Walking Dead midseason smashes records

The Walking Dead continues to set ratings records, this time scoring the most-watched midseason finale in series history.

The eighth episode of season five took 14.8 million viewers and 9.6 million 18-49s, up 23% and 24% on the corresponding season four ratings, respectively.

Furthermore, companion show Talking Dead became the most-watched aftershow midseason finale on record, bringing in 6.6 million total viewers and 4.2 million 18-49s.

The AMC cable drama is up an overall 12% among total viewers season-on-season, and 13% in 18-49s. Additionally, the show is now firmly television’s most-watched show, beating NFL American football consistently this season.

The midseason finale of the zombie drama went out on AMC on Sunday night, and followed international in various territories the following night via Fox International Channels.

“The audience-driven success of The Walking Dead and Talking Dead – even before time-shifting – is remarkable, and something we never take for granted,” said Charlie Collier, AMC president.

The opening episode of Walking Dead’s season five became the most-watched single episode for a non-sports telecast in basic cable history with 17.3 million initial viewers (consolidated figures were expected to pass 22 million). International ratings were also huge.

The show stars Andrew Lincoln as a survivor of a zombie holocaust that leads a group on a mission to find safety. AMC Studios produces it alongside Circle of Confusion, Darkwood Productions, Valhalla Entertainment and Idiot Box Productions.