'The Walking Dead' Devours 10.5 Million Viewers with Mid-Season Finale

 AMC’s The Walking Dead continues to take a bite out of the cable’s ratings record book.

The zombie-themed drama averaged 10.5 million viewers and 6.9 million persons 18 to 49 for the Dec. 2 mid-season finale episode, increases of 58% and 54%, respectivelym compared to the show’s season two mid-season finale, according to Nielsen data. Sunday's 18-to-49 tally topped all broadcast and cable network shows during the fall TV season, said AMC officials.

The Walking Dead drew another 4.7 million viewers across two additional repeat episodes to finish the night with 15.2 million watchers. To date, season three of The Walking Dead reigns as the number one ad-supported drama series in basic-cable history among total viewers, persons 18 to 49, adults 25 to 54, persons 18 to 34, males 18 to 49, men 25 to 54 and guys 18 to 34, said the network.

AMC will air the final eight episodes of the The Walking Dead’s third season, beginning Feb. 10.

R. Thomas Umstead

R. Thomas Umstead serves as senior content producer, programming for Multichannel News, Broadcasting + Cable and Next TV. During his more than 30-year career as a print and online journalist, Umstead has written articles on a variety of subjects ranging from TV technology, marketing and sports production to content distribution and development. He has provided expert commentary on television issues and trends for such TV, print, radio and streaming outlets as Fox News, CNBC, the Today show, USA Today, The New York Times and National Public Radio. Umstead has also filmed, produced and edited more than 100 original video interviews, profiles and news reports featuring key cable television executives as well as entertainers and celebrity personalities.