Knight Ridder Newspapers

On HBO, “Rome” will be built in seven days.

In what the network is calling its largest, most aggressive push for a new series, each of “Rome’s” first three episodes will be shown seven days a week, HBO announced Wednesday.

“Rome,” which traces the rise of the ancient empire, launches Aug. 28. Twelve hourlong episodes are slated for 9 p.m. Sundays.

Each of the first trio – all directed by Michael Apted (“Coal Miner’s Daughter”) – will run at various times every night of the week either on the mother ship, HBO2 or HBO Signature.

In addition, throughout the entire series the previous week’s episode will be shown at 8 p.m. Sunday, leading into the debut of that week’s new show at 9.

A co-production with the BBC, “Rome” begins in 51 B.C. as Julius Caesar (Ciaran Hinds) has completed his eight-year conquest of Gaul and is returning to Rome.

Co-stars include Kevin McKidd, Ray Stevenson and Kenneth Cranham.

Hitch up your togas, there’s more.

Non-HBO subscribers can catch the first two episodes, “The Stolen Eagle” and “How Titus Pullo Brought Down the Republic” during the network’s next free preview, Sept. 3 to 7.

For HBO On Demand types, another twist: The third episode, “An Owl in a Thornbush,” will be available beginning Sept. 5, six days before it debuts on HBO.

Why the mondo campaign for “Rome”?

For starters, its $100 million price tag makes “Rome” the most expensive full series HBO has ever produced, according to David Baldwin, executive vice president, program planning.

“This is a huge series for us,” he says. “We wanted to give it every opportunity to be seen by as many people as possible.” Also, launching the show before the fall season begins gives HBO an added advantage in building viewership, he says.

Alan Poul, an executive producer of HBO’s “Six Feet Under,” directed an episode of “Rome” and calls it “one of the greatest experiences of my life.”

“Rome” “immerses you in an ancient culture in what I believe is a much more credible approach than the kind of “togas crossing the forum’ effect of most historical treatments of this period.”

Speaking of ancient Rome (and isn’t everyone these days?), the debut of the ABC miniseries “Empire” was fed to the lions Tuesday. It drew a measly 6.35 million viewers from 9 to 11 p.m.

After three episodes, “The Closer has been renewed for a second 15-episode season, TNT said Wednesday. Kyra Sedgwick stars as an Atlanta detective transferred to L.A. to run a homicide division. Its June 13 debut notched more than 7 million viewers … Logo, MTV’s new gay-and-lesbian digital channel, has added DirecTV to its lineup of providers for Thursday’s launch, it said Wednesday. That expands Logo’s universe to 13 million homes, a network rep says. Still no deal with Comcast.