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NEW YORK, March 3 (UPI) -- HBO has decided not to send advance copies of Game of Thrones Season 6 to the press in a bid to avoid leaks and to keep the show's plot a secret. "We're not sending out press copies this year, anywhere in the world," HBO programming president Michael Lombardo said Wednesday during an interview with Entertainment Weekly.
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"There will be no copies for review."
The decision comes after four episodes leaked online from press copies sent out in 2015 ahead of the Season 5 premiere. The leaked videos were reportedly downloaded 3.22 million times in 24 hours.
"It's painful for Dan and David [when leaks happen]," Lombardo continued, referring to series writers David Benioff and D.B. Weiss.
"When you have press copies, inevitably friends ask, 'Can I see your copy?' There are things that happen. We talked about the upsides and downsides. Some of the press are fans who might be disappointed, but they'll understand."
As the Season 6 premiere nears, Game of Thrones is entering uncharted territory as for the first time ever, the show has moved past the book's timeline penned by George R.R. Martin, who has yet to finish writing the series.
Game of Thrones Season 6 premieres Apr. 24 on HBO.
