Not content with skewering the undead, it looks as if the zombiefest has got its finger on the ex-pulse and also taken a bite (seriously, we can keep up these puns forever!) out of a ratings record set by the US Disney Channel. Already recieving massive ratings for its return on the AMC channel last Sunday in America, The Walking Dead's season opener was calculated to have had 16.1 million tune in to see Rick and his band of apocalyptic survivors tackle more of the dangers without and within their prison sanctuary. But now, Deadline reports, further figures have come in, detailing the addition of another 4.1 million viewers who recorded the episode on their television systems (TiVo etc) to watch later.
That brings the total to around 20.2 million which makes it the most watched television programme on cable ever - discounting sporting events. Big network shows get more, but the more niche cable outlets (AMC, FX, Showtime, HBO etc) are rapidly holding their own and claiming massive proportional audiences. The previous record-holder was a broadcast of the Disney Channel's High School Musical 2 back in 2007 which was just over 18 million viewers when all the results were in.
The Walking Dead returns to the UK tonight (Friday 18th) on FOX and we reviewed it HERE - with further coverage HERE and HERE...
