HBO’s extremely anticipated “Game of Thrones” prequel broke information as the largest premier in HBO historical past, the firm stated Monday. Why it issues: The prequel reveals the energy of extending common franchises again in time for super-fans. It additionally proves HBO can nonetheless market hits below its new possession. Details: “House of the Dragon” drew almost 10 million viewers throughout HBO’s cable channel and HBO Max in its U.S. debut Sunday night time, the largest viewers for any new unique sequence in the historical past of HBO, the firm stated. The sequence generated the highest viewership for any premium cable or streaming premiere in 2022, exceeding the preliminary same-day viewership of Netflix’s “Stranger Things,” per Samba TV, a TV tech and insights firm.The present was 23x extra in-demand than the common present amongst U.S. shoppers the day earlier than it launched, per Parrot Analytics, a content material insights firm, and was in much more demand globally. Yes, however: A groundswell of curiosity triggered the HBO Max app to crash for 1000’s of folks in the U.S. on Sunday night time, Axios’ Hope King reported. Catch up fast: Based on the George R.R. Martin novel “Fire & Blood,” the new HBO sequence focuses on the occasions of the Targaryen household almost 200 years earlier than “Game of Thrones.”The present debuted greater than three years after the remaining season of “Game of Thrones” which was not well-received amongst followers and critics.The unique “Game of Thrones” sequence had its strongest week on HBO Max ever in the week main as much as the premier of “House of the Dragon,” HBO stated.The massive image: “Game of Thrones” proved vital in serving to HBO Max lure viewers to its different TV reveals. Analysts say HBO Max might be profitable if it may discover methods to make use of “House of the Dragon” to lure eyeballs to its different streaming content material. “The subsequent problem, and the actual alternative for HBO in the coming weeks, is to develop viewership past the passionate built-in fan base,” stated Ashwin Navin, Co-Founder & CEO of Samba TV. In order to maximise its worth, the present wants to assist drive customers to different titles which can be out there solely out there on HBO Max, stated Wade Payson-Denney, a communications supervisor at Parrot Analytics. That’s what’s going to finally assist HBO Max drive long-term subscribers. Of notice: The profitable debut of “House of the Dragon” comes as Warner Bros. Discovery tries to streamline its content material technique. While the firm is slicing again on some titles, it is doubling down on others that it thinks will be capable of drive a big return on funding. The firm spent extra selling “House of the Dragon” than on every other present in HBO’s historical past. What to look at: “House of the Dragon” is the newest prequel to attract massive curiosity. The present debuted simply days after the common “Breaking Bad” prequel “Better Caul Saul” ended after six seasons. “Fear the Walking Dead,” which debuted in 2015 as a prequel to “The Walking Dead,” remains to be at present airing on AMC in its seventh season.”Young Sheldon” simply completed its fifth season with one other two seasons on the manner. The present is a prequel to “The Big Bang Theory,” that is framed as a coming-of-age story versus a sitcom. What’s subsequent: Amazon Prime’s upcoming sequence “The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power” is one other upcoming prequel, specializing in occasions 1000’s of years earlier than “The Hobbit” and “The Lord of the Rings.”
https://www.axios.com/2022/08/23/house-dragon-sets-hbo-record
“House of the Dragon” sets HBO record
