The return of AMC’s martial arts-themed series Into The Badlands drew 4.5 million viewers in its second season premiere this past Sunday.

The 4.5 million viewers in Nielsen Live+3 ratings is the best audience for a returning series so far in 2017, said AMC. Into The Badlands also averaged 2.7 million adults 25-54 and 2.4 million adults 18-49 in Nielsen Live+3 ratings, said network officials.

“It is great to have this thrill ride of a series, with the best, most truly artistic, fight sequences on television, return to AMC for a second season, said Charlie Collier, president of AMC, SundanceTV and AMC Studios in a statement. “That is does so as the number 1 returning program on cable in 2017 is truly meaningful.”

ABC's telecast of The Oscars drew a whopping 22 million Facebook and Twitter interactions across 8.3 million unique social media accounts, topping all entertainment shows for Sunday, according to Nielsen’s daily Social Content Ratings report.

The telecast was punctuated by the misreading of film La La Land as the Oscars winner for Best Picture after presenters Warren Beatty and Faye Dunaway were given the incorrect award envelope. Independent film Moonlight was instead awarded the Oscar in the category.

The Oscars easily bested AMC’s The Walking Dead, which drew 610,000 social media interactions, followed by Hallmark Channel’s When Calls The Heart; AMC’s Talking Dead and A&E’s Hoarders Overload.

Fox’s coverage of the 2017 Daytona 500 tallied up 3.8 million Facebook and Twitter interactions from 2.2 million unique social media users to lead all live sports events for the day, according to Nielsen.

Comedy Central has renewed its Emmy-winning late night series @midnight With Chris Hardwick for a fourth season, the network said Friday.

The daily series begining in 2017 will move into the 11:30 timeslot vacated by the cancellation of The Nightly Show With Larry Wilmore with a 40-week episode order, according to the network.

“We are really pleased with how Chris and team have opened the aperture of @midnight to cover more of the socially and politically relevant topics of the day, and I defy anyone to find a show with a higher joke-per-minute ratio,” said Kent Alterman, president of Comedy Central in a statement.

Hardwick, who will continue to host AMC’s Talking Dead live talk show series, which returns Oct. 23, said in a statement: “I LOVE making @midnight and we will continue to innovate inappropriate jokes about social media and pop culture in the late-night landscape.

The zombie-themed series will premiere the first eight episodes of season seven in the fall with the remaining eight returning in February 2017, said network officials.

Also premiering on Oct. 23 will be The Walking Dead companion series Talking Dead as well as reality series Comic Book Men, said the network.

AMC also announced an Aug. 14 special The Walking Dead Season 7 Preview Special which will give fans an early look at what to expect in the upcoming season, and an Oct. 16 two-hour “The Walking Dead Recap Special”, recapping the first six seasons of the series.

Fans of AMC’s The Walking Dead last night took to social media to make Sunday's episode of the zombie-themed series the most tweeted TV show of the day.

The Walking Dead drew 306,000 tweets reaching 3.7 million viewers to easily best the 12,000 tweets generated by second place finisher, E!’s Keeping Up the Kardashians, according to Nielsen’s daily Twitter TV ratings.

Talking Dead,The Walking Dead’s live post-show talker, generated 35,000 tweets reaching 481,000 unique Twitter users to finished fourth behind ABC’s Once Upon A Time. Showtime’s Homeland drama series rounded out the top five shows for the night.

Fox’s World Series Game 5 telecast in which the Kansas City Royals defeated the New York Mets was the most tweeted sports event of the day, generating 1.2 million tweets viewed by nearly 7 million unique Twitter users, according to Nielsen.

In a move that should be shocking to no one, even the undead, AMC Networks said it has renewed the No. 1 show on television, The Walking Dead, for a seventh season, giving a similar nod to after-show talker Talking Dead.

The Walking Dead has been tops with adults ages 18-49 for the past three years. Talking Dead, hosted by Chris Hardwick, ranks in the top 10 across all television among adults 18-49, with new episodes to follow The Walking Dead.

The zombie apocalypse series continues to draw record audiences: its Oct. 25 episode delivered 18.2 million viewers, 12 million adults 18-49 and 11.5 million adults 25-54 in live+3 ratings, which include three days of time-shifted viewing, each category growing compared to last season’s corresponding episode.

Last Sunday’s Talking Dead was its highest-rated episode ever that was not a season premiere or a finale, delivering 7.3 million viewers, 4.6 million adults 18-49 and 4.7 million adults 25-54 in live+3.

“We are so proud to share these shows with fans who have been so passionate, communicative and engaged, said AMC, SundanceTV and AMC Studios president Charlie Collier in a statement. “We are grateful for and continually impressed by the talent, effort and excellence on continuous display by Robert Kirkman, Scott Gimple, Chris Hardwick and the many people with whom we partner to make these unique shows possible. The result: More Walking and Talking. Hooray.”

