'Game of Thrones' Leaked 'Spoils of War' Was the Most-Watched Episode Ever
Leak this, baby!
"Game of Thrones" Season 7, Episode 4, "Spoils of War" was leaked online three days before its August 6 air date, and HBO may want to actually hope that happens again. Not only did that leak not hurt the Sunday night ratings, "Spoils of War" was the most watched GoT episode of all time. Yes, Kanye, of all time. So far, anyway. It just barely beat the Season 7 premiere, but it was well-received enough by fans that we can probably expect the numbers to stay high for the rest of the seven-episode season, with the final six of Season 8 hitting blockbuster heights.
Here's the Episode 4 rundown from TV by the Numbers:
"Elsewhere Sunday, 'Game of Thrones' had its most-watched episode ever at 10.17 million viewers, topping the 10.11 million for the Season 7 premiere. The episode's 4.6 rating in the 18-49 demographic was the show's second-best ever, a tenth behind the premiere."
Overall, this has not been the best time for HBO, from the entire storyline for Season 7 being leaked months ago, to this full episode leaking in advance, to the ongoing hack situation, to the #NoConfederate campaign against the "Game of Thrones" showrunners' next project. But still. The most-watched episode in seven seasons! The leak may have even helped, since people who watched the leak got on social media to hype it as the best episode yet. They said they were looking forward to watching the battle in HD instead of the low-quality leaked version. It was actually some brilliant accidental marketing. (Unless it wasn't accidental. #tinfoilhat #conspiracy)
GoT Season 7 continues this Sunday, Aug. 13 with Episode 5, "Eastwatch," suggesting our first look at the White Walkers all season. You know no one will want to miss that.
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