If there’s a network who surely knows how to treat fans well, it’s Showtime.  The network, which brings us spanking new episodes of Dexter and Californication this month, will be treating us to a nice surprise this week as they are making the premiere of both shows available online.  In fact, fans can just log into a special password protected section of their official website to view the premiere.

Fans just type in “Lady Killer” and they will be redirected to the videos, which will serve as a nice teaser before the shows return to airwaves on September 28.

Showtime, along with a number of major networks, has realized the value of the Internet as a way to reach their viewers.  Early in the year, Spike TV streamed the pilot of the comedy The Factory, while FOX streamed the first couple of episodes of Fringe and The Sarah Connor Chronicles.

Most recently, NBC announced that they will be teaming up with several online distribution partners to bring fans some preview videos and episodes of Chuck, Lipstick Jungle, Life, Kath and Kim and Knight Rider.

Aside from the online distribution of episodes, Showtime has also come up with other innovative marketing techniques used to promote Dexter. In fact, the network also launched an odd but interesting viral marketing tactic which included planting fake body parts and blood-flushing urinals in cities to spark the hype for the return of the show. Showtime also released several mock magazine covers such as Rolling Stone and Wired with Dexter star Michael C. Hall as cover boy.

Dexter stars Michael C. Hall, Julie Benz, Jennifer Carpenter, Lauren Velez, David Zayas, James Remar and Erik King. The Showtime drama returns to television screens on September 28 at 9pm. Meanwhile, fans check out Sho.com for the season preview, now available for viewing.


-Valerie Anne del Castillo, BuddyTV Staff Columnist
Source: NBC, Wired
(Photo courtesy of Showtime)