If you are unfamiliar with Game of Thrones (GOT) you must be living under a rock, or perhaps the wrong side of the wall. The show, which will air its fifth series this spring, has been one of HBOs biggest successes. Its current 9.5 rating on IMDB really says it all. Not only does it attract millions of viewers but it has also attracted the Queen of England to visit the set; a visit that was rewarded with a miniature Iron Throne. In sum, GOT has not only been a television success for HBO; its popularity has caused other sectors to benefit profusely. What follows are the biggest GOT benefactors. Starting with the most obvious. The television industry has been made all the better by the show. Once you factor repeats and on-demand television, the fourth series of the show attracted an average of 18.6 million viewers per episode in America, overtaking The Sopranos as the most popular HBO programme. It also manages to attract more than a million viewers to Sky Atlantic, a channel that very rarely gets close to such a figure. The burgeoning popularity of the show allows it to operate at costs of $6 million per episode. Greater funds mean greater TV shows which results in greater viewer enjoyment. GOTs success means more money in the hands of HBO, which is most definitely a good thing, and this allows them to make other stellar television shows like the commended True Detective series.
4. Entertainment Industry
Anyone with half a mind would try to board the GOT express. Right now it is a show that is on the tip of everyones tongue and by linking it to one of your products certainly does it no harm. Unsurprisingly, there have been numerous companies in the entertainment sector that have factored in the GOT sensation. For example, you have 32Red, which has a GOT themed slot machine. The game sees you spin your way around Westeros looking out for bonus Direwolves or dragons and the like. But you are not just subject to Westeros and the cruel reign of Queen Cersei Lannister, find an ancient coin and you can go and enjoy the fruits of Essos. Telltale Games have also ridden the crest of the wave; managing to release the first GOT video game in December of last year. The game, which is available on all consoles, was released to minimal fanfare and garnered mixed-to-positive reviews. This shouldnt be of too much concern for Telltale, who have been both pragmatic and intelligent with their GOT game, releasing it in an episode format. So far we have had one of six. Once the series gets back on the air, expect more games to follow, which with the heightened interest should sell like hot cakes. In the entertainment industry right now it pays to be associated with Game of Thrones.
3. Mainstream Success
Bar HBO, the biggest benefactors of GOT are those involved in it. For most of the actors the show has served as a platform to bigger things. Where these names were once uncommon they are now regularly getting poached by Hollywood. Emilia Clarke, who plays Daenerys Targaryen, has recently finished filming the new Terminator Genisys. A film that will see her play Sarah Connor, the iconic female lead of the franchise. Jon Snow actor Kit Harington has already made his Hollywood action hero bow in the poorly received Pompeii, whilst Natalie Dormer who plays Queen-in-waiting Margaery Tyrell - has got herself a supporting role in the Hunger Games. Would these actors have tasted as much success as they are currently enjoying had it not been for GOT? Without trying to sound cynical, you really would doubt it.
2. Tourism
The Game of Thrones sets have been marvelled. Whether it be the luscious green of Northern Ireland or the indiscreet opulence of Croatia, the directors and producers have hit every nail on the head. In fact, due to the Game of Thrones effect, countries are actively pursuing the show to come to their land, something that Scotland proved incapable of achieving. People who are hooked on the series find themselves travelling all over the world as they retrace the footsteps of Tyrion Lannister and their other favourite characters. The Northern Ireland Executive has said that the increased GOT tourism has benefited the country to the tune of £65 million. Indeed, Dubrovnik (Kings Landing), Croatia, saw tourism rise by 28% in 2012, Iceland (The Wall) had seen a 13% increase, while the desert town of Ouarzazate, Morocco, has benefited from a 100% tourism rise. It is somewhat staggering the power that a television series can hold, and it is refreshing to see that GOT wields its power in a way that none of their characters do. They use it for good rather than self-preservation.
1. Piracy
Perhaps a slightly left-field choice, but the mark GOT has left on the video piracy sector has been incredible. The last series saw 1.5 million illegal downloads of the final episode in the first 12 hours, a record in itself. It went on to surpass the 7.1 million record in the days that followed. Jeff Bewkes of HBOs parent company Time Warner summed it up perfectly when he was responding to Game of Thrones status as the most pirated show of 2012, describing the title as better than an Emmy. Although there is no money to be made in piracy you cannot ignore the fact that Game of Thrones and sites such as Pirate Bay are practically intrinsically linked. The rising popularity of GOT has correlated to increased traffic to these torrent sites.
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Perhaps a slightly left-field choice, but the mark GOT has left on the video piracy sector has been incredible. The last series saw 1.5 million illegal downloads of the final episode in the first 12 hours, a record in itself. It went on to surpass the 7.1 million record in the days that followed. Jeff Bewkes of HBOs parent company Time Warner summed it up perfectly when he was responding to Game of Thrones status as the most pirated show of 2012, describing the title as better than an Emmy. Although there is no money to be made in piracy you cannot ignore the fact that Game of Thrones and sites such as Pirate Bay are practically intrinsically linked. The rising popularity of GOT has correlated to increased traffic to these torrent sites.