Game of Thrones is the hottest property at Time Warner Inc. TWX now. The highly anticipated season 5 of the fantasy blockbuster show premiered on HBO this Sunday, to record ratings.
Millions of fans tuned in to watch The Wars to Come, which was simultaneously broadcast in over 170 countries. The new season, like its predecessors, will contain 10 episodes.
Created by David Benioff and D.B. Weiss, this fantasy saga has become a worldwide phenomenon. It is based on the seven-volume novel, A Song of Ice and Fire by George R.R. Martin. The latest season is an adaptation of the fifth volume of the novel, A Dance with Dragons.
Game of Thrones was first aired on HBO in 2011. Per sources, with a ‘mere’ 2.2 million viewers tuning in for the first season, to a record-breaking 7.2 million viewers for episode 7 of the last season, the show has come a long way. With 18.4 million viewers across all platforms last season, it has emerged as HBO’s most popular show, relegating The Sopranos with 18.2 million viewers, to the second slot.
Season 5 will be deviating from the original novel, which should keep viewers glued to their TV sets, and lead to a further boost in ratings, setting new records.
Notably, Game of Thrones also has the distinction of being one of the most illegally downloaded shows in the world. Already four episodes of the new season have been leaked online, much to the dismay of HBO, which had timed the launch of its streaming service, HBO Now, in sync with the premiere of the new season.
Time Warner currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).
Other Stocks to Consider
Better-ranked stocks in the media sector include The Walt Disney Company DIS, New Media Investment Group Inc. NEWM and The New York Times Company NYT. All these stocks carry a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy).
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