Last night’s special 90-minute series premiere ofFear the Walking Deadmade television history, delivering 10.1 million live/same day viewers and becoming the #1 series premiere in cable television history for total viewers and all key demos. The episode delivered 6.3 million adults 18-49. In that coveted demographic, AMC now is home to three of the top five cable series premieres of all time in live/same day viewing -Fear the Walking Deadat #1 (2015),Better Call Saulat #2 (2015) andThe Walking Deadat #5 (2010) - a remarkable accomplishment so far into the post-DVR era. ATalking DeadSeason 6 Preview Special that preceded theFearpremiere last night delivered 4.2 million viewers, and 2.5 million adults 18-49. Here’s whatCharlie Collier, president of AMC and SundanceTV, had to say in a statement about the record-breaking ratings.
“Thank you and congratulations toRobert Kirkman, Dave Erickson, the brilliant executive producers and the entire cast and crew ofFear the Walking Dead. It is increasingly difficult to evaluate a show’s success on night one. However, we are releasing these live/same day ratings becauseFear the Walking Deaddelivered record-breaking numbers that are all the more special in this era of time-shifted viewing and audience fragmentation. To have a companion series to the #1 show on television driving communal, urgent viewing, social activity and pop cultural relevance of this magnitude is truly differentiating. Of course none of it is possible without the fans, whose passion leads to these remarkable results.”
Theseries premiereofFear the Walking Deadearned a 5.0 national rating with 10.1 million viewers. In the Adults 18-49 demographic, thezombie seriesearned a 4.9 national rating with 6.3 million, along with a 5.3 national rating and 6.3 million in the Adults 25-54 demographic. TheTalking Deadpreview special scored a 2.2 national rating with 4.2 million viewers. It also earned a 1.9 national rating with 2.5 million Adults 18-49, and a 2.2 national rating with 2.6 million Adults 25-54.
The first season ofFear the Walking Deadwill run for six episodes this fall. The show will return for a second season of 15 episodes next year. TheFear the Walking Dead Season 1finale will air on Sunday, October 4 at 9 PM ET, followed by a special episode ofTalking Deadat 10:10 PM ET, hosted byTalking Dead Season 4.
One week after theFear the Walking Deadseason finale,The Walking Deadwill return with itsSeason 6premiere on Sunday, October 11 at 9 PM ET, followed byTalking Dead. What did you think of the series premiere episode ofFear the Walking Deadlast night? Let us know what you think, and stay tuned for more on bothFear the Walking DeadandThe Walking Dead.
