Josh Stringer/AMC
Netflix has renewed The Walking Dead, paying $500 million to AMC Global Media for five years of rights to the original zombie franchise and all of its spinoffs
The deal is co-exclusive, enabling the series to also stream on AMC+ starting next year
The 371 episodes of the original series and its six spinoffs will stream on Netflix in the UK, Italy, Australia., New Zealand and other new territories along with the U.S., where it has been (on DVD and online) since 2011
The news broke Thursday morning along with AMC Global Media’s second-quarter earnings. The results fell short of Wall Street expectations, but the company said it was raising its full-year guidance, in part due to the streaming deal
Included in the deal are the original show plus Fear the Walking Dead, The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon, The Walking Dead: Dead City, The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live, The Walking Dead: World Beyond and Tales of The Walking Dead
Watch on Deadline
The original series premiered on Halloween in 2010, going to run for 11 seasons and provide a company-defining economic engine for AMC Global Media. Originally known as Rainbow Media when it was a division of Cablevision, AMC spun off and had its IPO just a few months before the premiere of The Walking Dead
For Netflix, the renewal comes amid heightened investor scrutiny of engagement on its service. Many of its original titles have seen ratings declines in their second seasons, leading to questions about its competitive position, though it remains a dominant force with industry-low churn and best-in-class technology. When it comes to bringing new relevance to library content, the “Netflix effect” remains a potent phenomenon, and The Walking Dead is a prime example
“Audiences have discovered and loved The Walking Dead on Netflix for nearly 15 years and the show continues to attract new fans,” said Lori Conkling, Vice President of Licensing at Netflix. “We’re excited to partner with AMC Global Media to continue to expand that access to more audiences around the world and bring the entirety of The Walking Dead Universe to Netflix.”
“We are thrilled to expand our long-time partnership with Netflix around The Walking Dead,” said Kristin Dolan, CEO of AMC Global Media. “This deal creates a global destination for this universe – all shows, all episodes – making the franchise more accessible than ever to fans around the world. In addition, the co-exclusive agreement allows us to bring the original series to AMC+ for the first time early next year. Netflix has been an important partner in making The Walking Dead one of the most successful franchises in the history of entertainment. This agreement is a fantastic result for our companies, for the fans and for this timeless IP.”
AI Questions Spoil Book & Movie Heat On Buzzy Novel In New Rights Wrinkle
Mike Darnell Inks Overall Deal With Netflix To Guide Entire Unscripted Slate
Netflix Renews ‘Walking Dead’ Franchise Rights In $500M Deal With AMC
‘Wonder Man’ Canceled After Initial Season 2 Renewal At Disney+