Key Nielsen Highlights for October 25th Episode #603 of “The Walking Dead” (Live+3)

• 18.2 million viewers, up 39% from live/same day (an increase of 5.1 million viewers)
• 12.0 million adults 18-49 (national rating of 9.5), up 42% from live/same day (an increase of 3.5 million adults 18-49)
• 11.5 million adults 25-54, up 41% from live/same day (an increase of 3.3 million adults 25-54)

Key Nielsen Highlights for October 25th Episode of “Talking Dead” (Live+3)

• 7.3 million viewers, up 18% from live/same day (an increase of 1.1 million viewers)
• 4.6 million adults 18-49 (national rating of 3.6), up 17% from live/same day (an increase of 673,000 adults 18-49)
• 4.7 million adults 25-54, up 18% from live/same day (an increase of 699,000 adults 25-54)

For season seven, Scott M. Gimple will return as the series’ showrunner and executive producer, along with executive producers Robert Kirkman, Gale Anne Hurd, David Alpert, Greg Nicotero and Tom Luse.

AMC, building on its formidable zombie franchise, said it has greenlit an unscripted series featuring Walking Dead star Norman Reedus.

Ride With Norman Reedus (working title) is set to debut in 2016 with six one-hour episodes.

AMC's The Walking Dead has grown into the highest rated series on TV. The network has cashed in on the series’s popularity with an aftershow — Talking Dead, which also draws millions of viewers on Sunday nights -- and more recently had the biggest series debut in cable history with Fear the Walking Dead, a spinoff that looks at the zombie apocalypse from an L.A. family’s perspective.

The new Reedus reality show will follow the actor and motorcycle enthusiast on the road as he explores biker culture and history. Each episode will begin in a different city and will feature companions, who could be actors, musicians, friends or bikers.

“We love being the home of people’s passion projects, and there is nobody more passionate about motorcycles than Norman Reedus,” said Joel Stillerman, president of original programming and development for AMC and SundanceTV. “He is an avid rider and aficionado who is deeply immersed in motorcycle culture. There is also nobody more fun to hang out with."

Read more at broadcastingcable.com.

AMC will premiere the sixth season of its zombie-themed series The Walking Dead on Oct. 11, the network announced Friday at the Comic Com International convention.

The network also announced at Comic Con it will debut The Walking Dead prequel series Fear The Walking Dead, Aug. 23 with a 90-minute episode that will also air simultaneously on AMC Global channels around thw world.

“Robert Kirkman, Dave Erickson and the fantastic writers, producers, cast and crew responsible for bringing ‘Fear the Walking Dead’ to life have been hard at work creating an entirely distinct and compelling new series,” said Charlie Collier, AMC and SundanceTV president in a statement. “We join ‘Fear’ before the rise of the zombie apocalypse with an interesting family dynamic as its entry point.  After years of planning, that we are now only six weeks from sharing ‘Fear’ with the world is truly exciting.”

The Walking Dead, which is the most watched series on cable, will launch with a 90-minute episode, according to AMC. The 16-episode series will air in two parts, with the first eight episodes launching Oct. 11 and the second half premiering in February 2016.

Also on Oct. 11 the network will premiere a new season of Talking Dead. On Aug. 23 the netwrk will air a Talking Dead Season 6 Preview Special thatwill give fans an early look at what to expect in the upcoming season of The Walking Dead, along with exclusive interviews with cast members and executive producers and behind-the-scenes moments.

  A week later, a new season of reality series Comic Book Men will debut with back to back episodes beginning at Midnight.

The season premieres of The Walking Dead and Talking Dead will coincide with AMC’s Zombie Apocalypse Week, from Monday, Oct. 5 through Oct. 11, as well as the network’s annual AMCFearfest, which will run from Oct. 18 through Oct. 31.

 “We covet our time in person with The Walking Dead fans every summer at Comic-Con International, and we always work to bring them new, exciting content and experiences that fuel their passion,” said  Collier.

Sunday’s season five finale of AMC’s zombie-themed series The Walking Dead drew 15.8 million viewers, the network said Monday.

The 90-minute episode was the most watched finale in series history – besting season four’s 15.6 million viewers – and drew 10.4 million adults 18-49, said network officials.

The 15.6 million viewers fell short of the 17.3 million viewers for last October’s season five premiere.

AMC’s live follow-up talk show Talking Dead drew a record 7.5 million viewers and 4.9 million adults 18-49, said network officials. 

“It’s tough enough in today’s competitive environment to command attention, and even harder to hold onto it,” said AMC president Charlie Collier, in a statement.  “So, for The Walking Dead to maintain this level of urgent viewership in its fifth season – and to end with the highest-rated finale in series history – is really something rare and remarkable.” 

AMC’s Breaking Bad prequel Better Call Saul –benefiting from a huge Walking Dead audience lead in and the legacy of its predecessor-- set all-time ratings highs for a cable premiere in key demos, AMC said Monday.

Better Call Saul averaged 6.9 million total viewers and set premiere records within the 18-49 (4.4 million) and  25-54 (4.0 million viewers) demos, said network officials.  The 18-to-49 delivery surpassed the 4 million for USA's The Dead Zone, which bowed in 2002, while Saul matched the 4 million with the older group generated by the Anthony Michael Hall-starrer.

