• by David Goetzl  @dgoetzl, February 24, 2009

"Army Wives," a drama that is a source of sustenance for Lifetime, will be returning to the network in 2010 for a fourth season. The commitment comes even before its third season debuts this summer.

Lifetime, which hoped to have "Project Runway" on the air by now, has struggled this season. Ratings in the adult 18-to-49 demo (the network targets women in that segment) are down 5% by one measure, while competitors Oxygen and We have soared by 32% and 20%, respectively.

Still, Lifetime delivers an average of 256,000 18- to-49-year-olds--that's more than its other two rivals combined.

Lifetime had a deal to acquire "Runway," but a debut has been postponed due to a legal dispute with NBC Universal.

The network has ordered 18 episodes of "Army Wives," which was developed under previous entertainment head Suzanne Daniels, for 2010. JoAnn Alfano now holds the title of executive vice president of entertainment.

Lifetime says "Wives," which launched in 2007, is its most successful series ever. The show, produced by ABC Studios, follows the ups and downs of several women and one man living on a military base.