'The Walking Dead' Season 7 Mid-Season Premiere Delivers 15.9 Million Total Viewers

The Walking Dead returned Sunday night for the second half of its seventh season with increases in total viewers and key demos from December's mid-season finale. Sunday night's return delivered 15.9 million total viewers, 9.9 million adults 18-49 and 10 million adults 25-54 in Nielsen live+3 ratings. Total viewers were up 5 percent from December, adults 18-49 increased 3 percent and adults 25-54 increased 5 percent.

Talking Dead remains television's #1 talk show, returning with 5.6 million total viewers, 3.2 adults 18-49 and 3.4 adults 25-54 in Nielsen live+3 ratings.

'The Walking Dead' and 'Talking Dead' Renewed by AMC

AMC announced on Friday that it has renewed "The Walking Dead," the #1 show on television among adults 18-49 for the last three years, for a seventh season. In addition, AMC has renewed "Talking Dead," the live after-show hosted by Chris Hardwick that ranks in the top 10 across all television among adults 18-49, with new episodes to follow "The Walking Dead."

The October 25th episode of "The Walking Dead" delivered 18.2 million viewers, 12 million adults 18-49 and 11.5 million adults 25-54 in live+3 ratings, which include three days of time-shifted viewing - each growing compared to last season's corresponding episode #503. Last Sunday's "Talking Dead" was its highest-rated episode ever that was not a premiere or a finale, delivering 7.3 million viewers, 4.6 million adults 18-49 and 4.7 million adults 25-54 in live+3.

AMC Announces 'The Walking Dead' Fan Premiere Sweepstakes

AMC announced today "The Walking Dead" Fan Premiere Sweepstakes, giving fans a chance to win tickets to "The Walking Dead" season six premiere event at Madison Square Garden on Friday, October 9 at 6:30 p.m. ET. This ultimate fan experience will include an advance screening of the extended season six premiere episode, two days prior to air, followed by a panel with 18 cast members. The network is partnering with New York Super Week Presented by New York Comic Con, local radio stations and affiliates on ticket giveaways and sweepstakes offering thousands of lucky fans an opportunity to attend the exclusive, red-carpet event in New York City.

"An evening that is typically reserved for cast, crew and industry will now include the fans," said Charlie Collier, president of AMC and SundanceTV. "Loyal, passionate fans are responsible for making 'The Walking Dead' the #1 show on television and this is an exciting opportunity for us to thank them in person. For AMC, the executive producers and actors to be able to share this moment with them at Madison Square Garden - it's truly special."

AMC Releases 'Fear the Walking Dead' Comic-Con Poster

AMC released today Fear the Walking Dead key art for Comic Con International: San Diego 2015.

The image will appear around the fan-based convention from July 8-12. A Fear the Walking Dead Comic Con panel with the cast and executive producers will take place on Friday, July 10 at 1 p.m. PT in Hall H.

Photo Credit: Frank Ockenfels 3/AMC

'The Walking Dead' Sneak Peek: Try

The Walking Dead airs Sunday at 9 p.m. ET/PT on AMC.

On the next episode of The Walking Dead, airing Sunday at 9 p.m. ET/PT on AMC, when life within the walls begins to mimic life outside, the group realizes that sheltered life may not be possible.

Watch a sneak peek from "Try" below:

AMC Gives Two-Season Order For 'The Walking Dead' Companion Series

Michonne (Danai Gurira) and Rick Grimes (Andrew Lincoln) in The Walking Dead. Photo by Gene Page/AMC

AMC has placed an initial two-season order for a companion series to The Walking Dead, the #1 show on television among adults 18-49 for going on three seasons.

The new series (title to be announced) will be set in Los Angeles and focused on new characters and storylines. The show’s first season will consist of six one-hour episodes and premiere on AMC in late summer. The show’s second season will air in 2016.

Robert Kirkman, Gale Anne Hurd, Greg Nicotero and David Alpert from “The Walking Dead” are executive producers of the new series, which, like the original, is being produced by AMC Studios. Dave Erickson (Marco Polo, Sons Of Anarchy), who co-created and co-wrote the pilot with Kirkman, is an executive producer and showrunner. The series will star Cliff Curtis (Missing, Gang Related), Kim Dickens (Gone Girl, Sons Of Anarchy), Frank Dillane (Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince) and Alycia Debnam Carey (Into the Storm).

