Snap Decision: 'Game of Thrones' Already Renewed by HBO for a Second Season

It must be nice to be a show on HBO. While most TV shows, especially those on the networks, have to wait until nearly the end of their season to find out if they've been renewed, HBO will renew right after the premiere. Why? Because they're HBO. That's how they roll.

The fantasy epic "Game of Thrones" premiered on Sunday, and just this morning HBO decided that the show should have a second season. We can't say we're surprised. The announcement came shortly after the ratings for the show came in, which showed that "Game of Thrones" earned 2.2 million viewers.

That might not seem like much, but for a premiere on HBO it's not bad: while the premiere of "Boardwalk Empire" pulled about 3.4 million, the very successful "True Blood" only pulled about 1.4 million for its premiere. Now, going into its fourth season, "True Blood" averages about six or seven million viewers each week.

While it may seem that HBO is rewarding quality, ratings be damned, it's a different set of numbers that may have them interested in a second season. As we reported yesterday, Game of Thrones has already become HBO's best-selling series overseas ever, fetching more than $2.5 million an episode, which is a staggering 50% above the international price tag for The Sopranos.

Which is good, because I'm not so sure "Thrones" will find a following in the same way "True Blood" did. While "True Blood" remains pretty accessible (for a genre show about vampires, shapeshifters and psychics), "Game of Thrones" is so complicated it's actually kind of hard work to watch it. It's worth it, but it's work. We have to wonder, though, with the kind of cash the show can command overseas, does HBO care either way?

In any case, it's good to see that "Thrones" will have at least two seasons to grow and develop, and behead its characters.