AMC revealed today that last night’s 90-minute season five finale of “The Walking Dead” (check out our recap) was the highest-rated finale in series history, delivering 15.8 million viewers and 10.4 million adults 18-49. The episode capped the show’s strong fifth season with all 16 episodes ranking in the top 20 entertainment telecasts across all of television this broadcast season among adults 18-49. When including sports and specials, all 16 episodes of “The Walking Dead” season five rank in the top 50 telecasts across all of television among adults 18-49 – the first time a series has achieved this in cable history. With time-shifted playback added in, this season finale of “The Walking Dead” should exceed more than 20 million viewers and 14 million adults 18-49.
“The Walking Dead” remains the number one show in all of television among adults 18-49. Despite formidable competition from the NFL in the first half of its season and special event programming in the second half, such as the Oscars, the Grammys, the “Saturday Night Live” 40th Anniversary Special and the NBA All-Star Game, the show’s fifth season has delivered an average of 14.4 million viewers and 9.4 million adults 18-49 live/same day across its 16 episodes, an increase of 9% season over season in adults 18-49.
Also last night, “Talking Dead” achieved its highest-rated episode in series history, drawing 7.5 million viewers and 4.9 million adults 18-49. Each week, the live “Talking Dead” aftershow features host Chris Hardwick and fans, actors, producers and other TV enthusiasts discussing that night’s “The Walking Dead” premiere. Last night’s season finale featured Norman Reedus (Daryl), Melissa McBride (Carol) and Lennie James (Morgan).
“The Walking Dead” and “Talking Dead” were among the top 3 telecasts in all of cable among adults 18-49 for 12 out of the 16 weeks they aired this season; for six of those weeks, they were the number one and two telecasts, respectively. This season, “Talking Dead” solidified its position as a top 10 show across all of television in adults 18-49 – an astonishing level of success for an aftershow originally conceived as a way to provide an on-air focal point for the conversation that followed episodes of “The Walking Dead,” particularly in social media.
“It’s tough enough in today’s competitive environment to command attention, and even harder to hold onto it. 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,” said Charlie Collier, AMC president. “We’re thankful to Robert Kirkman, Scott Gimple, Chris Hardwick, our fantastic executive producers and the talented writers, cast and crews for delivering another season of unforgettable and engaging television. And to the many amazing people who drive the passion for this program across multiple platforms, I paraphrase (and welcome back) Morgan when I say, ‘All fans are precious.'”
Last night’s season five finale “The Walking Dead” was also the number one most engaging series of the day on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and Tumblr, outperforming all cable, broadcast and streaming episodic series.
The Walking Dead - Season Five
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Andrew J. West as Gareth - The Walking Dead _ Season 5, Gallery - Photo Credit: Frank Ockenfels 3/AMC
Andrew J. West as Gareth - The Walking Dead _ Season 5, Gallery - Photo Credit: Frank Ockenfels 3/AMC -
Danai Gurira as Michonne - The Walking Dead _ Season 5, Gallery - Photo Credit - Frank Ockenfels 3/AMC
Danai Gurira as Michonne - The Walking Dead _ Season 5, Gallery - Photo Credit - Frank Ockenfels 3/AMC -
Walkers - The Walking Dead _ Season 5, Gallery - Photo Credit: Frank Ockenfels 3/AMC
Walkers - The Walking Dead _ Season 5, Gallery - Photo Credit: Frank Ockenfels 3/AMC -
Lawrence Gilliard Jr. as Bob Stookey - The Walking Dead _ Season 5, Gallery - Photo Credit: Frank Ockenfels 3/AMC
Lawrence Gilliard Jr. as Bob Stookey - The Walking Dead _ Season 5, Gallery - Photo Credit: Frank Ockenfels 3/AMC -
Chandler Riggs as Carl Grimes - The Walking Dead _ Season 5, Gallery - Photo Credit: Frank Ockenfels 3/AMC
