According to the Nielsen Ratings, 16.5 million viewers tuned into the season finale of season 7 of the Game of Thrones (GOT). I watched the first couple episodes and did not get hooked, so I am in the minority, but I am not alone because a head coach in the Pac-12 is in the same boat.
The Game of Thrones includes battles, murder, lots of murder and killing, sex, dragons, kings, queens and non-human beings. One could analogize that sports also includes most these elements but specifically battles, wizards, kings, and queens. There are also winners and losers, and the saga continues, same as the GOT.