US to Europe TV delay 'to keep shrinking'

The delay between television shows airing in the US and airing in Europe will continue to get shorter, under plans from US production firms.

The companies want to stop fans illegally downloading episodes while they wait for them to come to domestic TV.

NBC Universal recently delivered subtitled episodes of Heroes pay-to-view, through TF-1 in France, the day after they aired in the US. The network is now hoping to extend the arrangement, where traditionally it has waited months to dub shows into French.

Disney-ABC has a similar deal in place with TF-1 and some other European broadcasters.

According to the Financial Times, production companies are particularly looking to cut the gap for English-speaking markets.

Tom Toumazis, Disney-ABC's head of international distribution, pointed to season four of Lost, which began in the UK just days after its US debut earlier this year.

"Fans have an insatiable appetite for seeing these shows as quickly as they can," he said. "You’re going to see a further collapse of those windows."