LOS ANGELES (AP) - NBC's new hit series "The Voice" is getting the choice post-Super Bowl spot next year, the network said Tuesday.
It announced that a special edition of "The Voice" will air Feb. 5 after the NFL championship game. NBC Entertainment Chairman Bob Greenblatt called the post-game slot the best showcase on TV and said the singing contest deserves the exposure.
The network's early decision regarding an event eight months away represents a vote of confidence in the freshman program.
"The Voice" features judges Christina Aguilera, Cee Lo Green, Adam Levine and Blake Shelton and the gimmick of initially picking contestants sight unseen. It's been a bright spot for struggling NBC, scoring as the season's top-rated new series among young adults and a draw among all viewers.
The series has the right "mass appeal" to match up with the Super Bowl, the year's biggest sports event, Greenblatt said. "The Voice" debuted in April and wraps the season at the end of June.
While "The Voice" has secured the Super Bowl slot, there's uncertainty over the NFL schedule because of a labor dispute that led to the team owners' lockout of players.
A federal court hearing on the issue was scheduled this week.