In the digital streaming age that we currently live in, it’s now up to broadcast and cable networks to look at both live viewing numbers and the viewing numbers of streaming services. For HBO, their different platforms to watch their shows help to lead their spring shows, consisting of Game of Thrones, Silicon Valley, Veep and Last Week Tonight With John Oliver to record viewing levels, according to a press release from the network.
The press release also said that Real Time With Bill Maher, which has been renewed through 2018, is currently experiencing its largest audience since the show premiered 13 years ago.
“These record audiences reflect the options we have built into our business model over the last few years. Combining the convenience of HBO On Demand and HBO GO with the subscription flexibility of HBO NOW, our programming is being exposed to an ever growing audience,” Richard Plepler, chairman and CEO of HBO, said in a statement.
It should come to no surprise that Game of Thrones, which is once again the most nominated show for this year’s Primetime Emmy Awards, is HBO’s most watched show on record for HBO. The sixth season, which just finished in June, averaged about 25.1 million viewers for the entire season, which is up more than 5 million people compared to last year, when 20.2 million people tuned in for the fifth season.
According to the press release, watching episodes of Game of Thrones on the digital platforms accounted for 40 percent of season six’s ratings and viewing on HBO GO and HBO NOW is up by 91 percent from season five.
Silicon Valley‘s third season has also become the show’s most watched season, as episodes of the show are averaging at 6.7 million viewers per episode, which is up from 6.1 million viewers last year. Streaming of the show on HBO On Demand, HBO GO and HBO NOW accounts for 40 percent of its viewership.
Veep is also doing well for HBO and is experiencing more viewers tuning in this season. For season five, about 4.7 million people tuned in for each of the episodes, which is up from season four’s average of 4.2 million viewers per episode. About a quarter of the audience watches the episodes on HBO On Demand, HBO GO and HBO NOW.
The network’s talk shows are also doing well. For its third season, Last Week Tonight With John Oliver has an audience of about 5.6 million viewers, adding almost a million more viewers from its second season, which had about 4.7 million viewers. Viewers who watch the show on HBO On Demand, HBO GO and HBO NOW account for 22 percent of the viewing audience. Real Time With Bill Maher is averaging 4.4 million viewers, making this season its most watched season since the show premiered in 2003, with 10 percent of its audience coming from the streaming platforms.
HBO also has a lot to look forward to. The network confirmed that season eight of Game of Thrones will be the show’s final season and HBO is looking to add to its talk show fan base as Jon Stewart’s new show could be up and running by the time the election happens in November, according to The Huffington Post.