HBO just posted the first 30-minute episode of its new show Silicon Valley onto the network's YouTube channel, a strategy HBO used for Girls earlier this year.
The comedy debuted Sunday night after Game of Thrones, but now people who missed the premiere or want to watch it again can view it for free on YouTube instead of logging through the company's online subscription service HBO Go.
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The show follows introverted programmer Richard (Thomas Middleditch) and focuses on his compression algorithm hidden within his new music site. When his Google-like employer, Hooli, and a venture capitalist discover the algorithm, a bidding war emerges.
The episode opens with Kid Rock performing at an expensive yet stale startup party. Amid the money-makers on the guest list is Google chairman Eric Schmidt, just one of many cameos and references to actual tech behemoths throughout the eight-episode series.
The sitcom was somewhat inspired by co-creator Mike Judge (King of the Hill, Beavis and Butt-head and Office Space), who worked begrudgingly at a Silicon Valley startup in the 1980s.
Silicon Valley aims to satirically capture the startup scene. Apple co-founders Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak are mentioned in the show's first trailer as well.
Offering the episode on YouTube is one way HBO is courting its active online fan base.
"For us, this is an increasingly challenging demographic to reach with traditional means," Sabrina Caluori, HBO's vice-president of social media and marketing, told Mashable in January about HBO's YouTube strategy and overall online game plan.