Game of Thrones: Smash hit series finale marks end of an era in TV

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Sunday evenings will never be the same for millions of Game of Thrones fans around the world. After eight seasons, the last episode of the record-breaking series has aired. And while the series may be over, its creators are banking on its longevity. CGTN's Owen Fairclough has more.

OWEN FAIRCLOUGH WASHINGTON DC "OK, there are no spoilers here if you haven't yet seen the final episode of Game of Thrones. But it's no secret that this was the end of an era in television."

The last series broke audience's records 80.4 million watched the final episode in the US alone. But, the final season was panned by some fans partly due to production gaffes and a petition calling for creators HBO to remake it has collected more than a million signatures.

"All my life I've known one goal: the Iron Throne."

And there was uproar in China after Tencent, which broadcasts the show there, postponed airing the final episode due to what it called 'media transfer issues.'

Even so, record audience figures make Game of Thrones valuable property for parent company AT&T as it launches its own streaming service to recoup viewers abandoning traditional cable TV.

OWEN FAIRCLOUGH WASHINGTON DC "In any case, Game of Thrones isn't quite over. A spin off series is already in the works. And the Game of Thrones TV series took the story beyond the original novels long ago. Author, George R R Martin, has yet to complete his own ending to a saga that - like all classics - leaves fans craving more."

Owen Fairclough, CGTN Washington.