The Walking Dead Finale Ratings Down From 2015
Over 1.5 million fewer people watched the Season 6 finale than Season 5
Viewers' moods weren't the only thing down after the Season 6 finale of The Walking Dead.
Deadline reports that Sunday's finale claimed a total viewership of 14.2 million, with 8.8 million in the key 18-to-49 demographic, down over 10 percent in total viewers and 16 percent in the demo, respectively, from the Season 5 finale on March 29, 2015. Last year's "Conquer" hit a record finale high for AMC's blockbuster series, with 15.8 million total viewers and 10.2 million in the demo. In contrast, Sunday's "Last Day on Earth" is the lowest-rated season finale since Season 3's in March 2013.
The dip in ratings for the finale mirrors the dip from the Season 5 to Season 6 premieres. The Season 6 premiere on Oct. 11 was down 16 percent from the record-breaking Season 5 premiere, which remains the highest-rated episode in Walking Dead history. The Season 6 finale was about equal in viewers with November's midseason finale.
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It's not all bad news, though. The Walking Dead is still by far the top-rated show on cable and the most-viewed show in the valuable 18-to-49 demo. AMC emphasizes the Live+3 numbers, which account for views after the premiere and add double-digit percentage increases to ratings, and won't be available until later this week. And of course, the show has already been renewed for Season 7, which begins filming soon.