Harris Poll Reveals 'NCIS' and 'The Big Bang Theory' as America's Favorite TV Shows

NCIS and The Big Bang Theory are America’s top two favorite current shows, according to a newly released Harris Poll of 2,232 U.S. adults who were surveyed online in English between Jan. 14 and Jan. 20, 2015.

“We all know that NCIS and The Big Bang Theory are the top-rated scripted series, but this survey demonstrates that these shows clearly stand out as America’s favorite choice in a growing television universe,” said David Poltrack, Chief Research Officer, CBS Corporation, President, CBS Vision. “This level of viewer engagement is important because research has proven that engaged viewers are more receptive to and more responsive to advertising. The CBS primetime lineup accounted for far more ‘favorite’ mentions than that of any other network and contained more different programs chosen as viewer favorites, confirming the unique bond between this Network’s programs and its audience.”


FAVORITE CURRENT TV SHOW
“What is your favorite current TV show?”

Unprompted responses

Base: All adults

	Total
NCIS	1
The Big Bang Theory	2
The Walking Dead	3
Scandal	4
Game of Thrones	5
The Good Wife (tie)	6
The Blacklist (tie)	6
Modern Family	8
Blue Bloods	9
Criminal Minds	10

Source: Harris Poll

'The Walking Dead' Season 5B Key Art Released

AMC released today the key art for the second half of The Walking Dead's fifth season, which debuts Sunday, February 8 at 9 p.m. ET/PT.

After the tragic events of the mid-season finale - as well as losing the possibility of a cure in Washington, DC - Rick Grimes' band of survivors find themselves on the road, surviving day-to-day and trying to hold on to their shredded humanity and dwindling hope. Stripped of security and without a direction for the future, some of the group near their breaking point, some find themselves hardened and cold and some just try to grasp onto what little they have left.

Though they are still breathing, the line between Rick's group and the dead is starting to blur. Could there be anything at this point that brings them back to life?

The Walking Dead ended the first half of its fifth season on Sunday, November 30 with a mid-season finale that delivered 14.8 million viewers and 9.6 million adults 18-49, up 23% and 24%, respectively, over last season's corresponding episode. It is the #1 show in all of television among adults 18-49, including the NFL, which had held top honors since 2007. The first eight episodes of The Walking Dead season five delivered an average of 14.6 million viewers and 9.5 million adults 18-49, outpacing everything else on television this season.

Facebook Top 10 TV Shows, Movies, Entertainers and Songs of 2014

Facebook has revealed its most-mentioned movies, TV shows, songs and entertainers of 2014 via its new Year in Review website.

Top 10 TV Shows
1. Game of Thrones
2. Orange is the New Black
3. The Walking Dead
4. The Big Bang Theory
5. Downton Abbey

AMC Rings in New Year with 'Breaking Bad' and 'The Walking Dead' Marathons

AMC will close out the year with marathons of The Walking Dead and Breaking Bad.

AMC is celebrating the holiday season and ringing in the New Year with marathon events all month long. In anticipation of the two-night premiere event of the Breaking Bad prequel Better Call Saul (Sunday, February 8 and Monday, February 9 at 10 p.m. ET/PT), AMC will air a marathon of the Emmy Award-winning and critically acclaimed series Breaking Bad. The event kicks off Sunday, December 28 at 10 a.m. ET/PT and continues on Monday, December 29 beginning at 9 a.m. ET/PT, with the first three seasons of Breaking Bad. Immediately following, viewers can catch up on The Walking Dead New Year's marathon, featuring Seasons 1-3 of the #1 show on all of television among the coveted 18-49 demographic. The Walking Dead marathon airs Tuesday, December 30 and Wednesday, December 31 from 9 a.m. until 6 a.m. ET/PT.

