• by David Goetzl  @dgoetzl, July 13, 2007

Believing it has an anchor show to help it emerge from some ratings bumps, Lifetime announced Thursday the expected second-season pick-up of "Army Wives." The Sunday-night drama, which has had success this summer, will return with 18 episodes against tougher competition next spring.

Lifetime's decision to go against popular first-run broadcast shows in the spring and not delay another season until the rerun-heavy summer is surprising. Turner, for example, has continued to air its breakout summer hit "The Closer" during the warm months.

Still, some cable networks are showing a heightened boldness--notably USA, which will air first-run episodes of "Law & Order: Criminal Intent" this fall against first-run broadcast shows on Thursdays.

Lifetime also said it will air its two-hour movie "The Murder of Princess Diana," with what the network says is a "fictionalized" plot line. The movie, airing August 25, posits that the Princess of Wales was the victim of a conspiracy. The 10th anniversary of her death is August 31, when a repeat will air.

The female-targeted network also said it will launch a reality block on Fridays this fall. "Lisa Williams: Life Among the Dead" will return Oct. 12, followed by the debut of reality-competition series "America's Psychic Challenge."