Fans can breathe easy. Midway through a season marked by shrinking ratings and a spate of media coverage pondering its life expectancy, "Lost," ABC's filmed-in-Hawai'i series has been green-lighted for a fourth season.

ABC Entertainment president Stephen McPherson made the announcement yesterday at a program development meeting in Los Angeles. "Lost" is one of 14 shows the network committed to renew.

With its motley crew of friends, strangers and others competing to stay alive on an unnamed island, "Lost" has been a Wednesday night ratings favorite for three seasons.

It is No. 1 in its time slot for adults ages 18 to 49, and it's the top show in its time slot (9 p.m. here; 10 p.m. Eastern time) on any network, according to www.MovieWeb.com.

"Lost," which premiered in September 2004, is entirely shot on location on O'ahu.

Reach Wayne Harada at wharada@honoluluadvertiser.com.