The ratings for Walking Dead were huge on AMC from day 1.
This would be the biggest hit on network TV right now if it was on NBC.
The ratings for it on AMC have been great but you know network tv has higher expectations. The promotion from a channel like NBC might be able to get them a few more million viewers.
First season had an average of 5.24 million viewers, 2nd had 6.9, and this season probably increased also. I remember when shows were having averages of 20 million people but nowadays anything close to 10 is really good which is what this 3rd season is probably around.
Yeah...no to all of that.
Do you have any idea how bad NBC is doing? For the first time ever, one of the 4 major networks finished #5 in sweeps. Univision beat them for the month of February. It got so bad, in Cleveland, the local channel just said bunk that to NBC and played a rerun of a
Matlock movie, from 20 years ago, instead of the new Thursday comedies, and got the same ratings.
Lemme put it another way.
Revolution and
The Voice are the most watched shows on NBC. Their next biggest show,
Law and Order: SVU,
right now gets the same ratings as the first season of
TWD did on cable.
Revolution is brand new and
The Voice just got big, so last year
The Walking Dead, with those exact same ratings, would've been their highest rated show on NBC.
Trust me, NBC never ever would've cancelled
TWD if they made it.
It would've been the face of the channel and gotten a blank check.