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What Dish blackout? Last night’s Season 3 of AMC‘s The Walking Dead opened to 10.9 million total viewers, a big 50% increase vs. the show’s second-season premiere despite AMC’s loss of carriage on Dish Network systems. The Walking Dead’s Season 3 opener now ranks as the most-watched drama telecast in basic cable history. In adults 18-49 and 25-54, where the series already held the records, last night’s premiere set new benchmarks with 7.3 million adults 18-49, up 52% vs. the Season 2 premiere, and 6.1 million adults 25-54, up 46% (Live+Same Day). How staggering are those demo numbers? The Walking Dead‘s season premiere 18-49 average was higher than any broadcast series this season, excluding Sunday Night Football. The zombie drama topped Modern Family‘s season opener, which drew 7 million adults 18-49 in Live+ SD to lead the fall broadcast series pack.
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The season premiere eclipsed Walking Dead‘s previous series highs posted by its most recent episode, the second-season finale, which in March drew 9 million total viewers, 6 million adults 18-49 and 5.3 million adults 25-54. For the night, Walking Dead averaged 15.2 million total viewers across the premiere and two encore telecasts at 10 PM and midnight. At 11 PM, the second-season premiere of Walking Dead‘s companion talk show Talking Dead,drew 2.1 million viewers (up 85% from its series debut last fall), 1.5 million adults 18-49 (up 92%) and 1.3 million adults 25-54 (up 71%).
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This is the highest rated 18-49 show on Television period. Wow!
Are there any statistics yet on DISH defectors, since the carriage drop?
This might be making a case that network TV could get away with much more grisly violence than what we’re led to believe. I sometimes think that a show like “Nikita” or “NCIS: LA” could use a much more realistic approach to violence, i.e. showing exploding bullet wounds with red liquid splashing out instead of that ridiculous white powder.
Or is there another problem with airing such content on the broadcast networks? The FCC has no policy power for violent content, IIRC, only for indecency involving sexual situations. So, if 10 million viewers were not turned away by the gore here, there might much more leeway for the broadcast networks.
Just mulling thoughts here…
The Real Problem on Broadcast is Execution and Ideas. Throughout the 80′s and 90′s Broadcast experimented with serialization on Prime-time TV. It seems its reached it peak in the early 2000′s. Cable has since evolved the format and now is the main contributor in this golden era of Television. Now instead of taking big strides in serialization on broadcast with a wide variety of ideas. There mainly focus on soaps. At this pace may never catch up with quality story telling and character available on Cable.
Well deserved. Amazing show. Where the F are the emmy noms?
+1000
I agree best show on television! They deserve many emmy’s! I got the whole family into this show, even my 7 yr old! About time horror/comic gets the recognition it deserves! Keep up the kick ass job guys!
The FCC can hit the violence factor under the guise/guidelines of “profane” or “indecent” context. However, after 10pm – 6am those aren’t a factor – only the obscene regs are 24/7. However, I’m not as sure that Parent Council wouldn’t hit advertisers for the violence factor on a public station. It’s a financial risk to invest in a show like Walking Dead only to have advertisers drop it. When they get serious – advertisers DO drop. The Parent Council doesn’t mess with cable because a parent can always drop cable.
Thanks for that detailed explanation. I’ve just learned a lot.
So proud of this show! I’ve watched it since the day the first episode aired! By far my favorite TV show of all time. I feel bad for people with Dish. They’re missing something truly amazing.
Spoke to Dish about Walking Dead – they are sending me a Roku box and refunding the price of buying episodes on itunes or amazon. Not bad.
I agree! Watched since day 1 and so glad to see some excitement on television. I know I feel really bad for Dish customers but AMC is some AWESOME that they’re broadcasting the shows on their website, so Dish customers go watch on AMC!!! All I can say is get rid of Dish when your contract ends!
Guess it’s a good time to dust off my case-of-the-week vamp– uh, I mean, zombie cop procedural.
TWD is a fun, pulpy show but it is NOT worthy of an Emmy. It’s mostly drivel. I think its popularity speaks more about what is lacking on TV elsewhere than how good it actually is.
I would have to disagree with you. I think they deserve a few Emmy’s. If you actually watched the show from the beginning it has a great story to it. You really get to know the character and get attached to them. When one of them gets killed off your really p*ssed! It’s not just about killing zombies. Besides you learn what you’d do if there was a zombie apocalypse! Doesn’t get any better than that!
