NEW YORK, March 22 (UPI) -- ABC's "World News" will air with one sponsor Monday nights through April, giving the New York-based network more news minutes in its hunt for viewers.
The single-advertiser newscasts will free up five additional minutes for news, allowing the newscast to devote time to a reporting series, "Key to the World," Variety said Thursday.
"This additional time provides a unique opportunity on two fronts -- to open a window on parts of the world our audience may not know much about and to cover more of the day's news," said Executive Producer Jon Banner.
The solo sponsorships come as ABC's "World News With Charles Gibson" is in a virtual dead heat for first in the ratings with NBC's "Nightly News With Brian Williams."
CVS Pharmacy is sponsoring the April 23 broadcast. ABC officials said the April 2, 9 and 16 broadcast are being sponsored by an advertiser wanting to remain anonymous until the first broadcast.
