SyFy is betting online viewers will want to see a sneak peek of its new show The Expanse before traditional TV audiences and hopefully drum up some momentum for the show in the process. The NBCUniversal-owned science fiction cable channel will release the first episode of The Expanse online on November 23, 2015, three weeks before its December 14 and 15 two-night premiere on linear TV.
All ten episodes of SyFy’s The Expanse are based on the New York Times best-selling book series of the same title by Daniel Abraham and Ty Franck (who wrote under the pen name James S. A. Corey). The series is set 200 years in the future and follows the story of a ship captain and detective looking for a missing girl, but they unknowingly stumble on the greatest conspiracy in the history of humanity. (Cue the dramatic music.) Produced by Alcon Television, The Expanse stars Thomas Jane (online viewers will recognize him as the Punisher in the Adi Shankar Bootleg Universe short Punisher: Dirty Laundry) and Steven Strait (of 10,000 BC fame).
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The Expanse’s first episode will be available online starting November 23 on various digital outlets, including SyFy.com, the SyFy Now app, Hulu, Amazon, Google Play, iTunes, Playstation, Xbox, Facebook, and YouTube. Platforms such as Twitch, IGN, IMDb, Crave Online, and Roku will premiere the episode along with custom content. After the online release of The Expanse, SyFy will then continue with the show’s two-night TV premiere in mid-December.
“The Expanse is the most ambitious series ever for Syfy, and early screenings are drawing high praise from critics and fans alike,” said Syfy president Dave Howe to Variety. “With its cinematic feel, compelling characters, intense action, and universal themes, it’s important for Syfy to provide the opportunity for as many people as possible to watch and fall in love with this series.”
While an early online release may be new to SyFy, it’s not new to other properties and networks owned by NBCUniversal. In May 2015, USA debuted the pilot of its now-hit series Mr. Robot on various digital and streaming video-on-demand platforms. That series has a second season underway, as well as an exclusive streaming deal at Amazon. Around the same time as the Mr. Robot online pilot debut, NBC released the entire first season of the David Duchovny-starring crime series Aquarius on digital outlets. Aquarius has gone on to garner a second season, as well.
You can check out the premiere episode of The Expanse online starting November 23.
