Game of Thrones viewership stays level with Battle of the Bastards 

was seen by 7.66 million people during the first airing, which is in the same range as last week’s

episode (7.60 mil) – but with a proviso that episode 609 ran again the decisive 7th game of the NBA finals, which understandably drew a huge audience.

Does refering to the NBA game sound like an excuse? Eh, I don’t really care. At the moment, I am really looking forward to the finale, and hopefully the viewers in general are just as hooked. Several things have been set up to explode in the last episode this season, and I’m curious to see even the quieter moments dealing with the fallout of the Epic 9 that was 

We are likely getting an Epic 10 this year as well, if you ask me.

In the past seasons, the finale always saw at least some uptick in the number of live viewers. Let’s see what happens next week.

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Some said 8 million but we said no way with the b-ball on. Some people really are stupid about ratings.

Did hoped for 8 million. But I guess NBA, in the USA, is much bigger then I imagined.

I know nothing of basketball so I’m not suprised I was wrong.

Unfortunately, it didn’t do so hot with men under the IQ of 16 who haven’t figured out that 99% of all basketball games are pointless to watch until the final 24 seconds and they are ruining potential relationships over 24 seconds every few days (which Nielsen also notes is the average “sexual lastability ” of these men as well… so perhaps they are doing everyone a favor not procreating).

Also, Battle of the Bastards had a lower than expected viewership by kids under the age of 12 who were unable to sneak into the “big room” to watch because “daddy’s being a dipshit about this whole b-ball thing.”

Another lower-than-expected turnout was by infants. Apparently all the loud noises and hectic editing borrowed from GLADIATOR had what Nielsen calls the “I want my boh-boh” effect, which in turn also seemed to diminish the total minutes of viewership by parents and baby-sitters just trying to make out with their college boyfriend.

Finally, NONE OF THIS MATTERS! THIS IS A PREMIUM CABLE CHANNEL! RATINGS MEAN SHIT!

Thank you. I will be here once more next week.

I’m one of those people that watched the NBA finals first and then switched over to Bastard Bowl afterwards.

Serious question but do you think for long how elaborate the ”rant” will be?

Serious question but do you think for long how elaborate the ”rant” will be?

I’m one of those people that watched the NBA finals first and then switched over to Bastard Bowl afterwards.

I love it! Spot on about only needing to watch the last 24 seconds, hahahaha

8 million for the finale? Come on, it would be cool! WERE ALMOST THERE>

Since this counts in the US only, live viewership at 9pm eastern, everyone who lives there should cancel all plans to watch live lol

Given the episode’s massive success, it could break the record for the finale. Didn’t really expect a record breaking audience for this one since so many people were disappointed by “No One”, but “Battle of the Bastards” is probably the most popular episode in the show’s history, it’s still a 10 on IMDB with over 60’000 votes. The finale might really be huge.

A man will be sad if the record isn’t broken (yes I know it’s meaningless).

1. 510. Mother’s Mercy – 8.11 million 2. 501. The Wars to Come – 8.00 million

5. 604. Book of the Stranger – 7.82 million

7. 609. Battle of the Bastards – 7.66 million

It’s still weird to me that last year’s premiere had higher ratings than any of this year’s episodes. I’m really not sure why.

After “Mother’s Mercy”, I was sure the season 6 premiere would smash the record, what with all the Jon stuff. After his resurrection in “Home”, I thought the record would be smashed for “Oathbreaker”.

No its not just LIVE – it counts all that watched until 3:00am.

I want to know how many other obsessed people watch it live at 2am UK time besides me.

Markus, I really think it has to do with the streaming services we have now. Many people are using that instead

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