When you sit down to watch the new season of Game of Thrones each week this Spring, you’ll truly be watching with the entire world – at least those who don’t mind staying/getting up at odd hours to catch the HBO hit.
HBO has announced that it will simulcast each episode of the fifth season worldwide – in over 170 counties and territories. That means fans in many parts of the world will not have to wait to watch the show (or download it). It’ll air at the same time everywhere – HBO Asia, HBO Canada, HBO Europe, HBO Latin America, HBO Netherlands and HBO Nordic.
Of course, it has a 9pm EST air time in the States. That’s 1am in London, and 10am the next day in Tokyo.
But hey, GoT fans are crazy.
.@GameOfThrones S5 to be simulcast across the globe timed with airing on @HBO U.S., starting Sunday, 4/12 at 9PM ET: http://t.co/M7yLZYZNqU
— HBO PR (@HBOPR) March 10, 2015
“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 Michael Lombardo, President, HBO Programming. “It’s going to be a great season.”
There are plenty of motivations for HBO to make this move. Yeah, it’s now a true global event – and that’s pretty damn cool. But simulcasting the show is just one, albeit small, way to combat piracy. If everybody has access as soon as possible, there’s less of a reason to download the show off the internet. Of course, this doesn’t take into account all the other reasons people would pirate apart from impatience – but to HBO, it’s something.
HBO just unveiled its new, standalone streaming service HBO NOW – which as of now is an Apple exclusive.
The one winter we always look forward to. @GameOfThrones @HBO #HBONOW #AppleLive http://t.co/bji6TbDFwY
— iTunes Trailers (@iTunesTrailers) March 9, 2015
Image via Game of Thrones, Facebook