• by David Goetzl  @dgoetzl, January 12, 2009

Showtime, a pay network, is making the premiere episode of new original series "United States of Tara" free on more than 100 Web sites and other outlets. The network said it will be accessible to 170 million people.

The "dark comedy" debuts Jan. 18 at 9 p.m. The DreamWorks TV production, from executive producer Steven Spielberg, is the first regular series for star Toni Collette. The first two episodes are also being screened Jan. 13 at theaters in some 25 markets; Landmark Theatres and Netflix are also involved in that promotion.

Other Showtime series, "The L Word" and "Secret Diary of a Call Girl," will have premiere episodes streamed on the same platforms as "Tara."

The distribution platforms include CBS's TV.com (CBS owns Showtime), which is ramping up a robust offering of full episodes of programs; YouTube; Blockbuster.com; CinemaNow; and Facebook. Mobile phone services such as VCast will carry the shows, which will be accessible via an iTunes podcast.

Showtime said that 24 distributors from Comcast to AT&T to DirecTV will help make the episodes available, including on DirecTV's 101 network, which it programs itself.

Showtime said the campaign is part of a "digital sampling strategy (that) ... has proven to be a very effective tool not only by increasing consumers' exposure to premium television programs, but also helping drive subscription to the network."