You could almost smell the desperation from the press release announcing the “first ever” premiere of a network television show on Apple’s iTunes. Fox, which usually keeps its first-run programming off iTunes, has released the pilot episode of “New Girl,” a series receiving lackluster reviews, as a free download on the service.
Releasing the series pilot on iTunes, rather than requiring viewers wait until Fox’s fall schedule, marks the “first ever network TV show available on iTunes before its broadcast premiere,” the network touts. However, the tactic isn’t so new. Last year, Fox tried the same thing with Lone Star. Despite the early previews, the series was quickly cancelled.
The “New Girl” pilot episode will also be available on cable on-demand, Fox.com, Hulu and a blog known as Hello Giggles, a site endorsed by series star Zooey Deschanel, according to Variety.
Ed Sutherland is a veteran technology journalist who first heard of Apple when they grew on trees, Yahoo was run out of a Stanford dorm and Google was an unknown upstart. Since then, Sutherland has covered the whole technology landscape, concentrating on tracking the trends and figuring out the finances of large (and small) technology companies.
38 responses to “Fox Hoping iTunes Premiere Boosts Interest in ‘New Girl’ Series”
Zooey Deschanel will definitely be *boosting* interest, if you know what I mean.
Trouble is that the nets don’t credit show budget make good with online sales and the ratings could so few folks that one ratings viewer can make or break a show. If that one viewer decides to just keeo downloading, the show is dead
It sounds excruciating by the write-up. Â
Another show with a bunch of twenty something guys and their girl/career problems, this time with an actual girl in the cast perhaps, but hardly any different than the rest. Â Why anyone watches dreck like this is the big mystery.Â
I am a fan of Zooey Deschanel. However I am not sure her quirky and fun acting style will actually hold up in a weekly series. Instead of being fresh and different, it will become commonplace. I’ll check out the series but not a big fan of 30 minute sitcoms. Hopefully it doesn’t damage her big screen career though.
Not sure if it will be a bonus for Fox.. Their shows are very hit and miss anyway.
Because other people aren’t arrogant jerks like you, and find things funny?
Zooey Deschanel could do nothing but paint her toenails for 30 minutes, and I would tune in every week!
Several networks release shows via different channels early. ABC has already released Revenge to several VOD services. Fox has also sent out copies of New Girl and Terra Nova to “FoxVIPs” for advance review. Klout also makesÂ
I actually work for a TV Website, CliqueClack, and New GIrl is a show I actually passed on when the first round of screens came out. It has actually gotten a lot of buzz since, and I’ve been trying to track down our screener. Now I don’t have to :)
Well, considering there’s a bug in the new iTunes for Windows where the iTunes store doesn’t display, I don’t think this show is going to get the boost it hopes for. Apple has to do better at patching, but they’re all-hands-on-deck with a delayed iPhone and iOS release so it’s not a priority. Poor timing for Fox.
There is? Hmmm. Haven’t had a problem.
Definitely on mine and I’ve looked for solutions which showed that many others were struggling with the same problem. Maybe it’s not as widespread as I thought it was.
They have Zooey Deschanel and they need to promote the bejeezus out of the series? Â This can only mean this show REALLY sucks (and based on the one commercial they are ceaselessly running, it does).
Or you’re the mindless drone advertisers love.
Geez, twice in one day The Prof and I agree. Â Armageddon is right around the corner.
Because attacking someone personally in your reply makes your opinion that much more valid? Do you have a personal stake in this show? Is your manliness threatened? You can fault Prof. Peabody for passing judgment on a show based solely on a description of it. But agree or disagree with him, at least he provided a reason for why he might not like the show. That’s a lot more than you.
I DL’d it from iTunes… I LOVEÂ Zooey Deschanel but this show is terrible
You should get a mac.
Seems a little uppity. you’d prefer people to watch reality tv perhaps? little Jersey Shore? Â Television isn’t created to be Art, so do drop the pretense.
“but they’re all-hands-on-deck with a delayed iPhone and iOS release”
You have ZERO proof that  the iPhone or iOS release have been delayed. Perhaps this fall is when Apple planned to release them from day one on the work for both. A change in plan isn’t a delay
Also, the iPhone, iOS and iTunes are done by different teams so even if there was a delay it wouldn’t affect iTunesÂ
That said, be glad there’s a bug, it saved you from wasting time getting the show. It’s beyond terrible.Â
No I think that the Prof would prefer scripted shows with a fresh premise instead of rehashing the same thing over and over.Â
Excruciating is giving it more credit than it deserves. I watched this with my cousin, who writes a blog and is planning to write up the show. I think she said it best when she said the only good thing about this show is the lack of a laugh track.Â