At long last! US production companies are going to shorten the length of time it takes for their TV shows to reach UK/European shores. The hope is to stop European fans illegally downloading US TV, as a common reason cited by downloaders is the months-long wait for US shows to arrive on native channels.
NBC recently started delivering subtitled pay-per-view episodes of Heroes to TF-1 viewers in France, the day after their US transmission. In the UK, Sky One show ABC's Lost 3 days after its US premiere, and Prison Break is typically 14 days behind.
Disney-ABC are also interested in delivering TV shows to worldwide audiences much faster, particularly to English-speaking territories. Tom Toumazis, their Head of International Distribution, said: "fans have an insatiable appetite for seeing these shows as quickly as they can. You're going to see a further collapse of those windows."
It's excellent news. I think it will really help. Of course, as I'm not a Sky subscriber, the internet is still my only way to see 24, Battlestar Galactica, Lost and Prison Break without waiting months for an overpriced DVD box-set. But this is still a significant step in the right direction...
