HBO has the most profitable app thanks to 'GoT' despite piracy

[bsaambl]

HBO's app has set a new record and, of course, it's all because of Game of Thrones. 

The company's streaming app, HBO Now, has been the top-grossing app in the App Store for two days in a row now, beating out Netflix, Tinder, Candy Crush, and all the other apps that typically dominate the top of the charts.

It even just experienced its single best day ever. It's been more than a year since the app last reached the top. 

In case we needed more proof that the sudden surge has everything to do with Game of Thrones, new data from app analytics company Sensor Tower highlights just how much money HBO is pulling in from its streaming app.

On August 16, the the app grossed $2.6 million, breaking its previous single-day record of $1.9 million last June.

https://i.amz.mshcdn.com/CDEoviG-Eov...95192311a4.png

The record-setting revenue is particularly impressive considering that GoT is the most-pirated show ever, and HBO has struggled with not one, but two episodes leaking online ahead of schedule this season.

Piracy aside, Game of Thrones has historically been a huge driver of HBO Now Growth, with hundreds of thousands of new users downloading the app at the start of each season. About 222,000 new users installed the app this year on the date of the premiere, according to previous data from Sensor Tower. 

Still, it's not all good news for HBO. Sensor Tower notes the latest growth is a significant "bright spot" for HBO, as total revenue from HBO Now dipped 12 percent in the second quarter of this year, compared with the same time last year.

But with two more episodes of Game of Thrones left this season, HBO Now likely still has a lot more growing to do.