CONFUSED viewers of Channel 4’s mystery drama Lost will get a second chance to watch the programme via the internet — if they are prepared to pay 99p an episode.

The initiative, a product of an agreement with Lost’s producer, The Walt Disney Company, is the first of its kind outside the United States. It is hoped that it will prompt a revolution in television viewing. Andy Duncan, Channel 4’s chief executive, said that it was part of a plan to make popular television available “anytime, anywhere”.

Disney will also benefit because the two companies have agreed to share revenues — a departure from the traditional relationship, in which the broadcaster buys out the producer entirely.

The second series of the mystery begins to air on Channel 4 next Tuesday, but from today the whole first series will be available for 99p an episode, or £1.49 for two. Series two episodes will be available after they have aired on both E4 and Channel 4.

Mr Duncan said that pricing was “a judgment” based on the belief that viewers would be willing to pay for an advert-free catch-up service. A high proportion of viewers already record US programming and watch it later to skip adverts.

The British broadcaster will also make available online past and future episodes of Desperate Housewives on the same basis. The programme is also made by Disney, which has been the most aggressive of the US producers in trying to experiment with selling programmes via new media platforms in the United States.

Demand for programmes via the internet is unproven. The six episodes of Channel 4’s IT Crowd, a sitcom, was downloaded 371,000 times.

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