‘Halo’ Sets Premiere Viewership Record For Paramount+

deadline.com:

Halo was once supposed to put Xbox on the map as a place for original scripted programming. Instead, the adaptation of the popular video game is helping to establish another digital platform, Paramount+.

According to the Paramount streamer, Halo has set a new record as the service’s most-watched series premiere globally in its first 24 hours of release, topping the previous high mark established by Yellowstone prequel 1883 in December.As usual, no numbers were provided; for reference, the 1883 record-breaking series debut on Paramount+ also drew 4.9 million viewers in a promotional linear airing behind Yellowstone on Paramount Network.

We will get a sense of the scope of Halo’s viewership when Nielsen’s streaming rankings for this week come out. A Paramount+ original is yet to crack the Nielsen Top 10.Halo, which debuted March 24, originated at Xbox and was developed at Showtime before migrating to Paramount+ a year ago.“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, Paramount+. “Along with our phenomenal partners at Showtime, 343 Industries and Amblin Television, we cannot wait for fans to experience more of this incredible universe.”The series, which has already been renewed for a second season, takes place in the universe that first debuted in 2001 with the launch of Xbox’s first “Halo” game.

Dramatizing an epic 26th-century conflict between humanity and an alien threat known as the Covenant, Halo stars Pablo Schreiber as the Master Chief, Spartan-117; Natascha McElhone as Dr.