A good indicator of how well a show is doing is based on the season’s premiere and finale. We’ve been tracking AMC’s “The Walking Dead” for a few years now and the ratings just continue to decline, this is not to say that it’s not still a behemoth. The zombie series returned for its eighth season this past Sunday and pulled in an incredible 11.4M viewers. It’s an insane number, but it’s also way down from previous years. In fact, it’s the worst premiere since Season 3. As an indicator, “The Walking Dead’s” ratings continue its steady decline.
According to Nielsen Live+Same Day data, the AMC series averaged a 5.0 rating in adults 18-49 and 11.4 million total viewers on Sunday night. The Season 3 premiere, which aired in 2012, averaged a 5.8 and 10.86 million viewers by comparison. This also means that the Season 8 premiere is the third-lowest in series history, ahead of only Season 2 and Season 1. (Variety)
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The Season 7 premiere drew an 8.4 and 17.03 million, meaning Season 8 was down approximately 40 percent in the demo and 33 percent in total viewers season-to-season. However, it should be noted that last season’s premiere was the resolution of a major cliffhanger, while the new season was not.
Including Season 8, all of the season premieres now rank, from first to last according to demo rating, as follows:
- Season 5 (8.7, 17.29 million)
- Season 7 (8.4, 17.03 million)
- Season 4 (8.2, 16.11 million)
- Season 6 (7.4, 14.63 million)
- Season 3 (5.8, 10.86 million)
- Season 8 (5.0, 11.4 million)
- Season 2 (3.8, 7.26 million)
- Season 1 (2.7, 5.35 million)
Fans of “The Walking Dead” shouldn’t panic as, even with this kind of decline in ratings, the show could continue on for another decade. However, I’m starting to wonder if the showrunners decide to end the show before it overstays its welcome.
What did you guys think of the Season 8 premiere? Is the show is as good as ever?
GET YOUR FIRST LOOK at the Season 8 cold open. Tune in for the full premiere event this Sunday 9/8C #TWD pic.twitter.com/5UKjbQt1Fz
— The Walking Dead AMC (@WalkingDead_AMC) October 20, 2017
