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Season 3 Draws 21.5 M, HBO Confirms Final Season

6/27/2026

50 10 Full Breakdown

Summary

Story summary

Season 3 premiere attracted 21.5 million global viewers in its first three days.
Weekly viewership for season 2 tripled before the debut, indicating many re-watchers and new viewers joined.
The June 21 U.S. premiere aired opposite the FIFA World Cup, a factor that likely contributed to the modest decline.
HBO has ordered a fourth and final season for 2028, confirming long-term confidence in the franchise.

History

Historical Context

When NBC debuted *Friends* on September 22 1994, the pilot attracted about 22 million U.S. viewers and anchored the network’s Thursday “Must See TV” block, a model that kept sitcoms dominant through the 1990s. Decades later, HBO’s *The Last of Us* season 3 premiere on June 21 2024 drew 21.5 million global viewers, showing that flagship scripted series still command massive audiences despite competition from live sports.

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Story summary

Season 3 premiere attracted 21.5 million global viewers in its first three days.
Weekly viewership for season 2 tripled before the debut, indicating many re-watchers and new viewers joined.
The June 21 U.S. premiere aired opposite the FIFA World Cup, a factor that likely contributed to the modest decline.
HBO has ordered a fourth and final season for 2028, confirming long-term confidence in the franchise.

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