The Walking Dead Continues to Break International Viewership Records

LOS ANGELES: The season six return of The Walking Dead was up 17 percent in ratings from the prior season across 18 metered markets on FOX outside the U.S.

The Walking Dead was simultaneously launched in all 127 FOX markets on October 12.

In the U.K. market, where The Walking Dead was up against the Lithuania vs England football match on ITV, the premiere scored the highest overnight audience ever recorded on FOX, up 11 percent on last year’s season opener. This year’s premiere of The Walking Dead in Germany drew the largest viewership to FOX ever, resulting in a new record of 3.7 percent daily share for 14-to-59 pay-TV individuals for the channel. In the Netherlands, The Walking Dead premiere became the best-ever performing entertainment hour on FOX, attracting 153-percent more adults 6-plus compared to the season five debut and delivering 37-percent gains from the previously held record for the season five finale. The premiere episode in Spain drew the largest audience for FOX to date, commanding a 2.4-percent share of live viewing for the slot. Year-on-year, The Walking Dead was up 5 percent against the prior season premiere and up 18 percent compared to the whole season five average.

In Korea, The Walking Dead ranked number one among all males 30 to 39 in pay TV and over-performed the prior year’s debut by 77 percent in total pay-TV households. The premiere in Taiwan was up 18 percent compared to the premiere of season five (second half) last year, and was the only foreign-language program to make the top ten total TV ranking for the time slot.

Across the Balkans, The Walking Dead premiere ranked number one in all of pay in Croatia and Slovenia.

Hernan Lopez, the president and CEO of FOX International Channels, commented: "Around the world, FOX is synonymous with 'The Best. First,' and now clearly also, first in ratings. We are thrilled to see our number one series continue to perform so well on FOX and are convinced this season will continue to deliver explosive entertainment and ratings to match.”