Starz Entertainment is pulling out all of the stops with its free sample previews of novelist Ken Follett's "The Pillars of Earth," which has been made into an eight-hour series.

Starz is making available free previews and on-demand/online sampling of the series through some of its affiliate partners starting tomorrow. The series officially kicks off with a two-hour showing on Friday and will continue its Friday night debuts for the remainder of the programming.

Starz affiliates that are taking part in tomorrow's previews of the first two full episodes include: Blue Ridge Communications (in HD), Bright House Networks (HD), Buckeye CableSystem, Cablevision, Charter Communications (HD), Comcast (HD), Cox Communications (HD), DirecTV (HD), Mediacom Communications (HD), RCN (HD), Time Warner Cable (HD) and WOW.

All told, "The Pillars of the Earth" preview opportunities will be available in more than 60 million video households, which Starz said was record participation by its cable and satellite affiliates. 

This morning, Starz and consumer book publisher Penguin Group announced that an "amplified edition" of the book, which includes video clips, art and music from the upcoming series, is available as an app for iPads.

Available today for $12.99, the amplified edition of "The Pillars of the Earth" gives iPad users the opportunity to read the novel and watch key scenes and images from the event series in tandem with the series.

Updates will occur repeatedly while the TV series airs so that consumers who purchase the amplified edition will have a dynamic user experience that complements the story and the viewing experience of the eight-part series.

There will be an amplified edition app for iPhone and iPod touch users later this week.