'Game of Thrones' Season 6 premiere date revealed

LOS ANGELES, Jan. 8 (UPI) -- HBO has announced that the highly anticipated sixth season of their fantasy-drama series Game of Thrones, will be premiering on Apr. 24.

The date, which is later then normal for Emmy award-wining show also serves as the premiere date of the network's critically acclaimed comedies Silicon Valley and Veep.

In the past, a new season of Game of Thrones would debut in either late March or early-to-mid April but due to the late launch dates of HBO's winter block consisting of '70s record label drama Vinyl, the Season 6 premiere of Girls and the Season 2 start of Togetherness, has pushed it back.

The company announced the premiere date on Twitter Thursday by posting a photo of the date in the series' distinctive font.

Earlier this month, Game of Thrones author George R.R, Martin announced that the publication of his next book in the Song of Ice and Fire series entitled The Winds of Winter has been delayed and unfortunately will not be released before Season 6 has aired. This will, for the first time, allow viewers of the show to proceed further into the story of Thrones then that of readers of the book series.