In a first for a major Australian TV production, all six episodes of Chris Lilley's keenly anticipated new comedy Jonah From Tonga will be released online before its broadcast on ABC1 next month.

The move mimics the strategies of US players like Netflix, maker of the Emmy-winning House of Cards, which is widely credited with changing the way viewers engage with TV content in the wired world.

Bringing Jonah back: Chris Lilley's new ABC/BBC/HBO production reprises his role from Summer Heights High. Credit:Ben Timony

The ABC/BBC/HBO production Jonah From Tonga has Lilley reprising the tearaway schoolboy and teachers' worst nightmare Jonah Takalua, who was last seen being expelled from school in Lilley's earlier comedy Summer Heights High.

From May 2 to 4, the entire series will be available for streaming via the ABC's online player iView on internet-enabled TVs, tablets, smartphones and gaming consoles, before starting a six-week run on ABC1 on May 7. Production partner BBC will embark on a similar release strategy the same weekend.