HBO preps huge Game of Thrones simulcast

The upcoming season of Game of Thrones will launch simultaneously in 170 countries next month.

Season five starts on HBO in the US on April 12 at 9pm ET. It will go out at the same time on all of the international channels that have acquired the fantasy series.

The subsequent ten episodes will be simulcast in the same way, before being re-run at more standard local times on international channels.

HBO said its launch strategy will create “a global television event week after week throughout the season’s 10-episode run”.

The move is being seen as a way to mitigate the effects of piracy as well as creating a solid marketing platform for the hit series.

Research released last year showed that Game of Thrones was the world’s most illegally shared series.

“We are thrilled to see our international partners jumping on board to bring Game of Thrones, one of the most universally loved television shows in the world, to global audiences at the same time it airs on HBO in the US,” said Michael Lombardo, president, HBO Programming. “It’s going to be a great season.”

Internationally, the show goes out on HBO nets in Asia, Canada, Europe (covering CEE, the Netherlands and Nordic region) and Latin America. It is also show on numerous other broadcasters and platforms including Sky Europe, Orange in France and Foxtel in Australia.