Image: MASTERPIECE "Downton Abbey, Season 5" (credit: courtesy of ©Nick Briggs/Carnival Films 2014 for MASTERPIECE)
– In Anticipation of "Downton Abbey" Season 5 Premiere in January 2015,
Season 4 to be Available for Viewing on Multiple PBS Platforms
Starting December 7 –
ARLINGTON, VA; December 5, 2014 – With the much-anticipated premiere of “Downton Abbey, Season 5” on MASTERPIECE on January 4, 2015, PBS and WGBH are offering fans and new viewers of “Downton Abbey,” a Carnival Films/MASTERPIECE co-production, the opportunity to catch up on all the dramatic events of Season 4.
Each Sunday, December 7 through December 28, PBS stations nationwide will re-air episodes from “Downton Abbey, Season 4” [check local listings]. Each episode will also be available for free streaming on PBS station websites, PBS.org and PBS Over-the-Top (OTT) channels (including Apple TV, Roku, Xbox and Amazon Fire TV) after each national broadcast.
For fans looking for a “Downton Abbey” binge, beginning December 29, all eight episodes of “Downton Abbey, Season 4” will be available for free streaming on PBS station websites, PBS.org and PBS OTT channels for one week.
“The return of ‘Downton Abbey’ on MASTERPIECE is one of television’s most-anticipated events, so we’re giving fans an opportunity to relive their favorite moments, whether they prefer to watch on television or in an epic digital binge,” said Beth Hoppe, Chief Programming Executive and General Manager, General Audience Programming, PBS.
In addition, a special “Downton Abbey, Season 5” preview and panel discussion with cast members will be live streamed from New York City on December 9 on the PBS YouTube channel (youtube.com/pbs) beginning at 7:30 p.m.
PBS stations across the country are hosting over 130 “Downton Abbey” screening events this month. Starting December 5, local audiences will be able to watch the first episode of Season 5 in advance of the January 4, 2015 premiere on MASTERPIECE on PBS. Stations will be holding everything from tea parties to costume contests to historical lectures focused on the time period of “Downton Abbey.”
Amazon Prime members can now stream all four past seasons of “Downton Abbey.” Amazon Prime Instant Video is the exclusive subscription video on demand (SVOD) home for “Downton Abbey.”
Fans can also purchase Seasons 1-4 of “Downton Abbey” and pre-order Season 5 through sites and services including iTunes, Amazon.com, and ShopPBS.org.
For updates pertaining to “Downton Abbey,” go to pbs.org/downton or follow #DowntonPBS on Twitter.
“Downton Abbey” is a Carnival Films/MASTERPIECE Co-Production written and created by Julian Fellowes. The series is executive produced by Gareth Neame.
About PBS
PBS, with its over 350 member stations, offers all Americans the opportunity to explore new ideas and new worlds through television and online content. Each month, PBS reaches nearly 109 million people through television and over 28 million people online, inviting them to experience the worlds of science, history, nature and public affairs; to hear diverse viewpoints; and to take front row seats to world-class drama and performances. PBS’ broad array of programs has been consistently honored by the industry’s most coveted award competitions. Teachers of children from pre-K through 12th grade turn to PBS for digital content and services that help bring classroom lessons to life. PBS’ premier children’s TV programming and its website, pbskids.org, are parents’ and teachers’ most trusted partners in inspiring and nurturing curiosity and love of learning in children. More information about PBS is available at www.pbs.org, one of the leading dot-org websites on the Internet, or by following PBS on Twitter, Facebook or through our apps for mobile devices. Specific program information and updates for press are available at pbs.org/pressroom or by following PBS PressRoom on Twitter.
About MASTERPIECE
MASTERPIECE is presented on PBS by WGBH Boston. Rebecca Eaton is Executive Producer for MASTERPIECE. Funding for the series is provided by Viking Cruises and Ralph Lauren Corporation with additional support from public television viewers and contributors to The MASTERPIECE Trust, created to help ensure the series’ future.
About Carnival Films
Carnival Films is a division of NBC Universal International TV Production and is the UK's largest drama specialist. The company is responsible for the global TV sensation Downton Abbey, winner of two Golden Globes® and ten Primetime Emmy® awards, including Best Mini-series. It is the most nominated non-US show in the history of the Emmys® with a total of 51 nominations and is now in 250 territories worldwide. Among numerous national and international awards, the show has even garnered a Guinness World Record for highest critical ratings for a TV show. Downton Abbey is executive produced by Carnival's Managing
Director Gareth Neame, who sold the production company to NBCU in 2008.
Founded in 1978, Carnival has produced many hundreds of hours of popular drama both in the UK and US, including primetime series such as Poirot, Hotel Babylon, Whitechapel, Jeeves & Wooster, Rosemary & Thyme, As If, Dracula and The Philanthropist. As well as award-winning mini-series such as C4's iconic Traffik, David Hare's Worricker Trilogy (Page Eight, Turks & Caicos and Salting the Battlefield), The 7:39 by David Nicholls, William Boyd's BAFTA award winning Best Serial Any Human Heart, The Old Curiosity Shop and Enid starring Helena Bonham-Carter.
Peter Morgan's Lost Honour of Christopher Jefferies will broadcast in 2014 and Carnival's latest series The Last Kingdom is in production for BBC2 and BBC America. Carnival co-produced Royal Television Society award winning drama The Hollow Crown, a screen version of Shakespeare's history plays (with Neal Street productions) and the sequel The War of the Roses is currently in production, starring Benedict Cumberbatch and Judi Dench.
Carnival has recently announced major new development projects such as Freud, Bill Gallagher's Jamestown, Neil Cross's Bay of Plentywith Libertine Pictures for the BBC, Magnum with the iconic photographic co-operative Magnum Photos and Nostradamus with Joseph Fiennes and Anonymous content.
Carnival was recognized as best production company at the 2011 Bulldog Awards and 2012 Broadcast Awards.
– PBS –
CONTACTS:
Jennifer Byrne, PBS, jrbyrne@pbs.org; 703-739-5487
For images and additional up-to-date information on this and other PBS programs, visit PBS PressRoom at pbs.org/pressroom.