'The Walking Dead' Mid-Season Finale Delivers 14.8 Million Viewers

Gabriel Stokes (Seth Gilliam) in The Walking Dead. Photo by Gene Page/AMC

AMC's The Walking Dead ended the first half of its fifth season last night with a mid-season finale that delivered 14.8 million viewers and 9.6 million adults 18-49, up 23% and 24%, respectively, over last season's corresponding episode. The first eight episodes to date versus The Walking Dead fall season of 2013 are up an average of 12% among all viewers and 13% among adults 18-49. The Walking Dead is the #1 show in all of television among adults 18-49, including the NFL, which had held top honors since 2007. In eight episodes so far this season, The Walking Dead has beaten Sunday Night Football five times in adults 18-49, live/same day, a winning percentage of .625 over pro football. The first eight episodes of The Walking Dead season five delivered an average of 14.6 million viewers and 9.5 million adults 18-49, outpacing everything else on television this season.

Also last night, the Talking Dead aftershow delivered the highest-rated mid-season finale in series history, with 6.6 million viewers and 4.2 million adults 18-49. Each week, Talking Dead features host Chris Hardwick and fans, actors, producers and other TV enthusiasts discussing that night's The Walking Dead premiere. The mid-season finale featured Robert Kirkman, Emily Kinney (Beth) and Keegan-Michael Key.

'The Walking Dead' Tops Nielsen Twitter TV Ratings (10/27 - 11/02)

AMC's The Walking Dead topped the Nielsen Twitter TV Ratings for the week of October 27-November 2, 2014.

Nielsen Twitter TV Ratings Weekly Top Ten lists are ranked by Unique Audience and include four metrics for each of the top Series and Specials episodes and Sports Events airings.

* Tweets - Tweets ascribed to a linear TV episode.
* Unique Authors – Unique Twitter accounts that have sent at least one Tweet ascribed to a specific TV episode.
* Impressions - The number of times any Tweets ascribed to a TV episode were seen.
* Unique Audience - The total number of distinct Twitter accounts accruing at least one impression of one or more different Tweets ascribed to a TV episode.

'The Walking Dead' Sneak Peek: Another Group of Survivors Is Encountered

Beth Greene (Emily Kinney) in The Walking Dead. Photo Credit: Gene Page/AMC

A new episode of The Walking Dead airs on Sunday, November 2 at 9 p.m. ET/PT on AMC.

In "Slabtown," things appear safe and nice, but there is a bit of a dark side for another group of survivors.

Check out another photo and watch a sneak peek of the episode below:

'The Walking Dead' Sneak Peek: Four Walls and a Roof

Lauren Cohan as Maggie Greene, Andrew Lincoln as Rick Grimes and Steven Yeun as Glenn Rhee
in The Walking Dead. Photo Credit: Gene Page/AMC

A new episode of The Walking Dead airs on Sunday, October 26 at 9 p.m. ET/PT on AMC.

In "Four Walls and a Roof," Rick (Andrew Lincoln) and the group find themselves pitted against some very nasty people, but our group might just have a plan to gain the upper hand.

Check out another photo and watch a sneak peek of the episode below:

'The Walking Dead' Returns with 17.3 Millions Viewers, Highest-Rated Episode in Series History

17.3 million viewers watched the Season 5 premiere of The Walking Dead. Photo Credit: Gene Page/AMC

The season five premiere of AMC's The Walking Dead delivered the highest ratings in series history. The episode was watched by 17.3 million viewers and 11 million adults aged 18-49, increases of 7% and 6%, respectively, over the season four premiere, the previous record-holder. The Walking Dead continues to be the #1 show on television among adults 18-49. Last night's episode outperformed everything else on television in this key demographic, including Sunday Night Football, by over 2.5 million adults 18-49. With time-shifted playback, the season five premiere should exceed 22 million viewers.

"It's a Dead man's party. Who could ask for more?" said Charlie Collier, AMC president. "Enormous thanks to our friends and executive producers Robert Kirkman, Scott Gimple, Greg Nicotero - who also directed last night's terrific premiere - Gale Anne Hurd, Dave Alpert and Tom Luse and all of their fellow producers, cast and crew for everything they do to make the #1 show on television such a unique and incredible experience for the fans. The Walking Dead is one of those increasingly rare shows today that can command a live audience not significantly cannibalized by time-shifted viewing. Who would have thought that cannibalized television could be curtailed by cannibal-ized television?"