Chandler Riggs as Carl Grimes - The Walking Dead _ Season 5, Gallery - Photo Credit: Frank Ockenfels 3/AMC -
Emily Kinney as Beth - The Walking Dead _ Season 5, Gallery - Photo Credit: Frank Ockenfels 3/AMC
Emily Kinney as Beth - The Walking Dead _ Season 5, Gallery - Photo Credit: Frank Ockenfels 3/AMC -
Josh McDermitt as Dr. Eugene Porter - The Walking Dead _ Season 5, Gallery - Photo Credit: Frank Ockenfels 3/AMC
Josh McDermitt as Dr. Eugene Porter - The Walking Dead _ Season 5, Gallery - Photo Credit: Frank Ockenfels 3/AMC -
Christian Serratos as Rosita Espinosa - The Walking Dead _ Season 5, Gallery - Photo Credit: Frank Ockenfels 3/AMC
Christian Serratos as Rosita Espinosa - The Walking Dead _ Season 5, Gallery - Photo Credit: Frank Ockenfels 3/AMC -
Sonequa Martin-Green as Sasha - The Walking Dead _ Season 5, Gallery - Photo Credit: Frank Ockenfels 3/AMC
Sonequa Martin-Green as Sasha - The Walking Dead _ Season 5, Gallery - Photo Credit: Frank Ockenfels 3/AMC -
Michael Cudlitz as Abraham - The Walking Dead _ Season 5, Gallery - Photo Credit: Frank Ockenfels 3/AMC
Michael Cudlitz as Abraham - The Walking Dead _ Season 5, Gallery - Photo Credit: Frank Ockenfels 3/AMC -
Alanna Masterson as Tara - The Walking Dead _ Season 5, Gallery - Photo Credit: Frank Ockenfels 3/AMC
Alanna Masterson as Tara - The Walking Dead _ Season 5, Gallery - Photo Credit: Frank Ockenfels 3/AMC -
Walkers - The Walking Dead _ Season 5. Gallery - Photo Credit: Frank Ockenfels 3/AMC
Walkers - The Walking Dead _ Season 5. Gallery - Photo Credit: Frank Ockenfels 3/AMC -
Chad Coleman as Tyreese - The Walking Dead _ Season 5, Gallery - Photo Credit: Frank Ockenfels 3/AMC
Chad Coleman as Tyreese - The Walking Dead _ Season 5, Gallery - Photo Credit: Frank Ockenfels 3/AMC -
Danai Gurira as Michonne - The Walking Dead _ Season 5, Gallery - Photo Credit: Frank Ockenfels 3/AMC
Danai Gurira as Michonne - The Walking Dead _ Season 5, Gallery - Photo Credit: Frank Ockenfels 3/AMC -
Lauren Cohen as Maggie - The Walking Dead _ Season 5, Gallery - Photo Credit: Frank Ockenfels 3/AMC
Lauren Cohen as Maggie - The Walking Dead _ Season 5, Gallery - Photo Credit: Frank Ockenfels 3/AMC -
Melissa McBride as Carol - The Walking Dead _ Season 5, Gallery - Photo Credit: Frank Ockenfels 3/AMC
Melissa McBride as Carol - The Walking Dead _ Season 5, Gallery - Photo Credit: Frank Ockenfels 3/AMC -
Steven Yeun as Glenn - The Walking Dead _ Season 5, Gallery - Photo Credit: Frank Ockenfels 3/AMC
Steven Yeun as Glenn - The Walking Dead _ Season 5, Gallery - Photo Credit: Frank Ockenfels 3/AMC -
Andrew Lincoln as Rick Grimes - The Walking Dead _ Season 5, Gallery - Photo Credit: Frank Ockenfels 3/AMC
Andrew Lincoln as Rick Grimes - The Walking Dead _ Season 5, Gallery - Photo Credit: Frank Ockenfels 3/AMC -
Norman Reedus as Daryl Dixon - The Walking Dead _ Season 5, Gallery - Photo Credit: Frank Ockenfels 3/AMC
Norman Reedus as Daryl Dixon - The Walking Dead _ Season 5, Gallery - Photo Credit: Frank Ockenfels 3/AMC -
Andrew Lincoln as Rick Grimes - The Walking Dead _ Season 5, Gallery - Photo Credit: Frank Ockenfels 3/AMC
Andrew Lincoln as Rick Grimes - The Walking Dead _ Season 5, Gallery - Photo Credit: Frank Ockenfels 3/AMC -
Michael Cudlitz as Abraham - The Walking Dead _ Season 5, Gallery - Photo Credit: Frank Ockenfels 3/AMC
Michael Cudlitz as Abraham - The Walking Dead _ Season 5, Gallery - Photo Credit: Frank Ockenfels 3/AMC -
Andrew Lincoln as Rick Grimes - The Walking Dead _ Season 5, Key Art - Photo Credit: Courtesy of AMC
Andrew Lincoln as Rick Grimes - The Walking Dead _ Season 5, Key Art - Photo Credit: Courtesy of AMC -
Andrew Lincoln as Rick Grimes - The Walking Dead _ Season 5, Gallery - Photo Credit: Frank Ockenfels 3/AMC
Andrew Lincoln as Rick Grimes - The Walking Dead _ Season 5, Gallery - Photo Credit: Frank Ockenfels 3/AMC -
Zombie - The Walking Dead _ Season 5, Gallery - Photo Credit: Frank Ockenfels 3/AMC
Zombie - The Walking Dead _ Season 5, Gallery - Photo Credit: Frank Ockenfels 3/AMC -
