NBC to add third hour to 'The Voice'

NBC is raising the volume on "The Voice." The Peacock is adding a third hour to its hit unscripted series Tuesdays at 9 p.m. beginning April 3. In addition, the existing two-hour edition will start airing live on April 2. "Voice" will air its final episode of the season in a two-hour Tuesday episode on May 8. That will serve as a promotional platform for "America's Got Talent," which will begin its seventh season earlier than usual with a pair of two-hour episodes on May 14 and 15. Adding "Voice" on Tuesday should also help provide a lift for NBC's new unscripted series "Fashion Star," which will get a lead-in from the second night of "Voice." "Star" premieres on March 13. Expanding "Voice" to three hours a week will help spread the strength of NBC's reigning powerhouse amid a schedule that is struggling just about everywhere else. The additional hour of "Voice" will be devoted to live elimination rounds. It's a strategy not unlike the one employed by other unscripted hits including ABC's "Dancing With the Stars," which will now see all three of its hours go up directly against "Voice" in the same time slots. Blunting "Stars" with more "Voice" could also help keep ABC in fourth place among the broadcast networks in the 18-49 demo race. The Alphabet is currently trailing NBC largely because of the massive ratings injection the Peacock got from its Super Bowl telecast last month. Contact Andrew Wallenstein at andrew.wallenstein@variety.com