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February 11, 2012
 
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Five NBC shows to premiere on your computer before your TV set

by Bob Sassone, posted Sep 2nd 2008 3:05PM

Life
We really do live in a very different television landscape.

NBC has decided to put five of its shows online a week before they even premiere on TV, to build buzz. The network has decided to use Hulu to show the first episodes of new show Knight Rider and returning shows 30 Rock, Lipstick Jungle, Life, and Chuck.

Of course, putting episodes online is nothing new. All of the networks do it (sometimes they even "leak" the shows themselves to create buzz), but this seems to be a true attempt by NBC (which needs the help) to change the way they schedule, promote, and debut shows, a change in the way they program.

I wonder how many people will watch these first episodes online and they not tune in the night the shows premiere. Are they networks taking into account how many people are watching the shows online, not just in general but I mean when episodes are shown in advance of their TV bows? If the first ep of 30 Rock doesn't get good ratings on TV, will NBC say "yeah, but online we got..." I would hope that the networks are looking at the numbers that way.

Hey, sounds like it's time for a poll question!

If you watch a show online, do you skip the TV showing?
Yup, why watch it twice?241 (47.8%)
No, I watch both, if I love the show.216 (42.9%)
I don't watch shows online.37 (7.3%)
What does "online" mean?10 (2.0%)

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6 Comments

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mike

Last year I was able to download several NBC pilots via TiVo a few weeks before they appeared on TV. I think that works out well for all parties involved. NBC got me to watch pilots I might not have since on any given night in Sept pilots fight with one another for viewers.

September 03 2008 at 10:13 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Bill Danon

It's an interesting move to experiment with the release time for new TV series or episodes online before they air on TV. The more conventional approach - simultaneous release or making episodes online immediately after they air - has advantages too of course. ABC Family is doing that with shows like "Secret Life of the American Teenager" and "Greek" on Lycos Cinema (http://cinema.lycos.com). The appeal there is that fans can watch (or rewatch) the episode and chat about it real-time with other fans.

September 02 2008 at 6:11 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Europa

I don't think they're couting it. Lord know CBS totally ignored how many people where watching "Jericho" online. Different network but still ... if they didn't count it I doubt NBC would. That would be too much like doing the right thing. :-/

September 02 2008 at 4:37 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
emme

Where's the option for "my TV broke months ago, so I only watch TV online?" Seriously, if it's not on hulu, I just don't get to watch it!

September 02 2008 at 4:14 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Joey Geraci

Certainly interesting. It will be nice to watch a Hulu marathon of new shows!

September 02 2008 at 3:59 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
TPTZ

Might be important to note that this is more than likely to be the "rewind" version; so for shows like LIFE, you might want to hold on and wait one more week to watch it on NBC and actually get to see the "real" episode, with the original music selection as made by the creative minds behind the show, not some NBC accountant unlike what you'll get there, or on the DVDs sadly...

http://www.thepathtozen.com/news/life-season-1-dvd-its-the-wrong-music/

I hate NBC for that, I really wanted those DVDs!

September 02 2008 at 3:57 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply

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