In comparison to its past standard for season/mid-season premieres, Sunday’s “The Walking Dead” posted underwhelming live+same-day numbers.
In comparison to everything else on cable (and everything besides the Grammys on network television), it was still a dominant force.
According to live+same-day data posted by Showbuzz, Sunday’s “The Walking Dead” drew a 5.7 adults 18-49 rating and 12.00 million total viewers. As noted, both numbers were by far the best on cable — and second only to those posted by CBS’ Grammy Awards broadcast.
Its adults 18-49 rating will also rank as the best posted by a scripted program this week.
It was nonetheless the least-watched premiere or midseason premiere since the season three opener in October 2012. It was the lowest-rated premiere episode since the mid-season two opener in February 2012.
While competition from the Grammy Awards doubtfully helped matters, it is worth noting that “The Walking Dead” has battled the Grammys before. It most recently did so with the mid-season 5 premiere in February 2015.
That episode drew an 8.0 adults 18-49 rating and 15.64 million total viewers.
In terms of a comparison to other notable seventh season episodes, this Sunday’s “The Walking Dead” was down from the mammoth season premiere (8.4, 17.03 million) but up from the fall finale (5.1, 10.58 million).
