Writer King's TV show facing flop

King's series is partly based on his experiences in hospital

Horror writer Stephen King's new US TV series Kingdom Hospital has been given a new slot in the TV schedules after what has been seen as a ratings flop.

The ABC network has given it a slot where it is likely to be beaten by rival shows on CBS and NBC.

The series, partly based on King's own time in hospital, was touted as likely to revive the network's fortunes.

Despite a promising debut, the show steadily lost viewers and pulled in an audience of 5.6 million last week.

The drama will be moved to a Thursday evening slot for the remainder of its run.

ABC has decided to fill the Wednesday evening space vacated by Kingdom Hospital with the debut of romance reality show called The Bachelor.

Struggle

The network has been struggling to make a success of the slot since the popularity of game show Who Wants To Be A Millionaire waned two years ago.

King, who wrote horror novels including Carrie and The Shining, spent considerable time in hospital after a serious road accident in 1999.

He was readmitted last year after suffering a bout of pneumonia, bought on by complications from his accident.

Kingdom Hospital is also based on a 1994 mini-series of the same name by Danish director Lars von Trier.

In 2002, King announced plans to retire from full-time novel-writing.