• by David Goetzl  @dgoetzl, August 17, 2010

Fox is looking to reach upscale travelers to generate interest in new fall series by offering the premieres in about 1 million hotel rooms this month. The advance episodes of drama "Lone Star" and comedy "Raising Hope" are available on-demand.

The deal is with the advertising and marketing arm of the LodgeNet hotel TV service, which will air spots for the free episodes on the channel that appears once the set lights up. Hotel chains such as Marriott, Hilton and Hyatt will offer the series. The Hotel Networks says it has research showing hotel guests watch an average of 3+ hours of TV a day in their rooms.

"Lone Star" is about a man living a double life as a charming husband in a family business in Houston and, across the state in Midland, cavorting with a young girlfriend and taking advantage of investors. Enron's corporate chicanery may have been an inspiration for the show.

"Raising Hope" features a family where the son has a baby with a wanted fugitive, and despite his largely inert life, is forced to wise up and raise his daughter.

The shows premiere Sept. 20 and 21, respectively.