Game of Thrones renewed for two more years after reigning over top 10 most illegally downloaded TV shows list

HBO fantasy series Game of Thrones, which scored great ratings for its fourth premiere, will be renewed for two more years, it has been revealed. 

The announcement was made two days after its latest episode attracted millions of viewers causing the broadcaster’s online app to crash due to the high levels of traffic. Sunday’s fourth season debut drew 6.6 million viewers in the United States.  

HBO Programming boss Michael Lombardo, said: "'Game of Thrones' is a phenomenon like no other.” 

Its creators David Benioff and D.B. Weiss "along with their talented collaborators, continue to surpass themselves, and we look forward to more of their dazzling storytelling," he said.

Game of Thrones debuted in 2011 and has since won a devoted global fan base. It is based on George RR Martin’s best-selling novels about a struggle for power between feuding clans in seven mythical kingdoms. 

The show is also one of the most illegally downloaded in the world. In the month of Jan-Feb 2014 alone, it was downloaded illegally over 1.4 million times. 

Most illegally-downloaded TV shows between Jan - Feb 2014