Game of Thrones Season 8 is one of the most-hyped seasons of TV in the history of the medium, so it's not a huge surprise that a lot of people tuned in to watch the season premiere. But just how many people watched Episode 1?

　　HBO has announced that Episode 1 drew 17.4 million viewers, which sets a new franchise record, eclipsing the 16.5 million people who tuned in to watch the Season 7 finale. According to The Hollywood Reporter, 11.8 million people watched on TV, while the rest tuned in from the digital streaming platform HBO Now. The true number of views for Episode 1 will climb much higher, as people who didn't watch right away catch up over the next few days.

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　　Now Playing: Game Of Thrones Season 8: 8 Most Convincing Fan Theories

　　It appears the return of Game of Thrones helped other HBO shows, as the the network's other Sunday night shows such as Barry (2.2 million viewers), Veep (1.5 million viewers), and Last Week Tonight (1.7 million viewers) all reached viewerships not seen in over a year.

　　For more on Game of Thrones, check out GameSpot's review of Episode 1. You can also consider this wild new theory involve Cersei, Dany, and Tyrion that might wreck your mind.