• Bad news for HBO, the first 4 episodes of season 5 of Game of Thrones leaked overnight ahead of the season premiere tonight.
• It’s reported that the episodes showed up on private torrent tracker IPT before spreading to major sites such as The Pirate Bay.
• Aside from the direct impact on HBO, this also affects traditional viewers who now need to work out how they’ll avoid spoilers over the next month as they watch the episodes in their intended weekly format.
• This is a huge blow for HBO, who pleased many by offering the show simultaneously in over 170 countries (ie to minimise the chance and necessity of piracy).
• The shows have only been leaked in 480p, but worryingly for HBO – they are reported to have leaked from a source approved to receive the episodes.
• Game of Thrones has been the most pirated showon TV for several years now.

Read more:

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-04-13/game-of-thrones-episodes-leak-on-the-internet/6387174

http://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2015/apr/12/game-of-thrones-fifth-season-episodes-leaked-online

http://venturebeat.com/2015/04/12/spoilers-are-coming-game-of-thrones-season-5-first-four-episodes-leaked/

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