It’s finally the weekend, which means it’s time to watch HBO, as the first episode of Game of Thrones’ season 6 is about to air. In what follows we’re going to tell you everything there is to know about HBO’s massive Game of Thrones premiere event, so you can make the most of it and even stream it for free.
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What time does it air?
You should know this by now, but the first episode of season six will be available on HBO at 9:00 p.m. EST on April 24th. That’s 6:00 p.m. PST.
Where is it available?
You can watch Game of Thrones on TV, computer, smartphone, tablet, and consoles, as long as you’re an HBO subscriber and you’ve got the right apps. Obviously, the first episode will be available on torrent sites as soon as HBO releases it, so there’s also that option if you plan on going the illegal way.
What apps do I need?
If you’re planning to watch episode one on any smartphones, tablets and consoles, you’re going to need the HBO Go or HBO Now apps. On a computer, you’ll simply need to load HBO Go or HBO Now in a browser. HBO apps are available on a variety of platforms, including iOS, Android, and Xbox. Just make sure you download the right app for your device if you don’t have it installed on your device yet.
HBO Go works as long as you are a paying HBO subscriber (TV version) – get your HBO Go apps here.
Choose HBO Now if you don’t want to pay for HBO via your cable provider and prefer the streaming app instead – get your HBO Now apps here.
Smart TVs and set-top boxes should also have the appropriate HBO apps, in case that’s the route you want to go.
In either case, you’ll get access to the first episode around the time it premieres after you’ve downloaded and set up the appropriate app on your device. On a computer, simply login with your subscriber credentials in a browser by visiting the appropriate site.
Do I need to be an HBO/Go or HBO Now subscriber?
Yes, you have to either pay for HBO in your cable bundle or sign up for HBO Now. But you’re in luck this weekend as HBO will be available free of charge from Friday night to Sunday evening, meaning you’ll be able to watch the first episode of Game of Thrones totally free.
Moreover, you should join HBO Now right now and take advantage of the free 30-day trial. That way you’ll get to see up to four episodes of Game of Thrones season 6 without paying for HBO. After the trial expires, you’ll have to either cancel the service or pay $15 per month.
If all else fails, you can always try borrowing the password to HBO Go or HBO Now from someone else. As long as someone’s paying for that account and you have access to it, you’ll be able to stream Game of Thrones online this weekend.
What about illegal downloads?
Game of Thrones
is one of the most pirated TV shows in history. It’ll hit torrent sites in the hours following its release, so that’s where you’ll find it if none of the above options are available. We do advise against pursuing this path, but if you do end up torrenting it, you might want to go for the streaming option, rather than outright downloading the show – many torrent sites have built-in streaming options nowadays.
One more thing…
If you’re outside the U.S., but have an HBO/Go or HBO Now account, you’ll most likely need a VPN connection to stream Game of Thrones. So make sure you get one before the show starts.
