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.