Showtime and binge? Network to release full season of ‘Dice’ at once

Showtime is getting into the binge business.

The pay-TV network will have a special launch for its new comedy “Dice” by releasing all six episodes at once — a first for Showtime.

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The full season of “Dice,” a semi-autobiographical series that follows the life of comedian Andrew Dice Clay, will be made available at 9 p.m. Pacific on April 9 (midnight Eastern time) on the network’s streaming service, Showtime Anytime, and via Showtime On Demand.

The move is another example of how networks have been scrambling to stay on top of the changing television landscape. The binge method — brought into fashion by streaming services such as Netflix and Amazon — has been one mode of experimentation.

The same weekend, on April 10, Starz unlocks all 13 episodes of “The Girlfriend Experience.” And last year, NBC tested the waters by releasing all episodes of its summer drama “Aquarius” at once.

“With its six-episode run, we feel this comedy is ideally suited to being consumed all at once,” Gary Levine, president of programming for Showtime Networks Inc., said in a statement. “We’re always looking for new ways to make our programming stand-out, and we’re confident that a ‘“Dice” binge’ will appeal to both fans and skeptics alike, and help spread the word about his very funny new Showtime series.”

Showtime, of course, isn’t totally abandoning a traditional roll-out for “Dice.” The series will also premiere the old-fashioned way later that same day at 9:30 p.m. ET/PT on Showtime’s linear channel, with subsequent episodes airing each Sunday.

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