HBO’S ‘GAME’
Network bungle leads to web leaks of episode
DORNE IT, there’s been another “Game of Thrones” leak!
Yet another episode of the hit series was released earlier than the planned air date — but this time it wasn’t because of hackers.
The sixth episode of the fantasy show’s current season, titled “Death Is the Enemy” and set to air Sunday, was available Tuesday in Spain and Nordic countries — thanks to an HBO error.
The on-demand service of the premium cable network in Europe had the episode available to watch for an hour on Tuesday.
“The error appears to have originated with a third-party vendor and the episode was removed as soon as it was recognized,” HBO Europe said.
But the damage was done — bootleg footage of the episode (someone recorded the show on their TV) has appeared online and on social media for others to enjoy.
Reddit user kindgdgz posted a screenshot of the upcoming episode in the group /r/freefolk, a “Game of Thrones” message board, along with a two-minute clip from the installment.
The leak was not related to the HBO hack earlier this month, in which 1.5 terabytes of data were stolen. The haul included episodes of other HBO shows including Dwayne (The Rock) Johnson’s “Ballers” and the new anthology series “Room 104.”
On Wednesday, according to Mashable, those same hackers released new files relating to “Game of Thrones” and other HBO series, including production diaries and shooting locations, but no new episodes of the fantasy series.
Earlier this month, episode four of this “Thrones” season, called “The Spoils of War,” leaked online ahead of its air date. Many thought it was related to the HBO hack, but the cable company said it wasn’t. The hackers did, however, leak the episode’s script.
Episode four’s release was attributed to the actions of four employees at media company Star India. The workers, who were not identified, are accused of criminal breach of trust and computer-related offenses and will be in Indian police custody until Aug. 21.
Despite the leaks, the seventh season of the gory and sex-infused medieval fantasy series has not suffered any loss in viewers. The fourth episode still reached a new series ratings record of 10.2 million viewers.