Despite HBO's best efforts Game of Thrones has been obviously been leaked. The network launched their international live streaming service in order to prevent the privacy of their number one show.
The fifth season of the epic fantasy battle of Westeros launches in the UK tonight - as if you didn't know - while across the rest of the world, they've already been treated to episode one. Unless of course you're well into your dodgy online streaming services where fans have been able to watch the first four episodes back to back - a gutting blow for HBO.
Low-resolution versions of almost half of season five's ten episodes were downloaded over a million times over the weekend before the show's official premiere last night. HBO released a statement to Mashable on Sunday, which read: "Sadly, it seems the leaked four episodes of the upcoming season of 'Game of Thrones' originated from within a group approved by HBO to receive them.” Basically, they think some pesky journalist, who was sent an early copy for review, took liberty.
Game fo Thrones season five watched illegally over a million times this wekeend (HBO)
So what does this mean for the pending season? In 2013 Game of Thrones was crowned the “most pirated show” of all time, which bosses assured was “better than an Emmy”. Then last year the station told Buzzfeed they were totally cool with audiences sharing their HBO Go passwords."To us, it's in many ways a terrific marketing vehicle for the next generation of viewers, and it is actually not material at all to our business growth.” However, in 2015 HBO have taken enormous measures to turn pirates into subscribers.
HBO announced the month that for the first time ever Game of Thrones would be shown simultaneously across the world while their standalone service HBO Now will allow viewers without cable to pay for HBO content.
Game of Throens season 5 debuts tonight (HBO)
The leaks are bound to have stung HBO but a million viewers is a drop in the ocean for Game of Thrones. Its season four finale pulled in 9..3 million in the States alone while the episode was streamed over 28 million times over the course of the following week. In just the first three months of 2015 it's been estimated the show has been illegally pirated over 7million times and coutning.
Season five of Game of Thrones kicks off tonight at 9pm on Sky Atlantic here in the UK while viewers overseas can catch the latest episode a night earlier on HBO.
