• by David Goetzl  @dgoetzl, January 5, 2007

NBC, which has increasingly offered premiere episodes online before a show's on-air debut, will go one step farther. It's making the launch of new drama "The Black Donnellys" available to Netflix subscribers before being streamed online. The show officially airs this spring.

The deal marks the second time NBC has linked with Netflix to help promote new dramas, having mailed premiere episodes to some 5 million subscribers for the fall launch of two shows: "Kidnapped" was quickly cancelled, while "Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip" is a modest success.

The latest promotion integrates the "Black Donnellys" into the Netflix "system," since users have to first select it to receive it through the mail, just as they do movies and other DVDs.

Netflix subscribers will have exclusive access to the "Donnellys" debut episode until Jan. 15, when it will be available on NBC.com.

The so-called NBC DVD includes the "Donnellys" pilot as well as a sneak peek of another midseason new drama "Raines." Plus, it attempts to buttress freshman hit "Heroes" with a recap of its first 11 episodes.

The NBC DVD will continue to be available to Netflix users through March. "Raines" is also scheduled to become part of the net lineup this spring.

On-air promos on the network will try to drive viewers to the Netflix site for the DVD. Netflix will promote the offering, via a display inside the DVD packages it sends out.