NBC's recently announced fifth cycle will air over the span of two hours

NBC is further eventizing holiday series The Sing-Off by condensing its latest round air on just one night. The network has firmed up plans for the recently-announced fifth iteration, slotting it for Dec. 17 as a two-hour special.

Six groups will compete for the first-place prize of $50,000 in front of returning judges Jewel and Shawn Stockman. The duo are joined this year by Fall Out Boy's Patrick Stump, and Nick Lachey will again host.

Produced by Sony Pictures Television and Mark Burnett's new joint venture with MGM and Hearst, United Artists Media Group, the cappella competition first aired in 2009 as a four-part series. The latest season ran seven episodes.

And The Sing-Off isn't NBC's only holiday special. The network aims to strike ratings gold twice by following up last year's hit production of The Sound of Music with Peter Pan on Dec. 4.