TV Ratings: ‘Game of Thrones’ Continues to Grow, Pulls Record 4.7 Million Viewers

Two week after its heavily promoted season premiere, Game of Thrones continues to pull big numbers to inaugural airings.

The HBO series hit another series record on Sunday night, averaging 4.72 million viewers at 9 p.m. That's up 11 percent, week to week, from its relatively steady second outing of 4.27 million viewers. Game of Thrones' previous record came with its season three premiere haul of 4.36 million.

PHOTOS: 'Game of Thrones' Season 3 Premiere

With the 11 p.m. encore, Game of Thrones pulled 5.8 million viewers for the night. And among adults 18-49, something of a moot point for the ad-free cable network, Game of Thrones matched its previous high of a 2.4 rating.

Veep returned to HBO at 10 p.m. for its second season, averaging just shy of 1.2 million viewers. And while the Julia Louis-Dreyfus comedy was down from its 1.4 million debut in 2012, it was steady with its freshman finale. Also of note: the series topped every original broadcast of Girls' recent sophomore season in the same half-hour.

Elsewhere on cable, Mad Men is not sharing Game of Thrones' momentum. The second episode of the AMC drama's sixth season shed nearly 20 percent of its 3.4 million premiere haul on Sunday night, averaging 2.7 million viewers.

Michael O'Connell

TV Ratings: ‘Game of Thrones’ Continues to Grow, Pulls Record 4.7 Million Viewers

Two week after its heavily promoted season premiere, Game of Thrones continues to pull big numbers to inaugural airings.

The HBO series hit another series record on Sunday night, averaging 4.72 million viewers at 9 p.m. That's up 11 percent, week to week, from its relatively steady second outing of 4.27 million viewers. Game of Thrones' previous record came with its season three premiere haul of 4.36 million.

PHOTOS: 'Game of Thrones' Season 3 Premiere

With the 11 p.m. encore, Game of Thrones pulled 5.8 million viewers for the night. And among adults 18-49, something of a moot point for the ad-free cable network, Game of Thrones matched its previous high of a 2.4 rating.

Veep returned to HBO at 10 p.m. for its second season, averaging just shy of 1.2 million viewers. And while the Julia Louis-Dreyfus comedy was down from its 1.4 million debut in 2012, it was steady with its freshman finale. Also of note: the series topped every original broadcast of Girls' recent sophomore season in the same half-hour.

Elsewhere on cable, Mad Men is not sharing Game of Thrones' momentum. The second episode of the AMC drama's sixth season shed nearly 20 percent of its 3.4 million premiere haul on Sunday night, averaging 2.7 million viewers.

Michael O'Connell