Addressing the leak, HBO says in a statement that the leaked four episodes apparently 'originated from within a group approved by HBO to receive them.'
- Apr 13, 2015
AceShowbiz - The excitement for the new season of "Game of Thrones" was spoiled when four episodes of the fifth season were leaked online before the show's season premiere on Sunday, April 12 on HBO. The leaked episodes surfaced in standard definition on torrent sites Saturday and have been downloaded more than 100,000 times within the first three hours they were available.
Addressing the leak, the cable network says in a statement, "Sadly, it seems the leaked four episodes of the upcoming season of 'Game of Thrones' originated from within a group approved by HBO to receive them. We're actively assessing how this breach occurred."
HBO sent out screeners of the first four episodes to members of the press two weeks ago. However, it's unclear if the network is referring to this group as the source of the leak.
HBO had actually taken a preventive measure to reduce the number of piracy by making the show available to non-subscribers via HBO Now and Sling TV and premiering the fifth season simultaneously in 170 countries.
