AOL is set to release Connected, its first long-form series. Most viewers will have to wait until March 31st to see the first installment of the 20-episode documentary, but Roku users are getting a sneak peek. The streaming video player has cut a deal with AOL through which the debut episode of Connected will arrive exclusively on Roku devices one week before its web-wide premiere.
Connected, based on an Israeli TV show and co-produced by filmmaker Morgan Spurlock, follows six New Yorkers as they document their lives over the course of six months. AOL first announced the series in April 2014 and its official trailer arrived close to a year later.
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On March 24th, the Roku deal will bring the first episode of Connected to all of the company’s devices, where it will be available for free. “We’re focused on providing Roku customers with a streaming experience they can’t find anywhere else, and exclusive content such as the series preview of the pilot episode of Connected helps us deliver that unique experience,” said Ed Lee, VP of content at Roku, in a release. “Connected is a show that’s the first of its kind and we know that millions of Roku customers around the world will love watching the first episode a full week before its available anywhere else.”
Viewers without Roku devices can catch Connected across AOL’s distribution network. The first four episodes will be available on March 31st, and new episodes will arrive four at a time on every other Tuesday.
