Game of Thrones episode 506 wins night, while viewership falls 

was the most viewed cable programme of the night. However, the viewership numbers have also once more fallen – 6.24 million have seen the initial airing. Still impressive by all means, but nothing like the premiere night with 8 million, or the 6.8 range of subsequent episodes.

Some points for discussion. Firstly, this metrics, much as we like it, is of course not really important (decreasingly so, see the second point), but we don’t have anything else to go by at the moment. It’s high time for an update on the totals, though – hopefully we can get those numbers soon. Secondly, how much have HBO’s efforts to offer their programming on every platform imaginable undercut live viewing? Thirdly, this year they are showing an episode on the Memorial Day weekend as well, and that’s coming up next week. Keep that in mind when the initial viewership number falls once more. Promise? Good.

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“viewership numbers have also once more fallen”

it’s because the quality is declining….Dorne, Samsey, Margarey becomming retarded, missworm… the list goes on

it’s because the quality is declining….Dorne, Samsey, Margarey becomming retarded.. the list goes on

The wide swing of viewer numbers – we are talking millions here – that vary between episodes and seasons has NOTHING WHATSOEVER to do with storyline or characters. That is not how TV works. (And your opinion about quality lacking is just an opinion.)

This likely has EVERYTHING to do with HBO’s continued efforts toward streaming content, with many people likely catching up on it after the fact, as the WotW story notes above. It was inevitable that this show would reach its peak at some point, and the fact is that it’s reached it – and is staying there now.

I can promise you that Book Purist Pet Peeves like Missandei and Grey Worm or the like are the last reason the ratings are down.

They moved too far from the books and the sandsnakes are ridiculous.

Yes, that explains why general ratings are falling each Sunday so far this season: people dislike this stuff so much that they are not watching TV at all!!!

Given that the audience marks for the episodes are fine and certainly comparable to what we’ve gotten in prior seasons, it seems that another explanation is in order. The fact that people are increasingly watching shows when it is convenient rather than when it is on seems to be the best explanation, as it is a bit more all-encompassing.

Leaf: They moved too far from the books and the sandsnakes are ridiculous.

1) The vast majority of the viewers haven’t read the books. 2) A big proportion of the people who’ve read Crows do not want to see that on TV, anyway. 3) The Sandsnakes are barely on TV.

Other than that, a very likely explanation…..

Cameryn: (And your opinion about quality lacking is just an opinion.)

Strictly speaking, it is an assertion. A true opinion should be backed up by first principles arguments (“good TV should do X, Y and Z; this isn’t”) and/or data (“audience/critic remarks are way down from last year.”)

However, the show is doing fine at telling the story of Crows and Dragons so far, and the audience/critical marks look like normal.

One thing that we do have to keep in mind is that this was always going to be a tough year. The first four seasons got to adapt solid and compelling storytelling. This season also gets to adapt some solid and compelling storytelling from Dragons. But it is also burdened with having to adapt the nebulous and disjointed storytelling from Crows.

Nice spin! I expect the ratings to stay where they are more or less, would be good to know total consolidated viewers soon.

It was inevitable that this show would reach its peak at some point, and the fact is that it’s reached it – and is staying there now.

This. It’s also a great argument for keeping it at 7 seasons (though I wouldn’t mind a 15-episode season 7). At a certain point, the law of diminishing returns kicks in… drag this out to 10 seasons and you will see a considerable ratings slide before the end. Viewers want to see the end game!

I find it ridiculous whenever anyone says that the ratings are down because they moved too far away from the books. Most people have not read the books and/or do not care.

That said, while I’ve actually enjoyed most of this season for one reason or another, I know a

of people who have not. And there has definitely bin a dip in the excitement factor so far this season, with most of the stuff that I got excited about having to do with dropping hints and name-checking book related stuff, which really doesn’t make up for the lack of other stuff going on for anyone who isn’t a book geek like me.

And since I’ll admit that a hefty portion of the people who are as big book geeks as I am tend to freak out about changes a lot more than I do, that’s probably not helping them much either.

. and their own initiatives are presumably made according to a cost-benefit analysis.

Eg- Hmm the audience responds well to the shock factor( dead-Ned, Dracarys, Red Wedding) let’s have some more of that even if it makes little to no sense- Cue Sansa E6 scene.’

‘wow the public loved Oberyn and Ellaria!’ ‘Let’s focus more on Dorne in Season 5 They’ll be more forgiving even if the caliber of the Dornish cast does not quite match up with the rest.’ (excluding Doran)

‘Hmm the male public responded well to the boobs in season 1-2 but most of our actresses (at least we still have Carice!) have since signed no-nudity clauses. Instead of cutting out boobs altogether when unnecessary and dedicating more time to plot building let’s add in a bazillion sex workers- that way third wave feminists can’t do anything about it. ‘

What I’m saying is that the plot is being distilled due to lack of source material which means that the plot is being weakened as D&D are left to their own devices. The public that loved the first few seasons is increasingly turning away because of this. Let’s be honest not much has happened in the first 6 episodes of season 5. Admittedly the leaks and the mothers’ day event may have helped bring down numbers too.

pet peeves lol… yea I guess it’s a pet peeve when Littlefinger can travel from the Vale to Winterfell and back to KL before Stannis can make it to Winterfell.. what would you call that?

Let me ask you something. If they needed Jaime to do something this season – Why not bring the BWB back or have Jaime chasing Blackfish through the Riverlands. It would make just as much sense as the Dorne plot and would bring back characters people already know…….Do you even remember who the Blackfish is?

Ok guys, thanks, I just hope I didn’t spin anything too much?

I would still like to see the numbers go up a bit, I’m a bit disappointed with this week’s (again, little as that means). Give us the totals, HBO!

All those reasons don’t explain the decline between episode 2 and episode 6 though.

5 weeks ago it was because of the leaks, last week was Mother’s Day. Now it’s HBO’s fault. Maybe some really have to do with the show quality? I’m not being mischievous here, I’d really like to know

All of us book readers (the ones making up excuses and the book purists, because I still think most of the people here have read the books) can’t really judge, because the majority of the viewership is unsullied. Anyone has unsullied friends that have stopped watching the show? What are their reasons?

What are the unsullied critics/reviewers saying? Haven’t had much time to check

Something cool to follow, if you don’t know it yet:

Well, I was wrong. Historic trends for the show would have suggested a slight rebound from last week.

This is the first real piece of evidence that the show has already hit its ceiling for initial-airing viewership (the season premiere). Has total viewership (over the course of a week) peaked as well? Is the show’s popularity still rising outside of the U.S.? These are questions that I imagine HBO is asking.

And yes, the ratings for next episode will drop considerably. If they don’t rebound to around 6 million for Episode 8, that could be a problem. Not for the longevity of the show, which is not at all threatened, but for its public perception and (perhaps) future budgets.

Ok guys, thanks, I just hope I didn’t spin anything too much?

I would still like to see the numbers go up a bit, I’m a bit disappointed with this week’s (again, little as that means). Give us the totals, HBO!

Not really, no. Most news outlest comment on the same fact, that GoT won the night once again, and are not at all concerned by the slight decline

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