When Will Downton Abbey Season 4 Premiere in the U.S.? (UPDATE)

Downton Abbey Season 3 aired in the U.K. several months before it aired in the U.S. Expect that to be the case again with Season 4. (Rats!) 

According to the New York Daily News, PBS considered running Downton in the fall, when the Brits get to see it, but decided not to. 

PBS president Paula Kerger said Downton has its own space now, starting in January, which is better than making it fight the commercial network fall shows and cable heavyweights.

As such, the Daily News speculated, Downton fans can mark their calendars for January 5, 2014 — that's the projected date for Season 4 to begin. Yes, it's a long, long time from now!

UPDATE: PBS has confirmed the Jan. 5 start date, Deadline reports.

Source: New York Daily News, Deadline