The Walking Dead returned to AMC last night with arguably its most brutal and violent episode to date. A sixth season was announced ahead of the season five premiere and you can't blame the cable network for being confident with ratings like these. The record setting numbers saw an average audience of 17.3 million watch the episode with a 7.7 rating in adults 18-49. The season four premiere had 16.11 million viewers and these numbers completely decimate everything from Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. to Gotham and The Flash. "It's a Dead man's party. Who could ask for more?" said Charlie Collier, AMC president said in a statment today. "Enormous thanks to our friends and executive producers Robert Kirkman, Scott Gimple, Greg Nicotero - who also directed last night's terrific premiere - Gale Anne Hurd, Dave Alpert and Tom Luse and all of their fellow producers, cast and crew for everything they do to make the #1 show on television such a unique and incredible experience for the fans. 'The Walking Dead' is one of those increasingly rare shows today that can command a live audience not significantly cannibalized by time-shifted viewing. Who would have thought that cannibalized television could be curtailed by cannibal-ized television?" No wonder they're working on a spin-off! Did you tune in to the premiere?
ComicBookMovie.com, and/or the user who contributed this post, may earn commissions or revenue through clicks or purchases made through any third-party links contained within the content above.