https://www.cnbc.com/2019/04/15/game-of-thrones-hits-record-viewership-in-season-8-premiere.html > The much anticipated eighth season premiere of "Game of Thrones" aired Sunday — and viewership was hotter than dragon fire. > Coming back from its longest hiatus in series history, "Game of Thrones" earned its highest showing for a first-run telecast with an average of 17.4 million viewers, exceeding the previous series high of 16.9 million viewers, who tuned in for the season seven finale in 2017.