http://www.criticsrant.com/archive/2007/11/29/HBO-To-Air-New-Episodes-Of-THE-WIRE-Via-On-Demand.aspx News hit the web recently that HBO will be airing new episodes of the fifth and final season of its acclaimed urban drama THE WIRE using the on-demand service, in advance of their standard broadcast. The premiere episode from the fifth season will appear on HBO’s on-demand playlist on December 31, a full week before it airs on January 6. From there on out, each new episode will appear on the on-demand playlist the day after the previous one is broadcast, until the season ends its ten-episode run to bring the series to a close. Admittedly this is not a new approach for HBO; the fourth season of THE WIRE also featured episodes available on on-demand before they were broadcast. However, the series’ main hurdle has always been that, despite unequaled praise from critics—who often laud it as the best show on television (it’s my personal favorite,)—it has often performed sub-par in the ratings, despite having a fiercely loyal fan base. en-US Critics Rant info@criticsrant.com Subtext Version 1.9.4.0 http://www.criticsrant.com/images/default_gravatar_bullhorn.png http://www.criticsrant.com/archive/2007/11/29/HBO-To-Air-New-Episodes-Of-THE-WIRE-Via-On-Demand.aspx 77 60