It’s pretty common to stream a pilot online in parallel to the broadcast to attract a larger audience – as example HBO and Showtime offer pilots of their subscription-only shows for free on the internet to boost the interest in new shows, and increase the subscription base – but it’s not common to preview it a month before the actual TV premiere – exactly what FOX did for the new comedies “The Mindy Project” and “Ben and Kate”, scheduled to premiere 09/25 on regular TV, 4 weeks from now.
It’s a great showcase how important sophisticated online video monetization is becoming. The Olympics with its exclusive online content showed that it’s not a side show anymore, but a centerpiece of a modern broadcast strategy.
A reason why initiatives like Project Primetime are so crucial.
