They pulled the new King out of their butts. Kind of a crappy ending, IMO.
wsj.com ‘Game of Thrones’ Finale Sets HBO Ratings Record
Joe Flint
“Game of Thrones” set an HBO ratings record Sunday night as 19.3 million viewers tuned in to watch the epic’s final episode in the U.S., according to Nielsen.
The sprawling, special effects-filled drama about seven kingdoms battling for control of the mythical land of Westeros and the Iron Throne became the most popular show in HBO’s 47-year history. Based on the George R.R. Martin book “A Song of Ice and Fire,” the show and its characters became part of the cultural zeitgeist.
Of the 19.3 million viewers, 13.6 million watched the 9 p.m. viewing on HBO’s flagship channel, which was also a record. Last week’s penultimate episode was viewed by 18.4 million people across various platforms.
HBO spared no expense for “Game of Thrones,” with episodes typically costing $10 million to make and some hitting the $15 million mark, people familiar with the show said. While “Game of Thrones” was shot primarily in Northern Ireland, it filmed in a total of 10 countries during its eight-season run—including Iceland, Spain, Malta and the U.S.
The 19.3-million figure for Sunday night is likely to grow during the week, as fans who missed the finale catch up. Last season, “Game of Thrones” averaged nearly 44.2 million viewers per episode when delayed viewing, video on demand and streaming platforms are factored in.
WarnerMedia’s HBO is a unit of AT&T Inc.
Viewership of many shows declines over time, but the “Game of Thrones” audience increased every season. In the epic’s first season, episodes averaged 9.3 million viewers. Even a nearly two-year break between last season and this season couldn’t slow the appetite for dragons, sword fights and palace intrigue.
The audience for Sunday night’s finale is even more impressive given that HBO is in only 35 million of the country’s 120 million television homes.
While the finale’s viewership number stands out in today’s fragmented media landscape, it pales in comparison to the final episodes other iconic shows such as “M*A*S*H,” which drew 105.9 million viewers, and “Cheers,” which attracted 80 million viewers.
To be sure, those shows ended when there was far less competition for viewers, making comparisons difficult. More recently, the CBS hit sitcom “The Big Bang Theory” ended its 12-season run with 18 million tuning in for the final episode.
Although “Game of Thrones” had a huge following, not all were happy with how this season played out. Fans took to Twitter to gripe about plot twists and character arcs that seemed to be in contrast with previous actions.
“Game of Thrones” isn’t the only long-running show ending on HBO. The political comedy “Veep” ended its run last week with a season-high 1.1 million viewers. As has been the case when other hit HBO shows such as “The Sopranos” ended, the conclusion of “Game of Thrones” has spurred conversations about whether HBO will be able to find a worthy successor.
The premium channel does have “Game of Thrones” prequels in the works. Also, the second season of another popular show, “Big Little Lies,” begins next month.
Write to Joe Flint at joe.flint@wsj.com
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