Drivel? Are you kidding me? Are we watching the same TV show? Admittedly, there were so slow episodes last season, but the writers more than made up for it in the last 3 episodes of the season. How can a show, that has broken every basic cable viewing record be drivel?
I will admit, it took me 3 viewings to finally realize that the acting as well as the writing were soo good. First time around, you get lost in the excitement of a new episode. Second time, you tend to focus more on your favorite actor, but by the 3rd time, all that stuff that distracts you away from the bare bones of the action, and the dialog, are broken down, and you begin to empathsize with the characters, or get pissed off at one, while mourning the death of another.
I am really picky about what I watch on TV, I prefet movies of television, and stear clear of anything with a laugh track.
I think you have it all wrong.
Ah dish should realize by now that they need AMC! So happy I have direct tv.
last nights premiere was awesome! 
HAHAHAHA
10.9MILLION VIEWERS!!!!
SCREW YOU DISH..
SCREW YOU MODERN FAMILY..
LOVE IT!
One of the most enjoyable shows on TV – agreed that it’s pulpy, sappy, etc (and the writing is inconsistent)…but it’s so much fun and it beats what the networks have on by a long shot.
Between Mad Men, Breaking Bad, and Walking Dead I’m really proud of what AMC has done because frankly the broadcasters don’t give me much to get excited about these days…
Brilliant point dude.somebody pitched a zombie show at the major networks a few years ago but was rejected.their loss.NBC,ABC,etc just keep pitching Kane cop,lawyer and doctor dramas (exception to House)
This is so true I agree 100%. NBC, ABC, etc. has been boring for a while now. I remember when it use to be good. They even took off all the good soaps. The only time I watch those channels are for the news. House is the only exception!
I really do like this show – but it is laughably bad. Like it’s so bad – that it’s good. The acting is so over the top, they are truly the dumbest pack of humans ever, yet I find it highly entertaining.
That’s how the get’cha.
This is why ABC’s 666 Park Ave is dying in the ratings. The Walking Dead and American Horror Story are series true horror fans love to watch.
Glad there’s finally a show out there for horror fans!
This is such an heart stopping show. It crazy to think where the writers can go with the story line…so many options. TWD will go down as the best tv show hands down in tv history and the EMMYS will start pouring in. BEST SHOW EVER!!
well, those are great numbers. fantastic numbers. i watched the show. was a fan. the premiere was meh. 2 more like that and i’ll have to say goodbye. bummer.
This episode was actually probably the best in the series. It was intense. The talking was minimum. And no stupid boring farm. It was surprisingly good.
I have been a fan since the first episode. Haven’t missed on. The weekend marathon leading up to the premier was great. I got a lot of friends to tune in who have not seen it.
I think the show is great. I love all the graphic horror. Anyone that like horror this is good. They don’t shy away from the gore. And the make up is fab.
About time us horror fans get something to watch right?
INCREDIBLE! Totally deserved. Dish Network and network television can suck it!
I agree – it was fantastic!
I was slightly skeptical because of my mixed feeling over last season, but oh man did they deliver! Yes it was depressing, and it’s probably going to get much worse. That’s what makes it incredibly authentic-feeling to me though. Anyhow I found it riveting from beginning to end.
Oh and can we all agree this is a huge win for NETFLIX? There’s no doubt that Netflix is changing viewership patterns by conveniently and cost effectively allowing audiences a way to catch up on shows they are late to the party on. This is just the latest example in the trend.
How did ratings go up so high, given that 14M Dish households were absent…this makes me wonder if they messed up on the calculation. DISH is right though…AMC wants to bundle its channel with sucky ones and then raise the fee…yet also make the show available all over the Internet. At least they don’t give it away for free like the Broadcasters…that would really drive Ergen mad.
Amazing. Well Deserved. Congrats Mr. Mazzara
Love this show…. best Zombies show ever…. love the writing…. love the acting…. love the drama…. no wonder so many people are watching this show like zoned out Zombies…. it’s a no brainer….. “I smell brains”
I strongly agree with Charlotte and Angel. The reason why millions watch TWD is because it’s not just about gore..it’s a series with a heart. The stoy gets build up, you get to know characthers and emphatize with what they’re going through..you get involved. Great writing and acting…Emmys please!!! They deserve it!!