Ten releases preview of first Puberty Blues episode exclusively for Facebook fans
Network Ten has taken a word of mouth building approach to its major new drama series, releasing the first episode of Puberty Blues on Facebook in advance of it airing next Wednesday.
The Cronulla period drama is a remake of the iconic 1979 Australian novel by Gabrielle Carey and Kathy Lette.
Mumbrella understands that Ten is so far the only major Australian network to take this approach which it also adopted for the first episode of the most recent series of Offspring. Facebook fans of Puberty Blues can watch the entire 43 minute 51second first episode online through Network Ten’s Facebook app.
The show has been made by Southern Star. The cast includes Claudia Karvan, Jeremy Lindsay Taylor, Susie Porter, Dan Wyllie, Susan Prior and Rodger Corser.
Surely the viewers of this show will be Elder Gen X’s and Baby Boomers reminiscing over the good old days, I maybe wrong, if not its possibly not a facebook heavy audience.
Having said that I think its a very good strategy for shows with the right FB fit.
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Andy, I’ll think you’ll find there’s a stack of Gen Xer’s and Baby Boomers on FB 🙂
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We may be getting a bit slow on the up-take but thankfully us old-timers have had nearly a decade to catch on to FB….
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I must object to the words ‘elder’ and ‘Gen Xers’ in the same sentence
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Great idea to create word of mouth through a Facebook preview. I’ve seen enough of the show to rate it as a hit. I am surprised though that there are only around 8000 fans – the key to social sharing is to recruit as many people as possible. Content sorted – traffic driving maybe not. Won’t be as effective as it could have been for that reason.
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I gues sif you look at Underbelly, Mad Men, Bikie Wars, Paper Giants etc they were all set in a different time but rate fine for younger audiences
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It should be noted that Channel Ten did a similar ‘premiere’ launch with the latest season of Offspring. It’s a great idea that works well for already fans of the show.
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Anthony – this is the first time Ten has previewed a brand new show with no existing audience- Offspring had already picked up audience / fans from the previous two seasons. So in this respect, it’s a first.
Cheers,
Cathie – Mumbrella
as soon as i told my 13 year old girl this was viewable on Facebook, she and her friend disappeared to watch the show… yes Puberty Blues maybe from our GenX childhood… but it has definitely appealed to a new audience… teenage angst is popular amongst the teenagers with angst.
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@Andy, sure hope your not a media planner or strategist because you have a narrow view of the ‘elder Gen X’, audience.
Good on you Ch10, good quality drama is desperately needed.
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I couldn’t get it to play 🙁
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Well done Channel 10!!! Full marks for Puberty Blues.
Now if you dump The Shire,and the dance garbage,,,,,,
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