For the sixth year in a row, HBO's fantasy drama Game of Thrones was the most pirated TV show on the internet. This is according to TorrentFreak, a site which tracks activity on file-sharing websites, such as BitTorrent, and compiles an annual list of the most-torrented shows.
It's a disappointing record for HBO to hold no doubt, as the company would rather viewers subscribe to its service, but Game of Thrones is still wildly successful. The seventh season of Game of Thrones was the most-viewed season thus far, but the network's flagship series also suffered from leaks following the breach of HBO's computer system and, of course, piracy. According to TorrentFreak, the number of people actively sharing an episode of Game of Thrones reached its peak at 400,000 right after the season finale came online. As noted, BitTorrent traffic only makes up a small portion of the piracy landscape, with streaming sites and services making it harder to measure piracy growth.
Number two on the list of most downloaded TV shows on BitTorrent is The Walking Dead, which is a bit troublesome for AMC as the network's flagship - based on Robert Kirkman's post-apocalyptic, zombie-survival graphic novel - saw its ratings slip this season.
The Walking Dead was followed by The CW's The Flash at number three (up one from last year's position), CBS's The Big Bang Theory and Cartoon Network's Rick and Morty, the latter of which made its debut on the list this year.