One of CBS’ new (and heavily promoted) fall shows is about to get a one week bump for TiVo subscribers. The Class, an ensemble sitcom that includes Jason Ritter, will be available to TiVo subscribers as a free preview. This type of partnership is a first, and will likely be the first of many. George Schweitzer, head of marketing for CBS, commented that “CBS’ partnership with TiVo is a creative new way to use DVR technology to help drive television network viewing. Our goal is to introduce our fresh new comedy The Class... to a broad, diversified, receptive audience that has the ability to start trends and generate buzz, which is exactly what TiVo offers.”

CBS also has agreed to give TiVo users previews of three other new series: Jericho, Smith and Shark. TiVo users total around 4.4 million, while the number of households in the U.S. with DVRs is somewhere in the 8 to 12 million range. This type of arrangement could allow TiVo to set themselves apart from the other DVR services.