Ratings are down for The Walking Dead but AMC ad revenue rises

One of the major reasons AMC isn’t concerned about the ratings of The Walking Dead is because they are seeing increases in revenue from advertising.

With the Whisperers breathing new life into The Walking Dead in the show’s ninth season, the zombie survival drama series is seeing a renewal of interest from fans despite the live ratings dropping.

Fewer people tuning in to watch live is a bit of a concern, but AMC has stood by the show while supporting a companion series as getting the third show in the same undead apocalyptic universe in the works.

The reason AMC might not be as worried as some fans are about the ratings is due to their advertising revenue. According to The Hollywood Reporter, AMC “reported better-than-expected adjusted fourth-quarter earnings and discussed restructuring initiatives designed to reduce costs” for AMC Networks, which includes AMC, IFC, WE tv, BBC America and SundanceTV.

AMC’s flagship zombie show is in its ninth season while Fear The Walking Dead is about to start its fifth. The long-term success of these programs opens the door for the network to explore other ideas as well as expand on the things it already does well, including possibly adding a third zombie show.

Ratings may have dipped, but The Walking Dead is still consistently the number one show on cable TV in adults 18-49 and one of the most watched scripted shows on television. AMC Networks COO Ed Carroll addressed the ratings issue in the article from THR:

"“We are well aware that when a show has been around for nine years, you’d expect the viewership to be declining. But we’ve managed it,” Carroll said."

Meanwhile, AMC Networks CEO Josh Sapan echoed those statements, adding that there is still plenty of potential for the franchise to grow and develop under what AMC has planned for the future.

"“The world of The Walking Dead is strong and vital and filled with potential in many, many different forms,” he said."

While many fans groan during commercial breaks while watching The Walking Dead or Fear The Walking Dead, it’s good to know that those advertisements keep the show afloat and allows the franchise to continue to grow and develop and AMC while getting reassurance that it will be around for a long, long time.