iTunes Offers Early Access to ‘Downton Abbey’ Episodes

15 Jan, 2013 By: Erik Gruenwedel

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American viewers of PBS series “Downton Abbey” who don’t want to wait until February to watch the final episodes of season three from the popular British series can for the first time purchase the episodes on Apple’s iTunes.

Apple is making the episodes available to iTunes “season pass” holders beginning Jan. 29 — the same day season three is available in its entirety on DVD and Blu-ray Disc.

The season-three final episode airs on PBS Feb. 17 — three months after its broadcast on ITV in the United Kingdom.

PBS CEO Paula Krieger Jan. 14 told the TV Critics Association Press Tour that season four of “Downton Abbey” would not air concurrently with its British broadcast in the fall. Krieger said the decision to delay season four’s premiere on PBS until early 2014 is due to competitive factors such as new primetime and cable programs, which typically debut in the fall.

Indeed, the season-three premiere last fall attracted more than 8 million viewers in the United States.

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