NBC said Wednesday it will let Netflix subscribers take sneak peeks at two new series before the shows air on the network.
Subscribers of the online movie rental service will be able to rent DVDs with the debut episodes of “Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip” and “Kidnapped” starting Aug. 5, about six weeks before the shows premiere on television.
The DVDs also will contain preview trailers of NBC’s other fall drama series.
NBC — fourth in prime-time viewers last season — is hoping the arrangement will generate word-of-mouth buzz for the shows.
Action serial “Kidnapped” follows a single case all season. “Studio 60” goes behind the scenes of a fictional comedy show similar to “Saturday Night Live.”
“The promotion takes aim at the Netflix demographic-rich entertainment consumer who is looking for this kind of high-end television show,” said NBC Universal Television Group marketing chief John Miller.
Netflix, which has about 5 million subscribers, plans to run online ads for the DVDs. NBC will promote the DVDs on network spots.