felt the program was too revealing, yet CBS is airing this year’s edition at an earlier hour, when more children are apt to be watching television. Last year’s program drew an estimated 12.4 million viewers and, like the upcoming one, was scheduled during the November rating sweeps.

“Everybody’s going to know in advance what it is and what it’s going to be about,” said Jack Sussman, the CBS executive in charge of specials, regarding the propriety of the scheduling shift, which figures to provide a stronger lead-in audience to CBS’ struggling “The Amazing Race.” At a news conference this summer, CBS Television President Les Moonves said the decision to pick up the show demonstrated the network was “not your grandmother’s CBS.”

-- Brian Lowry