Now keep calm, ‘Downton’ fans

When it comes to the international television hit “Downton Abbey,” American audiences should not expect any changes in the upstairs/downstairs scheduling that has British audiences watching new seasons months before anyone else.

Although PBS executives have considered broadcasting the hugely popular period drama about class and privilege at the same time as it airs in the United Kingdom, network executives suggested Monday that is unlikely to happen, especially now. Earlier in January, the Season 4 premiere of the costume drama set in 1920s Britain became the most-watched PBS drama premiere of all time, with a total audience of 10.2 million viewers. That was up 22% over the Season 3 premiere on PBS last year.

“It’s become a bit of a tradition after the holidays to come together to watch ‘Downton,’ and the audience build, I think, has proved that,” said Paula Kerger, president of PBS, at the winter TV press tour in Pasadena on Monday. “It would be very hard for me to imagine putting it anywhere else than where it has been.”

PBS’ decision to delay the show’s telecast has been a sore point for some American viewers who resent waiting or who have accidentally tripped across “Downton” spoilers over social media.

In addition to the show’s ratings success, Kerger said there were other reasons to maintain the current schedule. If the PBS show aired in the autumn as it does in Britain, “Downton” could easily get lost in the crush of new programming that rolls out every fall in America. Also, it would become more challenging to promote, since the show’s actors would be in high demand in both countries around the same time, she said.