MID-WAY THROUGH ITS SEVENTH SEASON, "THE WALKING DEAD" IS FIRMLY ESTABLISHED AS THE #1 SHOW ON TELEVISION FOR A RECORD-BREAKING FIFTH CONSECUTIVE YEAR

EXPANDED 90-MINUTE MID-SEASON FINALE DELIVERS 15.2 MILLION TOTAL VIEWERS AND 9.6 MILLION ADULTS 18-49 IN NIELSEN LIVE+3 RATINGS

"TALKING DEAD" REMAINS TELEVISION'S #1 TALK SHOW, AVERAGING 5.5 MILLION VIEWERS AND 3.3 MILLION ADULTS 18-49 IN SEASON SEVEN IN NIELSEN LIVE+3 RATINGS

DIGITAL VIEWERSHIP OF "THE WALKING DEAD" IS UP 46 PERCENT FROM LAST SEASON

NEW YORK, NY, December 16, 2016 - Mid-way through its seventh season, AMC's "The Walking Dead" is firmly established as the #1 show on television by a wide margin for a record-breaking fifth consecutive season, averaging 16.1 million viewers per episode and 10.1 million adults 18-49 across its first eight episodes. The show returns on Feb. 12, 2017 for the second half of the season.

Sunday's expanded 90-minute mid-season finale delivered 15.2 million total viewers, 9.6 million adults 18-49 and 9.5 million adults 25-54 in Nielsen live+3 ratings, growing 43 percent in total viewers and 47 percent in adults 18-49 and adults 25-54 from Nielsen live/same day ratings. In Nielsen live+3 ratings, episode 708 "Hearts Still Beating," was up 2 percent in total viewers, 3 percent in adults 18-49 and 2 percent in adults 25-54 from the previous week, the second week in a row of growth from the previous episode.

"'The Walking Dead' has never been more alive - on-air and online; live, near-live and time-shifted; at home and around the world," said Charlie Collier, president of AMC, SundanceTV and AMC Studios. "Thanks to the fans for their continued passion and care and for making this series #1 across all of television for the fifth consecutive year. We, along with the creative partners we are so proud of and fortunate to work with, are profoundly grateful. Get ready to 'Rise Up' this February."

"Talking Dead" remains television's #1 talk show, averaging 5.5 million viewers and 3.3 million adults 18-49 in season seven.

In addition to the linear viewing, "The Walking Dead" has generated record digital viewership of more than 14 million plays so far this half season, up 46 percent from this point last season.

Over the first half of its seventh season, "The Walking Dead" has weathered linear viewership challenges better than other cable shows and much better than cable dramas. Average linear viewers (adults 18-49, live+3) across these first eight episodes decreased 10 percent from the second half of season six, while average returning series across all cable and broadcast networks declined 13 percent, year-to-date, TV dramas are down 20 percent and dramas on ad-supported cable networks decreased 23 percent.

Key Nielsen Highlights for the mid-season finale of "The Walking Dead" (L+3)

Episode 708, Sunday, December 11

15.2 million viewers, up 43% from live/same day (growth of 4.6 million)

9.6 million Adults 18-49, up 47% from live/same day (growth of 3.1 million)

9.5 million Adults 25-54, up 47% from live/same day (growth of 3.1 million)

Key Nielsen Highlights for the mid-season finale of "Talking Dead" (L+3)

Episode 708, Sunday, December 11

5.4 million viewers, up 25% from live/same day

3.2 million Adults 18-49, up 25% from live/same day

3.4 million Adults 25-54, up 28% from live/same day

Excluding sports and news, AMC has four of the top seven shows on cable television year-to-date for adults 18-49 (Nielsen live+3). In terms of dramas on ad-supported cable networks, AMC has four of the top six shows (see chart).

Persons 18 - 49 Persons 18 - 49
Net Program Name US AA % AA Proj (000)
AMC THE WALKING DEAD 8.33 10,629
FX AMERICAN HORROR STORY 2.89 3,697
AMC FEAR THE WALKING DEAD 2.86 3,644
FX ACS: PEOPLE V. OJ SIMPSON 2.77 3,509
AMC BETTER CALL SAUL 1.87 2,377
AMC PREACHER 1.23 1,556

An AMC Studios production, "The Walking Dead" is executive produced by Scott M. Gimple, Robert Kirkman, Gale Anne Hurd, David Alpert, Greg Nicotero, and Tom Luse.

About AMC

AMC is home to some of the most popular and acclaimed programs on television. AMC was the first basic cable network to ever win the Emmy(R) Award for Outstanding Drama Series with "Mad Men" in 2008, which then went on to win the coveted award four years in a row, before "Breaking Bad" won it in 2013 and 2014. The network's series "The Walking Dead" is the highest-rated series in cable history and the number one show on television among adults 18-49 for the last five years. AMC's other current original drama series include "Better Call Saul," "Hell on Wheels," "Turn: Washington's Spies," "Halt and Catch Fire," "Humans," "Fear the Walking Dead," "Into the Badlands," "The Night Manager," "Preacher," and the forthcoming "The Son," "The Terror," "Lodge 49," "Loaded" and "McMafia." AMC also explores authentic worlds and discussion with original shows like "Talking Dead," "The Making of The Mob," "Comic Book Men," "Ride with Norman Reedus" and "The American West." 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.