Game of Thrones app basically sits on the Iron Throne of apps
It seems like HBO sets new records each week with the epic success of Game of Thrones and this week has been no exception: the HBO Now app topped the App Store in profitability.
Cersei Lannister may have debts to pay to the Iron Bank, but thanks to Game of Thrones, the HBO Now app is in far more profitable shape. On Friday, Mashable pointed out that the HBO Now app had beat out all other apps in the app store profitability-wise for days in a row, beating out technological titans like Tinder, Candy Crush, and Netflix.
It seems Game of Thrones will rake in money for HBO no matter what. Even with recent weeks’ hacks, leaks, and accidental early airings of the show, there hasn’t even been a dent in the fantasy series TV fandom armor. In fact, despite those issues, Game of Thrones continues to set ratings records this season. According to our friends at sister site Winter is Coming, first it was the season 7 premiere, “Dragonstone” that went gangbusters with 10.1 million live viewers (live, not even tuning in the next day). But perhaps more impressive was the fact that episode 4, “The Spoils of War” set an even bigger record: 10.167 million live viewers even after the episode had been leaked online. Essentially, nothing will stop devoted Game of Thrones fans from consuming all things Thrones.
With the app, Mashable cites Sensor Tower data that puts the app’s single day profits for this past Wednesday, Aug, 16, at a whopping $2.6 million (the previous single-day record was $1.9 million last June).
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The show, in short, is a juggernaut, and the network clearly knows that and is running with it, spreading out its popularity over two short final seasons instead of one longer one. It’s a tactic other buzzy shows have implemented in the past much to their fans’ chagrin (yes, we’re looking at you Mad Men and Breaking Bad). But it seems HBO should have no trouble keeping GoT enthusiasts interested, whether it’s on their TV screens or their phones.