Lauren Cohan as Maggie Greene - The Walking Dead _ Season 5, Gallery - Photo Credit: Frank Ockenfels 3/AMC
Lauren Cohan as Maggie Greene - The Walking Dead _ Season 5, Gallery - Photo Credit: Frank Ockenfels 3/AMC -
Steven Yeun as Glenn Rhee - The Walking Dead _ Season 5, Gallery - Photo Credit: Frank Ockenfels 3/AMC
Steven Yeun as Glenn Rhee - The Walking Dead _ Season 5, Gallery - Photo Credit: Frank Ockenfels 3/AMC -
Walker - The Walking Dead _ Season 5, Episode 1 - Photo Credit: Greg Nicotero/AMC
Walker - The Walking Dead _ Season 5, Episode 1 - Photo Credit: Greg Nicotero/AMC -
Chad Coleman and Tyreese - The Walking Dead _ Season 5, Episode - Photo Credit: Gene Page/AMC
Chad Coleman and Tyreese - The Walking Dead _ Season 5, Episode - Photo Credit: Gene Page/AMC -
Andrew Lincoln as Rick Grimes and Norman Reedus as Daryl Dixon - The Walking Dead _ Season 5, Gallery - Photo Credit: Frank Ockenfels 3/AMC
Andrew Lincoln as Rick Grimes and Norman Reedus as Daryl Dixon - The Walking Dead _ Season 5, Gallery - Photo Credit: Frank Ockenfels 3/AMC -
Chad Coleman as Tyreese and Sonequa Martin-Green as Sasha - The Walking Dead _ Season 5, Gallery - Photo Credit: Frank Ockenfels 3/AMC
Chad Coleman as Tyreese and Sonequa Martin-Green as Sasha - The Walking Dead _ Season 5, Gallery - Photo Credit: Frank Ockenfels 3/AMC -
Norman Reedus as Daryl Dixon - The Walking Dead _ Season 5, Episode 1 - Photo Credit: Gene Page/AMC
Norman Reedus as Daryl Dixon - The Walking Dead _ Season 5, Episode 1 - Photo Credit: Gene Page/AMC -
Melissa McBride as Carol Peletier and Norman Reedus as Daryl Dixon - The Walking Dead _ Season 5, Gallery - Photo Credit: Frank Ockenfels 3/AMC
Melissa McBride as Carol Peletier and Norman Reedus as Daryl Dixon - The Walking Dead _ Season 5, Gallery - Photo Credit: Frank Ockenfels 3/AMC -
Walker - The Walking Dead _ Season 5, Episode 1 - Photo Credit: Greg Nicotero/AMC
Walker - The Walking Dead _ Season 5, Episode 1 - Photo Credit: Greg Nicotero/AMC -
Andrew Lincoln as Rick Grimes - The Walking Dead _ Season 5, Episode 1 - Photo Credit: Gene Page/AMC
Andrew Lincoln as Rick Grimes - The Walking Dead _ Season 5, Episode 1 - Photo Credit: Gene Page/AMC -
Melissa McBride as Carol Peletier - The Walking Dead _ Season 5, Episode 1 - Photo Credit: Gene Page/AMC
Melissa McBride as Carol Peletier - The Walking Dead _ Season 5, Episode 1 - Photo Credit: Gene Page/AMC -
Andrew Lincoln as Rick Grimes and Norman Reedus as Daryl Dixon - The Walking Dead _ Season 5, Episode 1 - Photo Credit: Gene Page/AMC
Andrew Lincoln as Rick Grimes and Norman Reedus as Daryl Dixon - The Walking Dead _ Season 5, Episode 1 - Photo Credit: Gene Page/AMC -
Walker - The Walking Dead _ Season 5, Episode 1 - Photo Credit: Greg Nicotero/AMC
Walker - The Walking Dead _ Season 5, Episode 1 - Photo Credit: Greg Nicotero/AMC -
Andrew Lincoln as Rick Grimes - The Walking Dead _ Season 5, Episode 1 - Photo Credit: Gene Page/AMC
Andrew Lincoln as Rick Grimes - The Walking Dead _ Season 5, Episode 1 - Photo Credit: Gene Page/AMC -
Melissa McBride as Carol Peletier - The Walking Dead _ Season 5, Gallery - Photo Credit: Frank Ockenfels 3/AMC
Melissa McBride as Carol Peletier - The Walking Dead _ Season 5, Gallery - Photo Credit: Frank Ockenfels 3/AMC -
Norman Reedus as Daryl Dixon - The Walking Dead _ Season 5, Gallery - Photo Credit: Frank Ockenfels 3/AMC
Norman Reedus as Daryl Dixon - The Walking Dead _ Season 5, Gallery - Photo Credit: Frank Ockenfels 3/AMC -
Andrew Lincoln as Rick Grimes - The Walking Dead _ Season 5, Gallery - Photo Credit: Frank Ockenfels 3/AMC
Andrew Lincoln as Rick Grimes - The Walking Dead _ Season 5, Gallery - Photo Credit: Frank Ockenfels 3/AMC -
Zombie - The Walking Dead _ Season 5, Gallery - Photo Credit: Frank Ockenfels 3/AMC
Zombie - The Walking Dead _ Season 5, Gallery - Photo Credit: Frank Ockenfels 3/AMC -
Steven Yeun as Glenn Rhee and Andrew Lincoln as Rick Grimes - The Walking Dead _ Season 5, Episode 1 - Photo Credit: Gene Page/AMC
Steven Yeun as Glenn Rhee and Andrew Lincoln as Rick Grimes - The Walking Dead _ Season 5, Episode 1 - Photo Credit: Gene Page/AMC
