History Main / EarlyBirdRelease

* The ''WesternAnimation/{{Arthur}}'' episode "Whip. Mix. Blend./Staycation" was released on a DVD in January 2015 before it aired on television in any country. It made its proper American television debut in September of that same year.

* The first eight episodes of ''WesternAnimation/DonkeyHodie'' were released to the PBS Kids app first before premiering on television.

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* ''WesternAnimation/AquaTeenHungerForceColonMovieFilmForTheaters'': Creator/AdultSwim announced that the film would be shown on the network AprilFoolsDay, two weeks before its theatrical release. And they made good on their word... by muting the sound after the already-available first two minutes, shrinking the picture down to the lower-left corner of the screen and running occasional pop-up graphics over it.

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* ''Series/HighSchoolMusicalTheMusicalTheSeries'': Four days before its premiere on the Creator/DisneyPlus streaming service, the first episode will be simulcast on Creator/{{ABC}}, Creator/DisneyChannel and Creator/{{Freeform}}.

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** "Hiccup Plague" will premiere on the complete Season 12 DVD set as opposed to a television release.

* The ''Anime/{{Doraemon}}'' episode "Big G: Master Chef" was released to the internet before it aired on TV, along with "Noby! Noby! He's Our Man; Gone With The Sneeze", though the latter was removed after its TV premiere.

* In general, many Cartoon Network shows in the age of streaming have had epiaodes first released on-demand or on the app weeks in advance of the linear premiere, such as ''WesternAnimation/ThunderCatsRoar''’s first episodes and '' WesternAnimation/TeenTitansGo''’s CrossOver with them, “Teen Titans Roar”.

** The ''WesternAnimation/StevenUniverseFuture'' episode "Homeworld Bound" was intended to be attached to a Fathom Events screening of ''WesternAnimation/StevenUniverseTheMovie'', but when that event was cancelled due to the COVID-19 outbreak, it was instead released on the Cartoon Network website and app on the day it was to have been screened.

This is usually the case for a BonusEpisode on a DVD release for a show. Compare ShortRunInPeru, where this is the case for works outside their native countries. Contrast ContentLeak, where the release is accidental.

* Creator/PBSKids also utilizes the "channel-related app premiere" method, with them using it to premiere ''WesternAnimation/ReadyJetGo'', ''WesternAnimation/PinkaliciousAndPeterrific'' and ''WesternAnimation/LetsGoLuna'', as well as some new episodes of their other shows that have yet to air on TV.

* The first episode of ''WesternAnimation/BigCityGreens'', "Space Chicken/Steak Night" came out on the Disney Channel [=YouTube=] channel on June 8, 2018, while its tv debut was on June 18.

* The ''WesternAnimation/ElenaOfAvalor'' episode "Luna's Big Leap" was meant to air on the Disney Junior channel on April 27, 2019, but an encore of the previous episode , "Not Without My Magic", aired instead. While it did come out on Watch Disney Now and on demand the day of its intended release, it's tv debut would be 2 days later on April 29.

** "Scare Master" came out on iTunes on September 21, 2015 while its tv premiere was on October 31. This is due to it being produced after "Rarity Investigates", which did come out the Saturday before hand.

* In general, many Cartoon Network shows in the age of streaming have had epiaodes first released on-demand or on the app weeks in advance of the linear premiere, such as ''WesternAnimation/ThunderCatsRoar''’s first episodes and '' WesternAnimation/TeenTitansGo''’s crossover with them, “Teen Titans Roar”.

* ''WesternAnimation/StarWarsResistance'':
** [[Recap/StarWarsResistanceS1E1TheRecruit "The Recruit"]], [[Recap/StarWarsResistanceS1E2TheTripleDark "The Triple Dark"]] and [[Recap/StarWarsResistanceS1E3FuelForTheFire "Fuel for the Fire"]] were all released online on October 7, 2018, the same day the series premiered with "The Recruit" airing on TV.

** The ''WesternAnimation/StevenUniverseFuture'' episode "Homeworld Bound" was intended to be attached to a Fathom Events screening of ''WesternAnimation/StevenUniverseTheMovie'' but the coronavirus outbreak caused the event to be canceled.

** All episodes after that have been released online and on-demand at the beginning of the day, prior to the television broadcast at night.

** The ''WesternAnimation/StevenUniverseFuture'' episode "Homeworld Bound" will accompany a special one-time-only theatrical showing of sing-along edition of ''WesternAnimation/StevenUniverseTheMovie''.

** The penultimate episode of ''WesternAnimation/StevenUniverseFuture'' will accompany a special one-time-only theatrical showing of sing-along edition of ''WesternAnimation/StevenUniverseTheMovie''.

** theatrically sing-along edition of ''WesternAnimation/StevenUniverseTheMovie''.