HBO boasts that the season two premiere of the epic series has captivated nearly 25 million viewers, marking a significant milestone. A pivotal chapter in the narrative of 'House of the Dragon' has garnered the largest first-night audience of the season, a testament to its captivating storytelling. The episode titled "The Red Dragon and the Gold" vividly portrayed the Battle at Rook's Rest, a crucial moment in George R.R. Martin's novel 'Fire & Blood' and the expansive 'Game of Thrones/A Song of Ice and Fire' universe. Viewers eagerly awaited this clash, and the episode garnered a staggering 8.1 million viewers across various platforms on Sunday, surpassing all previous records for the season.
This impressive figure surpasses the 7.8 million who tuned in for the season two premiere on its initial airing. While the show's opening-night audience has slightly dipped this year, averaging over 9 million in season one, this is partly attributed to a decrease in cable TV viewership. In fact, the on-air audience for the first three episodes stands at 1.26 million, a 39 percent drop compared to the initial episodes of season one.
However, streaming has bridged this gap, as the show's all-in, first-night average currently stands at 7.5 million viewers this season, representing a mere 18 to 20 percent decline from season one—approximately half of the linear decline. HBO further reveals that since its premiere, the season opener has amassed 25 million viewers in just three weeks, nearing the season one average of 29 million for 'House of the Dragon' (HBO measures viewership for 90 days after the premiere).
Warner Bros. Discovery also highlights that 'House of the Dragon' on Max enjoyed its most successful week of season two before Sunday's episode, indicating that some viewers utilized the July 4 holiday to binge-watch and catch up on the series.
