Halo TV series sets viewership record for Paramount+

The premiere episode of Halo, the new tv series based on the game originally developed by Bungie, has set a viewership record on streaming platform Paramount +.

According to Paramount, the show, which debuted last week on the platform, broke the previously established record set by 1883, a series that aired in November.

Viewing figures for streaming platforms aren’t typically released, but it’s worth noting that a Paramount+ show has never been in the streaming top 10 provided by Nielsen, an American agency that tracks television ratings.

“Bringing Halo to life as a streaming series has been one of the most rewarding efforts for Paramount+ to date and we could not be more thrilled at the massive fan response to the series’ debut,” said Tanya Giles, Chief Programming Officer at Paramount+ in a statement about the new show.

Halo started development as a TV show at Xbox, where it stalled for years. It was memorably featured as part of the disastrous E3 2013 Xbox One reveal press conference. The TV show was later resurrected at Paramount+ in a bid to create original content for the new streaming platform.

“Along with our phenomenal partners at Showtime, 343 Industries and Amblin Television, we cannot wait for fans to experience more of this incredible universe.” Tanya Giles continued. Amblin Television is a production company headed by cinema icon  Steven Spielberg

The show has already been renewed for a second season and stars Pablo Schreiber as the Master Chief and Jen Taylor as Cortana. In a controversial move, the first episode of the show was widely promoted as giving viewers the first full look at The Master Chief without his helmet on. While the character has removed his helmet in the Halo games, it’s always obscured so that the player never gets a direct look.