Walking Dead S7 Premiere Breaks Previous Viewing Records

CBR

By Tim Adams

Published Oct 28, 2016

The Season 7 premiere of "The Walking Dead" was its biggest yet, as fans flocked to learn the identity of Negan's victim.

The final numbers are in, and AMC's Season 7 premiere of "The Walking Dead" blew away the competition with 20.8 million total viewers.

Factoring together the live+3 numbers (combining those who watched the debut live, and those who watched it over the following three days via OnDemand or DVR recordings) 13.2 million adults between the ages of 18-49 and 13 million between 25-54 tuned in to see who Negan killed, an increase of 7% in total viewers from the Season 6 premiere. Compared to the Season 6 finale, viewership grew 13% in total viewers, 14% in adults 18-49, and 11% in adults 25-54.

TWD-themed talk show, "Talking Dead," saw an increase compared to its Season 6 premiere as well. It drew 8.7 million total viewers (up 35%), 5.4 million adults 18-49 (up 29%), and 5.5 million adults 25-54 (up 38%).

President of AMC, SundanceTV, and AMC Studios Charlie Collier said on "The Walking Dead's" continued success, "When millions of fans come together at almost exactly the same time to share a story – a story elevated, that viewers anticipate and have time to let sink in and discuss, moments we collectively feel – it’s as good as television gets and a reminder of the power of weekly storytelling... This week, ‘The Walking Dead’ once again provided that for all of us. Rest in peace, Glenn and Abraham. You will never be forgotten."

"The Walking Dead" also dominated digital platforms and social media as well, with nearly 2.5 million views generated on digital platforms and fans tweeting 4.6 million times globally and 1.8 million times in the U.S., making it the most social series program and tweeted show of 2016. TWD garnered the #1 spot on Nielsen Social, along with 9 out of the top 10 hashtags for Sunday night, with 7.4 million unique fans and 16.9 million interactions across Facebook and Twitter according to Nielsen.

Airing Sundays at 9 pm ET/PT on AMC, “The Walking Dead” stars Andrew Lincoln as Rick Grimes, Chandler Riggs as Carl Grimes, Norman Reedus as Daryl Dixon, Melissa McBride as Carol Peleteir, Steven Yeun as Glenn Rhee, Lauren Cohan as Maggie Green, Danai Gurira as Michonne and more.