While it did not recover all of last week’s losses, Sunday’s “The Walking Dead” enjoyed live+same-day gains in adults 18-49 and total viewership.
Per Nielsen cable data, Sunday’s “TWD” drew a 6.51 adults 18-49 rating with 12.871 million total viewers. The numbers top those of last week’s broadcast, which scored a 6.19 and 12.440 million.
“The Walking Dead” led into the series premiere of “Into The Badlands.” The 55-minute premiere episode posted a 3.15 adults 18-49 rating with 6.390 million total viewers. Among adults 18-49, it trailed only “The Walking Dead” as the night’s #2 cable program (of any kind) and #2 scripted program (on either broadcast or cable).
The retention percentage was not spectacular, but the unique draw of “The Walking Dead” makes it a difficult series from which to hold viewers.
When in the lead-out position, the show’s own “Talking Dead” companion series rarely posts numbers on par with those of the “Into The Badlands” premiere.
“Better Call Saul” provides another point of comparison. That series’ premiere, which benefited from its connection to “Breaking Bad” and aired out of a much stronger “The Walking Dead” (8.0 rating, 15.6 million viewers), drew an only slightly stronger 3.4 rating with 6.9 million total viewers.
“Into The Badlands” will, of course, need to prove itself in the coming weeks. But there is little to hate about the way it started.