Netflix Gets Sneak Peek at NBC Dramas

By Ed Oswald | Published July 19, 2006, 1:02 PM

Netflix said Wednesday that it had struck an agreement with NBC to allow subscribers of the movie rental service to have the opportunity to see the premiere episodes of two new dramas before they are broadcast. The deal, the first of its kind, will make "Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip" and "Kidnapped" available for rental six weeks before the two shows debut.

As well as allowing customers to view the premieres, the DVD will also include preview trailers highlighting other new fall dramas to make their debut on the network. The DVDs will begin shipping August 5, and the promotion is slated to end on September 17.

Both companies will advertise the promotion with commercial spots on NBC broadcast and cable networks, and a mention within NBC's annual "Fall Preview Show." Netflix will promote it through banner ads on its Web site and inside DVD mailers, as well as offering it to those customers who have rented similar content.

"This unique joint effort will generate even more early buzz for some of our hottest new dramas by letting the Netflix user get an early preview," NBC Universal chief marketing officer John Miller said. "The promotion takes aim at the Netflix demographic-rich entertainment consumer who is looking for this kind of high-end television show, and then is eager to pass the word."

"Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip" stars Jordan McDeere, Matthew Perry and Bradley Whitford, and looks at the drama behind producing a popular late-night comedy sketch show. "Kidnapped," starring Timothy Hutton and Dana Delany, and is a serialized thriller where a teenage son is kidnapped from a wealthy neighborhood and everyone is suspect.

Both shows are scheduled to debut during NBC's "premiere week," which occurs in mid-September.

Comments

I thought those TV shows are on a tight schedule are are usually filmed the week before they air

Score: 0

|

The deal, the first of its kind, will make "Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip" and "Kidnapped" available for download all over the internet six weeks before the two shows debut.

Fixed that for them.

Score: 0

|

Before it can tackle Windows, Chrome must leave Safari in the dust

It's a little browser with dreams of becoming a bigger operating system some day. But while it's chasing Microsoft's dreams, Chrome's tail is being chased by Apple.

Silverlight 3 goes live on Microsoft's servers

Microsoft's answer to Adobe's Flash is (unofficially) here, with prospects of higher-speed, higher-resolution video and for the first time, 3D.

Best Buy-brand TVs to get TiVo

A new alliance will place the retailer's own brand alongide the manufacturers, and could also lead to future partnerships on services.

Three Android phones on the way from T-Mobile in 2009

T-Mobile's myTouch 3G, launched Wednesday, will be followed by two more Android phones later this year, but neither of them will be HTC's Hero.

LTE still lacks a voice

The 4G Wireless standard that Verizon hopes to show off before this year is out is still at a loss for (spoken) words.

T-Mobile's strategy to combat Apple's iPhone with Android

With a trio of Android phones now in the pipeline for 2009, T-Mobile hopes to break the iPhone's emerging stranglehold.

EC's Reding: Government should act as broker for media downloads

If Internet media services don't step up and build an attractive way for users to start paying for downloads, a commissioner says, government may do the job instead.

Sony TVs get Netflix, still no PS3

Though it's coming in behind LG, Samsung, and Microsoft, Sony will begin to offer Netflix streaming, too.

Google Chrome OS: Too little, too early

Carmi Levy: Wide Angle Zoom Don't start the revolution just yet, says Carmi, who isn't so certain Chrome OS will be the "Windows Killer."

GAO pen test brings the hammer down on federal rent-a-cops

But are the computers to blame for the contract-guard fiasco at FPS?

What's Next: Chrome OS will have at least some friends in high places

Also: South Korea takes another round of DDoS abuse, and Neelie Kroes and Steve Ballmer may shake hands before she exits stage left.

Data sharing among online advertisers: Is sanity in sight?

Lockdown with Angela Gunn In the middle of a 15-page plea not to get regulated, a spark of smart thinking.

PST Recovery Software 12.0

July 9 - 11:34 PM ET

Unistal Data Recovery 12.08.06

July 9 - 11:09 PM ET

BKF Repair 3.0

July 9 - 10:54 PM ET

Vuze for Windows 4.2.0.4

July 9 - 6:26 PM ET

UltraVNC 1.0.6.4

July 9 - 6:05 PM ET

WildBit Viewer 5.5 Beta 3.0

July 9 - 5:44 PM ET