The 'Game of Thrones' series finale is approaching. How will HBO survive after it?
NEW YORK - The crowd packed into New York's Radio City Music Hall for the final-season premiere of HBO's juggernaut drama "Game of Thrones." As audience members took their seats, they were greeted by an announcer who said: "Welcome to the beginning of the end."
For many who attended the gathering earlier this month, it was not hard to hear a more ominous meaning in those words.
Ending a major hit show is not easy for any network. But the departure of "Game of Thrones," which began its eighth and farewell season on Sunday, comes at a critical crossroads for HBO. The network has a new owner, and its longtime status as the most distinctive brand name in television can no longer be taken for granted.
"Game of Thrones" has been not only a cultural touchstone, but a ratings behemoth for HBO. The drama about the warring factions of the fictional land of Westeros, based on George R.R. Martin's best-selling books, spurred millions of viewers
