Now that "Survivor" is resting on Wednesdays instead of Thursdays this season on CBS, Fox wants to take a big piece of the Thursday night ratings extravaganza pie, moving "American Idol" back one day each week.

This season, which begins in January, will make its regular home on Wednesdays and Thursdays this season, compared to Tuesdays and Wednesdays. While that will put the first night of "American Idol" directly against "Survivor" on Wednesdays, Fox feels the other competition around it from other networks will still leave enough viewers to try and keep what appears to be a somewhat vulnerable "American Idol" on top of the ratings chart.

"We have been looking at Thursdays for a long time," said Mike Darnell, Fox's reality chief, according to Ace Showbiz. "It's a tough nut to crack, and if you want to crack it, you have to make a big move there.

"Now we can own Thursday."

This season, Fox has more or less allowed CBS and ABC to rule Thursdays nights. CBS so far has averaged a 7.9 rating/13 share, according to Fast National ratings from The Nielsen Co., while ABC has been finishing with a 5.5/9 so far.

Fox is in third with a 4.4/7 coming from "Bones" and "Fringe," ahead of NBC, but not really in the fight.

Adding "American Idol" would definitely put Fox in the ring, handing a tremendous boost when "Bones" moves to "Fringe's" old timeslot on Jan. 20 as the "American Idol" lead-out.

Fox has been really concerned about "American Idol" despite its continuing dominating ratings last season. It finished overall with a 12.3/19 average, ahead of "NCIS" on CBS (11.5/18) and "Dancing With the Stars" on ABC (10.5/16). However, "Dancing" had a huge surge in its spring cycle, competing strongly against "American Idol," and even beating it more than once.

The ratings for this season of "Dancing" have been almost off the charts. It's averaged an 11.4 household rating on Mondays and Tuesdays, and is closer to striking distance of "American Idol" than ever before -- especially if the practically all-new judge lineup doesn't resonate well with audiences.

The move will leave "Glee" on Tuesdays without an "American Idol" bump. The thought process at Fox is that "Glee" doesn't need it. The show is averaging a 6.8/11 at 8 p.m. Tuesdays -- the network's highest-rated program so far, and likely will become Fox's highest-rated scripted drama of the season. It's up a full ratings point over its average last year, a 17 percent increase.

"Bones," however, could use a strong lead-in. That show, starring David Boreanaz and Emily Deschanel, is averaging a 5.7/9 this season, 14 percent lower than how the timeslot performed last year. The show finished with a 6.1/10 last season, making it the network's third highest-rated program behind "American Idol" and "House."

Other scheduling moves for Fox includes premiering "Chicago Code" after "House" on Mondays beginning Feb. 7, putting the new show "Mixed Signals" after "Raising Hope" on Tuesdays beginning Feb. 8, and giving "Human Target" an "American Idol" lead-in beginning Jan. 26.

"Fringe," however, will move to Fridays beginning in January.