In the USA, Episode 2 held its ratings in the overnights, which is good going considering it wasn't as repeated as much as Episode 1. HBO were expecting a drop, so Episode 2 getting the same overnights was unexpected good news for them. Then Episode 3 got 200,000 more people watching, which is a small but still notable improvement. However, there's a feeling that the total ratings for Episode 3 will be down as the news about Osama broke just as the repeat showing started.

Still, considering that HBO were projecting a strong opening, a notable drop and then a slow build, getting a strong opening, holding steady and then a slow build instead is definitely better than they were hoping.

'Adjusted' figures for Episodes 2 and 3 (including repeats, DVR and legal online viewings via HBO Go) haven't been released yet, but updated adjusted figures for Episode 1 have lifted it into the area of 8.7 million, which is very strong.

In the UK, THRONES' first episode got 1.85 million adjusted in the first week (750,000 overnight), which has made Sky deliriously happy. For Sky, BSG getting 150,000 viewers a week was considered great, so this news probably has them weeping joyous tears of champagne. On the overnights Episode 2 dropped to 530,000, which was more disappointing but Episode 3 held steady at 510,000, hopefully signs of levelling off at a far higher figure than BOARDWALK EMPIRE ever got (BWE's premiere got 400,000 and then fell to about 200,000 for the rest of its run on overnights). To put in context, Episodes 1, 2 and 3 of THRONES are the 1st, 2nd and 3rd-highest-rated programmes ever on the Sky Atlantic channel. The adjusted figures for Episodes 2 and 3 will be very interesting to see as well.