Game of Thrones Premiere Sets Series Ratings Record
Matt Richenthal at .This just in: A lot of people like Game of Thrones.
The numbers are in, according to Variety, and more people than ever tuned in Sunday night for Game of Thrones Season 5 Episode 1, as the premiere drew approximately 8 million total households.
That figure is an increase of around 17 percent (or 1.16 million viewers) from the Season 4 opener, clocking in at roughly 800,000 more viewers than any other Game of Thrones installment to date.
The previous series ratings high arose from Game of Thrones Season 4 Episode 7 (“Mockingbird"), which is best remembered as the one where Littlefinger murdered Lysa by pushing her out the moon door; it garnered 7.195 million viewers.
Sunday’s premiere also averaged 5.3 million viewers among 18-49-year olds, a 14 percent increase from last year’s first episode.
This advertiser-friendly demographic is far less important on a network that has no ads, however, of course. But still. Solid stuff!
Game of Thrones Season 5 Episode 2 airs this Sunday at 9/8c.
Matt Richenthal is the Editor in Chief of TV Fanatic. Follow him on Twitter and on Google+.