“The Walking Dead” is alive and well in the ratings.
The midseason finale of AMC’s hit zombie drama aired Sunday to 14.8 million total viewers, with 9.6 million of them in the 18-49 demographic most important to advertisers.
Those numbers made Sunday’s episode the highest-rated midseason finale in the history of the series, which is currently in its fifth season.
Compared to last season’s midseason finale, Sunday’s “Walking Dead” was up 23 percent in total viewers and 24 percent in the demo.
The “Walking Dead” aftershow “Talking Dead” also hit a high for its midseason finales, with 6.6 million total viewers and 4.2 million in the finale.
“The audience-driven success of ‘The Walking Dead’ and ‘Talking Dead’ (even before time-shifting) is remarkable, and something we never take for granted,” AMC president Charlie Collier said. “We hold in such high regard Robert Kirkman, Scott Gimple and all of our exceptional executive producers, cast and crew for their passionate efforts that led to television history for ‘The Walking Dead’ once again last night.
“Congratulations and ‘non-creepy hugs’ to Chris Hardwick and everyone associated with making ‘Talking Dead’ not only the #1 talk show on television, but one of the top 18-49 shows in all of television, period. Huge thanks to all of our great partners and, of course, to the fans who make it possible.”