‘Game of Thrones’ Season 6 Finale Ratings Hit Series High

No matter who’s on the Iron Throne, “Game of Thrones” continues to rule in ratings; HBO’s drama hit a series high for its Season 6 finale, drawing 8.9 million viewers in a pivotal episode that killed off several major characters and shook up the show’s political landscape forever.

Last year’s Season 5 finale set a previous record of 8.1 million viewers, and the show has been increasing year over year since it debuted. The show premiered in 2011 with 2.2 million viewers, with its first season finale earning 3 million viewers. It hit the 4 million mark a year later with its Season 2 finale. Midway through its third season, it surpassed 5 million viewers for the first time, and then it moved above 6 million in its Season 4 premiere last year. It hit 7 million midway through Season 4, and then kicked off its fifth season with around 8 million watchers.

“Game of Thrones” has averaged 23.3 million multiplatform views overall this season, with fans devouring the show across VOD, streaming site HBO Go, standalone subscription service HBO Now and multiple telecasts and encores. Since premium cable channel HBO doesn’t include ads, it doesn’t place the same importance on demographic breakdowns as broadcast and basic cable networks, but The finale also drew a 4.4 rating in adults 18-49