'Downton Abbey' final season to begin in January

Highclere Castle, the signature setting of 'Downton Abbey.' (AP / Jack Sharp)

NEW YORK -- The final season of the popular British drama "Downton Abbey" will begin on Jan. 3, leading up to a finale on the first weekend of March, PBS announced Monday.

The show has been both a creative and ratings triumph for the network. On the Sunday before its final episode, PBS will air a marathon of the season up to that point and a behind-the-scenes program on how the show was made.

The network will also try to use "Downton Abbey" as a launching pad for "Mercy Street," a Civil War drama premiering Jan. 17 directly after an episode of the outgoing hit.

PBS also has a new two-part Ken Burns documentary on Jackie Robinson that will premiere in April to coincide with the start of a new baseball season.