HBO’s Game of Thrones to Launch on Sky Atlantic HD

LONDON: Sky Atlantic HD is set to launch HBO’s Game of Thrones series the day after its premiere in the U.S.

The mythical Game of Thrones, which is based on a ten-part epic book series, is set in the Seven Kingdoms of the fictional continent Westeros and follows several noble families as they fight to rule the land. The series will premiere on Sky Atlantic HD on April 18.

Stuart Murphy, Sky Atlantic HD’s director of programs, said: "With Game of Thrones, HBO is going to redefine the term ‘event TV.’ We know our customers’ anticipation for the series has reached fever pitch, so we wanted to ensure they could see the show as close to its US broadcast as humanly possible. The series is a true spectacle that will surprise and captivate audiences, and it’s a huge testament to HBO’s bravura filmmaking that they continue to subvert the genres we know and love, this time in the fantasy genre. We will transmit within 24 hours of the show being on air in the States, so Sky Atlantic HD can bring Sky viewers the best TV as close as possible to its American release."

Creator D.B. Weiss commented: “Game of Thrones is set in a fantasy kingdom called Westeros, a place that is like our world in many ways and unlike our world in many other ways.  It’s about the struggle for the Iron Throne, which is the seat of power in this kingdom.”

Co-creator David Benioff added: “Fantasy is one of the most successful genres in the history of storytelling, but no one’s ever done it the HBO way, where the focus is on character and psychology rather than spectacle. Knowing the essential shape of the entire series from the beginning is an incredible luxury for us, as adapters of the material.”