So, they need to sell people in that first hour, to get the chance of telling the rest of the story.

Snow crash has one of the best opening chapters of any novel I’ve read.

Though the central premise feels somewhat dated now that everybody assumes self driving cars are around the corner.

Isn't the opening of Snow Crash the scene where Hiro is delivering the pizza and he crashes his car and YT comes along and delivers the pizza for him?

If you can't sell an audience on the strength of that opening, you shouldn't be making television.