‘The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power’ was watched by more than 25 million globally, Amazon says

‘The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power’ was watched by more than 25 million globally, Amazon says


Amazon Studios shared its first image of its upcoming untitled “Lord of the Rings” series, due on its streaming service Sept. 2, 2022.

Amazon Studios

Amazon said Saturday that the first episode of its “The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power” series attracted over 25 million viewers globally in its first day, making it the biggest ever debut for a show on its Prime Video streaming service. 

The series is based on the appendices of J.R.R. Tolkien’s “Lord of the Rings” books and is the most expensive television series of all time.

“It is somehow fitting that Tolkien’s stories – among the most popular of all time, and what many consider to be the true origin of the fantasy genre – have led us to this proud moment,” Amazon Studios head Jennifer Salke said in a statement. 

At the show’s U.K. premiere, Amazon founder billionaire Jeff Bezos hinted at how precious the series is to fans, saying one of his sons had told him “don’t eff this up” when he learned of Amazon’s acquisition of the story rights.

Episodes of the show will continue to debut weekly on Amazon Prime.

Earlier this month, HBO said its “House of the Dragon,” a “Game of Thrones” prequel series, was the biggest series premiere in its history.

Clarification: This story was updated to reflect that “The Rings of Power” is based on the appendices to “The Lord of the Rings.”



Source

New York’s pied-a-terre tax sets up legal fight over values
Business

New York’s pied-a-terre tax sets up legal fight over values

A version of this article first appeared in CNBC’s Inside Wealth newsletter with Robert Frank, a weekly guide to the high-net-worth investor and consumer. Sign up to receive future editions, straight to your inbox. New York’s proposed tax on second homes worth more than $5 million is likely to spark costly legal battles over how to value […]

Read More
Nike cuts 1,400 roles in second round of layoffs this year
Business

Nike cuts 1,400 roles in second round of layoffs this year

People walk past a Nike store in New York City, on April 2, 2025. Kylie Cooper | Reuters Nike announced a new round of layoffs on Thursday impacting approximately 1,400 roles across the organization, mostly concentrated in its technology department. In a note from COO Venkatesh Alagirisamy, the company said the layoffs were part of […]

Read More
Trump administration moves to reclassify cannabis in major shift that could expand research
Business

Trump administration moves to reclassify cannabis in major shift that could expand research

The Trump administration moved Thursday to reclassify cannabis under federal law, which could significantly expand scientific research into the drug’s medical uses. The change would not legalize the drug at the federal level, but shift cannabis from its current status as a Schedule I substance to Schedule III under the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration’s controlled […]

Read More