'Dateline' to expand at 'Lights'' expense

NEW YORK, Nov. 22 (UPI) -- "Dateline NBC" will get a third prime-time TV spot when the U.S. news series takes over a Tuesday night time slot from "Friday Night Lights."

The newsmagazine, which already airs on Sunday and Saturday nights, will replace the high school football-themed drama effective Dec. 26, TVWeek.com reported.

NBC had no comment on the future of the ratings-challenged football drama, which recently received a full-season order from the network.

The move comes just two weeks after "Dateline" suffered big personnel cuts in a cost-cutting move by parent company NBC Universal.