Game of Thrones' finale ratings up from last anno (but don't break record) 

\'Game of Thrones\' finale ratings up from last year (but don\'t break record)

fourth season finale posted significant gains from last year’s closer — yet couldn’t top its own all-time high set earlier this season.

'Game of Thrones': George R.R. Martin explains that murderous finale scene

'Game of Thrones' showrunners on those season 4 finale twists

Sunday’s “The Children” episode had 7.1 million viewers was up 32 percent from season three’s finale. That’s just shy of the show’s 7.2 million record, which was repeatedly struck this season. HBO wasn’t expecting a new breakthrough given the high-flying NBA playoff Game 5 airing on broadcast last night. Counting two additional plays,

also recorded the largest audience ever for an HBO series this season with an average of 18.6 million viewers across all platforms and repeats, up 29 percent from last season.

Some other HBO data points from the year: Freshman comedy

4.6 million (its highest season). New talk show

Last Week Tonight with John Oliver

has grown 355 percent across all platforms to 4.3 million viewers since its debut.

– ‘Game of Thrones’ showrunners talk season 4 finale

– ‘Game of Thrones’: George R.R. Martin explains that murderous finale scene

– ‘Game of Thrones’ actress on her brutal finale fight: ‘I was screaming, going insane’

– ‘Game of Thrones’ finale live recap: “Children of the Damned”

– ‘Game of Thrones’ finale: Peter Dinklage, Charles Dance on Tyrion’s killer instinct

– ‘Game of Thrones’ [book spoiler alert]: No Lady Stoneheart! And why that’s a good thing  / Director explains absence

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