Key Nielsen Highlights for the season five premiere of The Walking Dead

· 9 p.m. airing - 8.2 HH rating with 17.3 million viewers

· 9 p.m. airing - 8.7 rating with 11.0 million Adults 18-49

· 9 p.m. airing - 8.3 rating with 9.9 million Adults 25-54

Key Nielsen Highlights for the season four premiere of Talking Dead

· 10 p.m. airing - 3.4 HH rating with 6.9 million viewers

· 10 p.m. airing - 3.5 rating with 4.5 million Adults 18-49

· 10 p.m. airing - 3.4 rating with 4.0 million Adults 25-54

Source: Nielsen Media Research fast nationals (US ratings), L+SD.

The previous ratings record for an episode of The Walking Dead was 16.1 million total viewers and 10.4 million viewers 18-49 for the season four premiere, live/same day. With seven days of DVR playback included, the season four premiere delivered 21.1 million total viewers and 13.9 million adults 18-49, becoming the most highly-rated episode in cable television history.

Talking Dead, the live aftershow of The Walking Dead, also enjoyed record ratings last night, as its fourth season premiere on Sunday was the highest-rated premiere in series history with 6.9 million viewers and 4.5 million adults aged 18-49. That is an increase over last year's premiere of 34% and 35% respectively. Each week, Talking Dead features host Chris Hardwick and fans, actors, producers and other TV enthusiasts discussing that night's The Walking Dead premiere. The premiere episode featured series' showrunner and executive producer Scott M. Gimple, executive producer Greg Nicotero and Conan O'Brien.

The season five premiere of The Walking Dead was the series' most talked about episode ever, dominating social media activity for all of scripted television in 2014 as well as for the night. The premiere telecast garnered a total of 1,320,056 Tweets, making The Walking Dead the #1 new season drama premiere for 2014 in terms of Tweets and the #1 series premiere of 2014 in terms of Unique Authors. The Walking Dead is also one of the only shows in Twitter history to have had all 10 trending topics in the United States pertain to the show simultaneously. On Facebook, the day of premiere saw more than 7.7 million users driving more than 32.1 million interactions related to "The Walking Dead." For the past four weeks, The Walking Dead has had the most engaged Facebook page of any television program, with 15 times the engagement of any other program on premiere day. The Walking Dead Instagram account was also engaged with more than any other scripted series on premiere day. Twitter data from Nielsen and Twitter, Facebook and Instagram data from ListenFirst Media.

AMC recently announced it has renewed The Walking Dead for a sixth season. The network has also ordered a pilot for a potential companion series to The Walking Dead, based on a new story and new characters from Robert Kirkman.

'The Walking Dead' Renewed for Sixth Season

Season 5 of The Walking Dead premieres on Sunday, October 12. Photo Credit: AMC

Days away from its season five premiere, AMC announced today that it has renewed The Walking Dead, the #1 show on television among adults 18-49 for the last two years and most highly-rated show in cable television history, for a sixth season. The season five premiere is this Sunday, October 12, at 9 p.m. ET/PT, followed by the live season premiere of Talking Dead at 10 p.m. ET/PT with host Chris Hardwick and this week’s guests Scott M. Gimple, Greg Nicotero and Conan O'Brien.

"We could not be more excited for October 12th as we share new episodes of The Walking Dead with fans around the globe," said AMC President Charlie Collier. "In advance of Sunday's season five premiere, AMC proudly confirms a sixth season order of this extraordinary series. Thank you to Robert Kirkman, Scott Gimple, the terrific executive producers, and the entire team who brings this compelling world and these rich characters to life. There’s plenty more Dead ahead thanks to their impressive, collective effort."

'The Walking Dead' Companion Series Pilot Ordered by AMC

AMC announced today that it has ordered a pilot episode of a companion series for "The Walking Dead." "The Walking Dead," which premiered on AMC in October, 2010, has been the #1 program on television among adults 18-49 for the last two years. Robert Kirkman, Gale Anne Hurd and David Alpert from "The Walking Dead" are also executive producers of the new project which, like the original, is being produced by AMC Studios. Dave Erickson ("Marco Polo," "Sons of Anarchy"), who co-created and co-wrote the pilot with Kirkman, will serve as an executive producer and showrunner.

