THE WALKING DEAD Returns with Largest Audience Ever

Last night, AMC's mid-season three premiere of "The Walking Dead" returned with its largest audience ever in series history delivering 12.3 million viewers at the 9pm premiere. The previous record was 10.9 million viewers from the season three premiere on October 14, 2012. The episode is also the strongest telecast for a series in basic cable history for adults 18-49 with 7.7 million. These results shatter the hit series' previous record with an increase of +6% (A18-49) over the October 14, 2012 season three premiere. "The Walking Dead" season three series average for adults 18-49 delivers 6.8 million outperforming other television series season averages including "Modern Family," 'The Big Bang Theory," "Two and A Half Men," and "NCIS." In addition to the 9 PM premiere, the show encored at 11 PM, midnight and 2am, delivering 16.6 million viewers for the night.

Following the 9 PM premiere of "The Walking Dead," AMC premiered a new episode of "Talking Dead" at 10 PM. 4.1 million viewers tuned in to the live show. Hosted by Chris Hardwick, "Talking Dead" is a companion series to "The Walking Dead" and features Hardwick and fans, actors, producers and other TV enthusiasts, discussing and dissecting that night's "Dead" premiere. The series expanded to a full hour with the final 8 episodes of season three.

"When you look at numbers like this, the first thing that comes to mind is how grateful we are to the fans of this show. They embrace 'The Walking Dead' in a way that we wanted to believe was possible but we never take for granted," said Charlie Collier, AMC's president. "The cast and crew put everything they have into making this show. They're a phenomenally talented group who truly give their all. We congratulate everyone involved."

Key Nielsen Highlights for the season three B premiere of "The Walking Dead":

- 9pm airing - 7.3 HH rating with 12.3 million viewers; a +40%/+51% increase respectively over last year's season 2B premiere
- 9pm airing - Adults 18-49 delivered 7.7 million viewers; a +44% increase over last year's season 2B premiere
- 9pm airing - Adults 25-54 delivered 6.7 million viewers; a +51% increase over last year's season 2B premiere.
- 9pm premiere, 11pm, midnight and 2am airings grossed to 16.6 million viewers, 10.7 million Adults 18-49 and 8.9 million Adults 25-54

Key Nielsen Highlights for the season three B premiere of "Talking Dead":

- 10pm: 2.6 HH rating with 4.1 million viewers, +225%/+371% vs. last year's season 2B premiere.

- 10pm: 2.7 million Adults 18-49, +396% vs. last year's season 2B premiere.

- 10pm: 2.3 million Adults 25-54, +369% vs. last year's season 2B premiere.

Hailed by Entertainment Weekly as "the greatest thriller ever produced for television," "The Walking Dead" has become a juggernaut on social media. The series currently has close to 15 million likes on Facebook and last night "The Walking Dead" was a top trend on Twitter for the night of the mid-season premiere. Based on the comic book series written by Robert Kirkman, the Emmy Award-winning series tells the story of the months and years that follow the zombie apocalypse. It follows a group of survivors, led by police officer Rick Grimes, who travel in search of a safe and secure home.

AMC reigns as the only cable network in history to ever win the Emmy Award for Outstanding Drama Series four years in a row. Whether commemorating favorite films from every genre and decade or creating acclaimed original programming, the AMC experience is an uncompromising celebration of great stories. AMC's original stories include: "Mad Men," "Breaking Bad," "The Walking Dead," "The Killing" and "Hell on Wheels." AMC further demonstrates its commitment to the art of storytelling with its slate of unscripted original series, as well as curated movie franchises like AMC's Can't Get Enough and AMC's Crazy About. AMC is owned and operated by AMC Networks Inc. and its sister networks include IFC, Sundance Channel and WE tv. AMC is available across all platforms, including on-air, online, on demand and mobile. AMC: Story Matters HereSM.

Source: Nielsen. Live+SD. M-Sa 8P-11P/Su 7P-11P. The Walking Dead Season 3B Premiere (2/10/13); Season 3 To Date 10/14/12-2/10/13 vs. 12/13 Season to Date (9/24/12-2/7/13) Broadcast and Cable. 9/13/93-2/7/12, Ad Supported Cable, Telecast Level Data. Excluding Sports, News, Specials. A18-49 (000). 3B Premiere (2/10/13) vs 2B Premiere (2/12/12). Qual Avail Upon Request.

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