Game of Thrones' season five is going to be a worldwide event.
HBO announced it will simulcast its season five episodes across 170 countries during the ten-episode run. Viewers in New York will be able to see the episode as the same time as fans in Europe or Africa (and freak out about those Red Wedding moments in real time). In previous seasons, episodes were time shifted for other territories, or even delayed weeks or months.
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“We are thrilled to see our international partners jumping on board to bring Game of Thrones, one of the most universally loved television shows in the world, to global audiences at the same time it airs on HBO in the U.S.,” said HBO president of programming Michael Lombardo in a statement. “It’s going to be a great season.”
The action begins Sunday, April 12 at 9 p.m. ET, with the season five premiere airing across HBO branded networks including HBO Asia, HBO Canada, HBO Europe, HBO Latin America, HBO Netherlands and HBO Nordic.
Other international services that will air the episodes include Africa/M-Net, Australia/Foxtel, Belgium(Flemish)/Telenet, France/Orange, Iceland/365 Media, Israel/DBS, Sky Deutschland, Sky Italia and SKY New Zealand. HBO licensing partners in the simulcast include: Belgium(French)/Betv, Greece/Intervision, Russia/Amedia and Spain/DTS.
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The series, based on George R.R. Martin's a Song of Ice and Fire series of fantasy novels, is known for ambitious international shoots and its fanbase across the world. The move follows Game of Thrones becoming the first television series to screen in IMAX.
Email: Aaron.Couch@THR.com
Twitter: @AaronCouch
