We knew that The Walking Dead Season 3 would return in February, but now we have an official date from AMC. We also have ratings details from last night's mid-season finale and news that Talking Dead is expanding to a one-hour format:

"New York – December 3, 2012 – AMC’s “The Walking Dead” is the first cable series in television history to reign as the biggest show of the fall season among Adult 18-49 rating, beating all broadcast and cable entertainment series including “The Voice,” “Modern Family,” “X Factor,” “Two and a Half Men,” “The Big Bang Theory” and “Grey’s Anatomy.” Last night, the 9PM premiere of “The Walking Dead’s” mid-season finale delivered 10.5 million viewers. The series encored at 10PM and then again at midnight, delivering an additional 3.6 million & 1.1 million viewers respectively, totaling 15.2 million viewers for the night. With Live plus 7, “The Walking Dead” adds another 3.4 million viewers a week on average. “The Walking Dead” Season 3 to date reigns as the number one ad supported drama series in basic cable history among total viewers, adults 18-49, adults 25-54, adults 18-34, men 18-49, men 25-54 and men 18-34. AMC resumes the final eight episodes of “The Walking Dead” season three on Sunday, February 10th at 9pm EST.

In addition, the season three mid-season finale of “Talking Dead” at 11pm attracted 2.2 million viewers. The live after show, hosted by Chris Hardwick, expands to a one-hour program on Sunday, February 10th at 10pm EST immediately following “The Walking Dead.” Embassy Row’s Michael Davies and Jen Patton serve as executive producers and Brandon Monk is co-executive producer.

Source: Nielsen. Live+SD. M-Sa 8P-11P/Su 7P-11P. The Walking Dead Finale 12/2/12; Season 3A 10/14-12/2/12. 12/13 Fall Season to Date (11/29/12) vs. Previous Fall Seasons To Date Broadcast & Cable. 9/13/93-12/2/12, Broadcast and Ad Supported Cable, Trackage Level Data. US RTG A18-49. Excluding Sports. Qual Avail Upon Request.

“Representing both the studio and the network as AMC does on this project, I speak for so many when I say 'thank you' and congratulations to everyone involved,” said Charlie Collier, AMC’s president. “The records that ‘The Walking Dead’ shattered today represent an enormous achievement of which we are so proud."