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"Tonight the finale of Lost, one of the highest-rated shows on TV, will air.  The series surely owes some of its success to the web \u2014 but tonight Lost fans may have no choice but to log off completely.\nIs this a mixed blessing?  While watching and commenting upon TV shows is easier than ever, unwanted information \u2014 i.e. the dreaded Lost spoiler \u2014 also frequently crops up across the web.\n\nLost Online: On-Demand Creates Choice\nThe Internet has provided Lost aficionados with a wealth of options for consuming and connecting around each episode.  Lost was among the very first series available on iTunes, enabling viewers to watch episodes on-demand on their computers, iPods and iPhones without commercial interruption.\nMeanwhile in 2006, ABC tested a model whereby Lost was available free online with ads \u2014 a risky move considering that Internet advertising typically yields lower rates than TV.  At the time of writing, seasons one through six are available in HD, all for free (with ads) on the ABC website.  \nUnsurprisingly, the move proved popular. In late 2008 Nielsen named Lost the most popular TV show online.  And don't forget that in 2009, Lost also came to Hulu, providing an even better user experience and yet more choice.\nBuilding Community\nThe web has given \"Lostaways\" numerous platforms to connect on, including Twitter, Facebook, fan blogs and fan forums like Lost-TV (may include spoilers).  \nPodcasts, both official [iTunes link] and unofficial, have also sprung up to discuss the series, as well as Lostpedia, a constantly-updated encyclopedia for Lost addicts (again, beware of spoilers).\nLost seems ideally suited to online community building: Its storyline is so rich with mystery and unexpected twists that fans feel compelled to offer up their theories on the meaning of it all. ABC, meanwhile, fed the online intrigue with fake websites for the likes of Oceanic Airlines and a fictitious biotech center called the Santa Rosa Institute of Advanced Genetic Research.\nAll of which will mean squat tonight, as the web's most valuable asset becomes a liability for Lost watchers.\nLogging Off: The Inevitability of the Lost Spoiler\n\n\n\n\nTonight those two wonderful facets of the web \u2014 on-demand viewing and instant communication between fans \u2014 become double-edged swords.  \nThe Lost finale will be shown at 9 p.m. ET on the East Coast and 9 p.m. PT on the West Coast.  These time zone delays are the antithesis of what the web is about: Instant communication.  The web is the perfect platform for the spread of breaking news, rumors and revelations that corporations and politicians would rather keep quiet.  In short, blogs, Facebook and Twitter make the spread of information immediate.  \nThe web, however, doesn't understand the concept of the \"spoiler,\" i.e. the kind of information you'd like to avoid until a specific date or time.  A TV blog can't set its RSS feeds to be delivered later to the West Coast than the East.  A Facebook update doesn't get held back until you've watched the finale on your DVR.  Your phone doesn't know to block all Lost-related Tweets until you've watched the final episode.\nAs such, there are no real solutions for those wishing to avoid Lost spoilers tonight \u2014 some may feel the need to simply stay away from their Twitter and Facebook feeds and to turn off their phones to avoid unwanted updates.\nThe web may have been a boon for Lost fans previously, but tonight it could be bust \u2014 at least for those unable to disconnect.\n\n\nFor more entertainment  coverage, follow Mashable Entertainment on Twitter or become a fan on Facebook\n\n"^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://mashable.com/2010/05/23/lost-finale/>