CTV's Canadian Idol once again helped boost the ratings of Whistler on Aug. 14. The nighttime soap garnered 512,000 viewers in the Monday 9 p.m. slot, replacing the recently cancelled ABC reality show One Ocean View.

Idol provided a strong lead-in with 2.2 million viewers for its first "unplugged" episode - the show's highest rated ep this season. Whistler aired after Idol once before, on July 18, and drew a series best of 581,000. CTV says Monday nights will house Whistler going forward. Its final Sunday 10 p.m. airing on Aug. 13 attracted 451,000 viewers.

The second and final episode of One Ocean View drew about 501,000 to CTV on Aug. 7, which is a credit to Idol, as the same ep pulled in a meager 2.8 million in the U.S.

As a result of other ABC changes, CHUM's Citytv stations moved Ugly Betty to Thursdays at 8 p.m. beginning Sept. 28, to maintain its simulcast of the quirky fashion comedy. It was slated to air on Fridays, until ABC started tinkering.

Although Idol is once again dominating the summer, Global's Rock Star: Supernova continues to have a stellar sophomore year. It penetrated the BBM top five chart for the week of July 31 with 1.3 million viewers on Aug. 1 at 9 p.m., landing in the fourth spot behind CTV's Idol shows and So You Think You Can Dance. The top five has belonged exclusively to CTV - except for one appearance by its sporty sister TSN during FIFA World Cup time - since June 19, when CBC topped it with the Stanley Cup finals.

As Global and CTV launch their fall schedules in the coming weeks, however, the ratings battle will intensify. Global - with a healthy dose of simulcasts from the major U.S. nets on tap - was set to air the season premiere of its hit Prison Break on Aug. 21 at 8 p.m., going head-to-head with Idol, followed by the new Fox thriller Vanished. CTV - with fewer simulcasts because of conflicts with pre-existing hits but arguably more buzz shows than Global - is scheduled to run the sixth season of HBO's The Sopranos beginning Aug. 28 at 10 p.m., before premiering Fox drama Justice on Aug. 30 at 9 p.m.

CTV also has a couple of big tickets coming up with the 58th Annual Prime Time Emmy Awards on Aug. 27, its first-ever broadcast of the MTV Video Music Awards on Aug. 31, and its original MOW A Friend of the Family - a true-story thriller about a couple who move next door to serial killer David Snow, from Toronto's Slanted Wheel Entertainment and Calgary's Alberta Filmworks - on Sept. 3 at 9 p.m.