The World Series ratings have led to CBS and NBC going to reruns opposite Game 7. in game six of the 2017 World Series at Dodger Stadium on October 31, 2017 in Los Angeles, California.

Given that Game 6 of the World Series drew huge ratings, expectations are high for Wednesday’s Game 7, starting at 8:20 p.m. Eastern on Fox. And Fox’s broadcast competitors are noticing.

Vulture’s Josef Adalian tweeted Wednesday that both CBS and NBC are preempting their new programming for a couple of hours as not to compete with Game 7, and opting for reruns instead:

Deadline’s Denise Petski has more:

CBS has opted to air repeats of SEAL Team in the 9 PM and 10 PM hours, preempting original episodes of SEAL Team at 9 PM and Criminal Minds at 10 PM. There is no change to Survivor, which airs a regularly scheduled new episode in its regular 8 PM timeslot.

In the 9 PM hour, CBS will broadcast SEAL Team’s “Other Lives” episode, which originally aired on October 4, and “Boarding Party” at 10 PM, which previously aired on October 11.

In addition, NBC will air repeats of Law & Order: SVU at 9 PM and Chicago P.D. at 10 PM. The Blacklist will stay with an original episode in its 8 PM timeslot.

ABC is staying the course, confirming it will make no changes in tonight’s primetime schedule. An original episode of The Goldbergs airs 8 PM, followed by Speechless at 8:30 PM, Modern Family at 9 PM, American Housewife at 9:30 PM and Designated Survivor at 10 PM.

This makes some sense, as other programming took a big hit opposite Game 7 last year. ABC’s CMA Awards pulled a 2.9, down from a 3.8 the previous year, while CBS’ Survivor and Code Black pulled series lows (1.5 and 0.7). NBC aired reruns of Law and Order: SVU last year, so they’re sticking with the rerun plan. But it’s interesting that CBS is joining them.

That might work out for CBS and NBC in the long run, putting their new programming in front of more viewers when they do actually air it, and it also might boost Fox’s World Series numbers even higher if some of those who would regularly be watching other scripted fare decide to tune in to the game instead.

[Deadline]

About Andrew Bucholtz

Andrew Bucholtz has been covering sports media for Awful Announcing since 2012. He is also a staff writer for The Comeback. His previous work includes time at Yahoo! Sports Canada and Black Press.