The Knick free on YouTube, Cinemaxasia.com

MANILA, Philippines - For the first time ever, HBO Asia will offer a free sampling of the first episode of the brand-new Cinemax Original Series, The Knick, on its website (www.cinemaxasia.com) and on HBO Asia’s YouTube channel (www.youtube.com/HBOAsia) for a period of two weeks from Aug. 11 to 25, just two days after its Asian TV premiere.

“This is the first time HBO Asia is offering the entire pilot episode of our original series for free to all audiences, including non-subscribers, on our website and on the HBO Asia YouTube channel,” said Magdalene Ew, HBO Asia Marketing, Creative and Content head.

“We hope this free sampling of the Cinemax Original Series, The Knick, will help build interest in the brand-new show, offer more viewers a chance to watch the show legitimately and prompt viewers to subscribe to the channel.”

The first episode of The Knick on HBO Asia’s YouTube channel and www.cinemaxasia.com will be available in eight territories — Hong Kong, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Taiwan and Thailand. Subtitles will be available in Hong Kong (Chinese), Indonesia (Bahasa Indonesia), Malaysia (Bahasa Malaysia), Taiwan (Chinese) and Thailand.

Starring Academy Award and Emmy nominee Clive Owen (photo, HBO’s Hemingway & Gellhorn) and directed by Academy Award and Emmy winner Steven Soderbergh (HBO’s Behind the Candelabra), The Knick is set in downtown New York in 1900 and centers on the Knocherbocker hospital and its groundbreaking surgeons, nurses and staff, who push the boundaries of medicine in a time of astonishingly high mortality rates and zero antibiotics. The Cinemax Original series has been renewed for a second season ahead of its series premiere.