'Chernobyl' Just Broke A 'Game Of Thrones' Streaming Record
You suspect that, much like the dosimeters used to measure radiation after the Chernobyl nuclear catastrophe which only read 3.6 roentgens because that's the maximum reading, the only reason that the reviews for Chernobyl have topped out at five stars is that there are no more stars to award. A Russian TV station is going to do its own version focusing on a conspiracy theory that says it was all the CIA's fault, but everyone else is in agreement: it's very good.
Now there's more good news for HBO as according to Deadline, the series has just broken a viewing figure record Game of Thrones set. Having climbed to a cumulative audience of eight million, putting it just behind True Detective's numbers, Chernobyl has set a new highest proportion of viewers streaming a show on over-the-top (OTT) services, which is to say streaming services HBO Go and HBO Now. Thrones topped out at 46 per cent of viewers watching on-demand; Chernobyl flew past it with 52 per cent.
What do you mean? The streaming figures couldn't have exploded. What you are describing is not possible. You didn't see viewing figures on the ground. You didn't! Because they're not there!
There are a couple of interesting takeaways from this. Firstly, it's yet more proof that streaming services have given a certain echelon of TV drama series another chance at becoming sleeper hits through word of mouth and buzz from Twitter and Reddit. Secondly, did anyone know streaming services were called OTT services? Absolutely not.
"Chernobyl shows that a great series will find an audience," HBO Entertainment boss Casey Bloys told Deadline, adding that he could "not be prouder and so happy the viewers seeked[sic] it out on our platforms."
So considerably more impressive than the "not great, not terrible" 3.6 roentgens reading on that dosimeter.
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