ABC have agreed a landmark deal with the producers of Lost. The guarantees the show a finish date and a guaranteed number of episodes to allow for a satisfying planned conclusion to the series. The deal guarantees producers Cuse and Lindelof remain with the show.

If any show didnt need to fade away X-Files style until it was cancelled, this is it, and Lost's high production costs would have made the axe fall sooner than later.

Rumours had been circulating that the network would announce a further 2 series, capping the show at five. However in a surprise announcement, the show is now set for 3 series, but only with 16 episodes a season (which ammounts to 48, the same as two 'regular' seasons). Fans are likely to be angered at only getting a reduced share of the Losties each year until 2010 when the curtain finally falls.

The third season ends this month with what is said to be a cliffhanger that changes the shows formula for ever.