The series bow no doubt was aided by big lead-in from cable’s top rated series, The Walking Dead, which pinned down 15.6 million viewers for the second half of the zombie-themed series' fifth season.

The network’s post Walking Dead talk show series Talking Dead aftershow delivered 2.8 million viewers and 1.9 million 18-49 viewers, according to network officials.

“In a competitive environment that sometimes gets as much press as the shows themselves, it is gratifying to deliver programming that breaks through and reaches passionate audiences,”said AMC president Charlie Collier.

The second part of Saul's premiere event is scheduled for 10 p.m. on Monday, so AMC will get a better read on the popularity of the Breaking Bad prequel. Following a rundown of Breaking Bad's final season throughout Monday, last night's Saul pilot will air at 9 p.m. ahead of the series' second installment.

Syfy has named Andie Beckerman to the position of Vice President, Alternative Development and Production, the network said Thursday.

Beckerman, who will report to Heather Olander, Senior Vice President, Alternative Development and Production, Syfy, will be tasked with developing and overseeing unscripted alternative programming, said network officials.

Beckerman was most recently Director of Development, Unscripted Original Programming for AMC, where she developed and oversaw current programming on a wide range of successful unscripted series such as Talking Dead, Comic Book Men and Game of Arms.

“With Andie’s passion for the genre and her keen creative instincts, she’s a tremendous addition to our programming team and to the future growth of the Syfy brand,” Olander said in a statement.

The Walking Dead’s mid-season final episode last night drew an impressive 14.8 million viewers, network officials said Monday.

Sunday’s audience for AMC’s zombie-themed series was up 23% from last season’s corresponding episode. In addition, the show drew 9.6 million adults 18-49, which was up 24% from season four’s mid-season episode.

Overall, the fifth season of The Walking Dead is averaging 14.6 million viewers and 9.5 million adults 18-49. The show is the most-watched on television among adults 18-49, beating out the broadcast networks, including NBC’s Sunday Night Football telecasts.

AMC’s Talking Dead aftershow delivered the highest-rated, mid-season finale in its history, with 6.6 million viewers and 4.2 million adults 18-49, said network officials.

“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 in a statement. “We hold in such high regard Robert Kirkman, Scott Gimple and all of our exceptional executive producers, cast and crew for their passionate efforts that led to television history for The Walking Dead once again last night.”

AMC’s juggernaut drama series The Walking Dead continued to outpace ESPN’s Monday Night Football telecast for top ratings honors among cable shows last week.

The Walking Dead drew 15.1 million viewers for the second episode of its fifth season this past Sunday, outdistancing the 12 million viewers ESPN drew for its San Francisco 49’ers-St. Louis Rams Oct. 13 MNF telecast, said network officials.

The Walking Dead’s numbers were down from the cable record 17.3 million viewers the series devoured during its Oct. 12 seaon five premiere, which that week beat out ESPN’s Oct. 6 Seattle Seahawks-Washington Redskins MNF telecast.

ESPN was the most watched cable network for the week of Oct. 13 to Oct. 19, averaging 2.7 million viewers, according to Nielsen. TBS finished second with 1.9 million viewers for the week, followed by Fox News, Disney Channel and USA Network, all tied with 1.7 million viewers.

Nickelodeon and Disney Channel finished in a tie for first place on a 24-hour basis with 1.2 million viewers as both kids-targeted networks continue to roll out Halloween-themed programming. ESPN and Adult Swim followed close behind with 1.1 million viewers each, according to Nielsen.

Most Watched Cable Shows For The Week Of Oct. 13 – 19

DateShowNetwork Total Viewers

10/19    The Walking Dead                                        AMC                 15.1 million

10/13    Monday Night Football: 49’ers-Rams        ESPN                12.7 million

10/14    MLB Playoffs – Royals-Orioles                   TBS                     6.0 million

10/19    Talking Dead                                                 AMC                    5.1 million

10/15    MLB Playoffs – Giants-Cardinals                FS1                     5.0 million

10/16    MLB Playoffs – Giants-Cardinals                FS1                     4.8 million

10/15    American Horror Story: Freak Show           FX                       4.5 million

10/14    Sons Of Anarchy                                            FX                       4.4 million

10/19    NASCAR Sprint Cup                                    ESPN                  4.3 million

10/15    MLB Playoffs – Royals-Orioles                   TBS                      3.9 million

Source: Nielsen

Less than a week ahead of the Oct. 12 season-five premiere, AMC said it has renewed The Walking Dead for a sixth season. The show has been tops among adults ages 18-49 for the last two years and is the most highly-rated show in cable television history, per AMC.

AMC said Scott M. Gimple will return as showrunner and executive producer along with executive producers Robert Kirkman, Gale Anne Hurd, David Alpert, Greg Nicotero and Tom Luse. AMC has also ordered a pilot for a potential companion series to The Walking Dead, based on a new story and new characters from Robert Kirkman.

The Oct. 12 season premiere will be followed by the live season premiere of Talking Dead at 10 p.m. ET/PT with host Chris Hardwick and guests Scott M. Gimple, Greg Nicotero and Conan O’Brien.