Even Jon Snow knows that the popularity of Game of Thrones extends far beyond the reach of HBO’s subscriber base. And while it may be some time before control of the Iron Throne is clinched in the series, Game of Thrones itself has taken on a more dubious honor: the most pirated show on television.
Game of Thrones has topped the annual list of pirated TV series for the fourth year in a row. The list estimates that Game of Thrones was illegally downloaded over 14 million times in 2015, which exceeds GoTâs estimated audience of 8 million who watch it via HBO or HBOâs digital platforms. However, the list doesnât appear to include other methods of piracy, or the sharing of HBO Now and HBO Go streaming accounts, which could significantly drive up Game of Thronesâ piracy total.
No one can accuse HBO of not attempting to reach the fans who are pirating the series. The HBO Now streaming service was launched shortly before the beginning of Game of Thrones season 5 in an attempt to undercut the rampant piracy. But the problem is definitely not going away.
Here are the top 10 pirated shows of 2015, as compiled by Torrent Freak.
- Game of Thrones
- The Walking Dead
- The Big Bang Theory
- Arrow
- The Flash
- Mr. Robot
- Vikings
- Supergirl
- The Blacklist
- Suits
The Walking Dead and The Big Bang Theory are two of the most popular shows on TV, so their inclusion on this list was no surprise. The Flash, Arrow, Supergirl, and Vikings also have strong followings, which accounts for their spots. The biggest surprise is Mr. Robot, USAâs hacker series, which has reportedly been downloaded 3.5 million times. Thatâs nearly twice the size of Mr. Robotâs 1.7 million viewership. Game of Thrones is the only other show on this list whose downloads significantly exceeded its television viewers.
Game of Thrones season 6 will launch in April 2016, and it will likely be at the top of the most pirated TV series list in 2016 as well.
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HT: Torrent Freak
Image Credit:Â HBO