FEAR THE WALKING DEAD Series Premiere Attracts 10.1 Million Viewers

We knew the popularity of The Walking Dead would attract viewers to Fear The Walking Dead, but now the official numbers are in from last night's premiere. AMC has announced that 10.1 million viewers tuned in for the first episode, breaking the record for a cable TV series premiere:

Press Release: NEW YORK, NY – August 24, 2015 – Last night’s special 90-minute series premiere of “Fear the Walking Dead” made 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 Dead” at #1 (2015), “Better Call Saul” at #2 (2015) and “The Walking Dead” at #5 (2010) – a remarkable accomplishment so far into the post-DVR era. A “Talking Dead” Season 6 Preview Special that preceded the “Fear” premiere last night delivered 4.2 million viewers, and 2.5 million adults 18-49.

“Thank you and congratulations to Robert Kirkman, Dave Erickson, the brilliant executive producers and the entire cast and crew of ‘Fear the Walking Dead,’” said Charlie Collier, president of AMC and SundanceTV. “It is increasingly difficult to evaluate a show’s success on night one. However, we are releasing these live/same day ratings because ‘Fear the Walking Dead’ delivered 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.”

Key Nielsen Highlights for the Series Premiere of “Fear the Walking Dead”

• 9:00 pm airing – 5.0 HH national rating with 10.1 million viewers
• 9:00 pm airing – 4.9 national rating with 6.3 million Adults 18-49
• 9:00 pm airing – 5.3 national rating with 6.3 million Adults 25-54

Key Nielsen Highlights for the Series Premiere of “Talking Dead” Season 6 Preview Special

• 8:00 pm airing – 2.2 HH national rating with 4.2 million viewers
• 8:00 pm airing – 1.9 national rating with 2.5 million Adults 18-49
• 8:00 pm airing – 2.2 national rating with 2.6 million Adults 25-54

The first season of “Fear the Walking Dead” will run for six episodes this fall. The show will return for a second season of 15 episodes next year.

Source: Nielsen Fast Nationals L+SD (8/23/15).  Rankings 1993-to date, (Live only to 2006, L+SD 2007 to date), M-Su 8p-11p (Start).  Series Premiere only excludes mini-series.

About AMC

Whether commemorating favorite films from every genre and decade, or creating acclaimed original programming, AMC brings to its audience something deeper, something richer, Something More. The network reigns as the only cable network in history ever to win the Emmy® Award for Outstanding Drama Series four years in a row with “Mad Men,” and six of the last seven with current back-to-back honoree, “Breaking Bad.” The network boasts the most-watched drama series in basic cable history and the number one show on television among adults 18-49 for the last three years with “The Walking Dead.” AMC’s current original drama series include “Mad Men,” “The Walking Dead,” “Better Call Saul,” “Hell on Wheels,” “TURN: Washington’s Spies,” “Halt and Catch Fire,” “Humans,” “Fear the Walking Dead” and the forthcoming “Into the Badlands” and “The Night Manager.” AMC also explores authentic worlds and discussion with original shows like “Talking Dead,” “The Making of The Mob: New York” and “Comic Book Men.” AMC is owned and operated by AMC Networks Inc. and its sister networks include IFC, SundanceTV, BBC America and WE tv. AMC is available across all platforms, including on-air, online, on demand and mobile. AMC: Something More.