"Almost from the beginning of 'The Walking Dead' on AMC, fans have been curious about what is going on in the zombie apocalypse in other parts of the world. In fact, beyond requests for zombie cameos, it's the question I get asked the most," said AMC President Charlie Collier. "Obviously, we all take our stewardship of the original franchise incredibly seriously and we, along with Robert, Gale, David and now Dave, are all proceeding with extreme care in order to ensure that we are offering fans something truly compelling, engaging and distinct. We're thrilled to be taking this next step with these remarkable partners."

News Brief: 'Longmire' Canceled; New Showrunners for 'Ray Donovan,' 'The Following'; Chad Michael Murray; Nolan Funk; Corbin Bernsen; Jed Allan; Allison Janney

* One Tree Hill alum Chad Michael Murray has joined Marvel's Agent Carter as a series regular. Marvel announced on Friday that Murray has been cast in the major role of Strategic Scientific Reserve Agent Jack Thompson, who meets Agent Peggy Carter (Hayley Atwell) when she takes on a new role at the SSR in New York City.

* Enver Gjokaj is set to co-star opposite Hayley Atwell in Marvel's Agent Carter, ABC's new series designed to serve as a bridge between the fall and spring runs of Marvel's Agents Of S.H.I.E.L.D.

* Nolan Funk has been tapped to guest-star in an upcoming episode of Arrow. Funk will play Cooper Seldon, Felicity's hacker boyfriend from her days at MIT.

* Corbin Bernsen will guest-star in an upcoming episode of CBS' new drama Scorpion. The Psych star will play Bob Connelly, a Las Vegas casino owner who turns to Walter's (Elyes Gabel) team when his profit margins start to shrink. But Walter will discover that underneath the glitz and glamor, all is not as it seems with Connelly and his casino.

* A&E has cancelled Longmire, which ended its third season earlier this month. "We would like to thank the phenomenal cast, crew and producers of Longmire, along with our partners at Warner Horizon, for their tireless work on three seasons of quality dramatic storytelling," reads a statement from A&E. "We are incredibly proud of what we have achieved together." Warner Horizon will shop the Wyoming-set crime drama to other networks.

* Ann Biderman, who launched and served as the showrunner of Showtime's hit fixer drama Ray Donovan for its first two seasons, is stepping down for the series' recently picked-up third go-round. Multiple sources involved with the show attribute the departure to hefty financial overruns on the series, though Biderman still will be involved as a creative consultant. Showtime has begun negotiations with David Hollander, another writer/executive producer on the series, to step in as showrunner.

* Lost alumna Jennifer Johnson, who joined The Following in June as executive producer/day-to-day showrunner, is leaving. Instead of bringing in a new person two seasons in, which proved not to be the right creative fit for the dense, serialized drama, WBTV has opted to promote within. Writers Brett Mahoney and Alexi Hawley have been upped to executive producers. They will co-run the Kevin Bacon-starring dark thriller alongside director Marcos Siega, the series’ long-time on-set executive producer.

* For the past 15 years a bunch of guys have been getting together for a Thursday lunch at the Desert Falls Country Club in Palm Desert. They call themselves — what else? — the "Lunch Bunch." Included in the group is former Days of our Lives, Santa Barbara and General Hospital star Jed Allan, author of the book "Please Spell The Name Right."

* Patton Oswalt joins Battle Creek stars Josh Duhamel and Dean Winters as the unorthodox mayor of Battle Creek, Mich., in the freshman season's sixth episode, "Cereal Killer." The character’s full name? Mayor Scooter Hardy.

* "Television is a woman’s medium," Allison Janney said, reflecting on her two Emmy wins this year. "I am proud to work in TV."

* Melissa Rivers could face a life-or-death decision as she awaits an update on her mother's condition after she went into cardiac and respiratory arrest during a routine doctor’s visit Thursday. Joan Rivers, 81, was placed in the coma Thursday after going into cardiac and respiratory arrest during a routine doctor's visit.

* Momentum is building in the campaign to get the complete series of the classic Aussie soap The Young Doctors released as a DVD box set. To date over 20,000 fans have ‘liked’ the Facebook page calling on FremantleMedia (who now own the rights) to come to the party.

* The Walking Dead creator Robert Kirkman set tongues wagging earlier this month when he floated the possibility that original survivor Daryl Dixon could be gay. Now, the AMC hit's showrunner, Scott M. Gimple, is weighing in on the buzz. "We're not holding back information on Daryl’s sexuality as any sort of big reveal. The fact that there’s still a question as to what Daryl's orientation is in Season 5 absolutely speaks to Daryl’s character; he is a very guarded, very closed-off individual in a lot of ways."

