Skins is a young drama series that airs on Channel 4 and E4. The programme is about to begin its second season, which will première online before anywhere else.

The programme deals with a group of youngsters growing up, how they interact with each other, and deal with the problems life throws at them.

The second series titled Skins 2 will be shown on E4 from Monday 11th February, but it’s available to watch online right now, with the first episode cut in to four parts on MySpace TV.

The first 15 minutes are available now, with the second part on the site from the 7th, the third from the 8th, and the last part from the 9th.

Then on the 10th February, the whole episode will be available to watch in full from the E4 website, a full day before receiving its première on traditional TV.

E4 marketing manager Sarah Martin said:

“Getting programming out to where our viewers are is an ongoing and important part of E4′s strategy,”

“It’s great that we’re able to reward Skins fans by giving them the chance to watch it ahead of it being on the channel.”

This is a brilliant example of a mainstream TV channel using the Internet to gain extra viewers, and create some buzz about a programme.

Let’s hope more television channels also start realising the potential of the web for enticing viewers in.

[MySpace e4 Skins]