NEWS BRIEF: 'The Bold and the Beautiful' Live Stage Show, 'The Walking Dead' Most Discussed, AMC In Talks to Acquire Stake in BBC America

* Actors from The Bold and the Beautiful will appear in a live stage show in the Netherlands on October 3rd and 4th. Participating actors include Scott Clifton (Liam Spencer), Thorsten Kaye (Ridge Forrester), Kim Matula (Hope Logan) and Heather Tom (Katie Logan).

* Folks at the Burbank, California-based restaurant Not a Burger Stand have come up with an amusing way of offering discounts to their customers. Each week they draw up a new famous television show or movie character on a chalkboard and note that if customers order their food in the voice of or dress up as the character shown, they will receive a certain percentage off the bill.

* Supernatural will be welcoming back some familiar faces for its 10th season (premiering October 7), including Sheriff Mills (played by Kim Rhodes). Meanwhile, the CW series' "musical-ish" 200th episode will feature "just about every character — I’ll say they will be represented — that you’ve ever loved or hated on the show, and I say that very obliquely on purpose," executive producer Jeremy Carver teases. "So they will be there in spirit."

* Readers of TV adaptations of books need to let go. "I'm so sick of going on the Internet and seeing all the book readers being snobby, spoiling it for other people, then saying, 'Well, it's not a spoiler. The books have been out for years.' Like, couldn't you just stop being mad for a second and let other people enjoy the show?"

* These days, a new show has to use every tool in its arsenal to attract viewers as quickly as possible: splashy advertising, big name guest stars, over-the-top promos, and of course, a blockbuster web presence, one that gathers fans on Twitter, Facebook, and Tumblr who will then faithfully promote the show with homemade image macros and clever hashtags born from love. But while a show might leave our airwaves, a Facebook fan page is forever. What becomes of the social media accounts of canceled shows?

* Who were the most talked about characters in The Walking Dead's fourth season? No one got as much attention as Rick or The Governor, but Michonne and Daryl certainly had their moments. Hershel also got lots of attention — by dying. And Beth and Carol's journeys were the subject of much speculation.

* AMC Networks is in talks to acquire nearly a 50% stake in cabler BBC America.

* Covert Affairs actress Piper Perabo wore a unique, textured metallic gown to tie the knot with director-producer Stephen Kay, who played Reginald on General Hospital in his acting days, last Saturday in New York City.

* Guiding Light's iconic "The Slut of Springfield" scene aired 30 years ago.

* Former Scandal star Columbus Short was ordered to appear Wednesday morning in criminal court for a hearing in his domestic violence case. His wife was asking the judge for more protection from the actor, who is mired in legal trouble. But the actor wasn't there, so the judge issued a bench warrant for his arrest.

* NBC's The Blacklist has tapped Krysten Ritter for a guest-starring gig.

* Katie Couric left her self-titled talk show behind in a special "Farewell to Katie" episode that aired Wednesday.

* What better way to celebrate the release of Twin Peaks: The Entire Mystery on Blu-ray than with a mash-up with The Muppets?

* Claire Holt, who famously pulled out of her series regular gig on The Originals during its first season, has snagged a series regular role on NBC's upcoming Charles Manson-themed event series Aquarius. Holt will play tough-skinned police officer Charmain Tully.

'The Walking Dead' Comic Con Key Art Released

AMC has released The Walking Dead key art for Comic Con International: San Diego 2014. The image, which will appear on banner ads around the fan-based convention from June 24-27, features series stars (from L-R): Andrew Lincoln as Rick Grimes, Chandler Riggs as Carl Grimes, Danai Gurira as Michonne, Norman Reedus as Daryl Dixon, Steven Yeun as Glenn Rhee, Lauren Cohan as Maggie Greene and Michael Cudlitz as Sgt. Abraham Ford.

The Walking Dead Comic Con panel will take place on Friday, July 25 at 12:20 p.m. PT in Hall H. Season five of "The Walking Dead" premieres this October on AMC.

Photo Credit: Frank Ockenfels 3/AMC

RELATED:
* 'The Walking Dead' Comic-Con Schedule