The Walking Dead season 10 was the most watched cable drama of the 2019-2020 television season. While cable TV has managed to stay relevant, it now struggles to compete with streaming platforms, especially as they continue to release more original series. Additionally, the state of the economy has caused many consumers to cut cable from their households altogether, choosing instead to take advantage of streaming platforms that offer original content as well series found on broadcast and cable channels. Streaming platforms offer what the networks can't, and the only strategy that networks have found to retaliate is by creating their own streaming platforms like NBC's Peacock and HBO Max.
In order to compete in the ever-changing market, AMC, home to The Walking Dead, has created their own streaming service, AMC Premiere. The service offers AMC programs for on-demand streaming as well as to download, and in the case of Walking Dead, fans can watch episodes on AMC Premiere two days before they air on television. It's an innovative tactic from AMC, and they're smart to use a flagship program like The Walking Dead to entice users to add the package to their cable subscription. And though The Walking Dead may not have the same astronomically high viewership it had in its heyday, with the show's rating having been on the decline since season 6, Walking Dead is still a dominate force in cable TV ratings.
Despite the downward trend of cable network ratings, The Walking Dead has been thriving. According to the latest Nieslen ratings (via THR), the show remains the top contender among cable dramas even in its tenth season. As AMC's most successful series, The Walking Dead season 10 averaged 5.4 million viewers and a 1.9 rating among adults 18-49 with a week of delayed viewing during the 2019-2020 season. Overall, The Walking Dead ranks 11th among all primetime shows measured by Nielsen this television season.
That The Walking Dead continues to be the most watched cable drama after ten seasons deserves to be commended. It's endured many ups and downs across its run, but since season 9, The Walking Dead has been largely well-received among fans and critics. This is due to many factors, but the arrival of new showrunner, Angela Kang, as well as the departure of lead actor Andrew Lincoln forced The Walking Dead to reinvent itself, and as such, it's gained new fans and won over old ones. Its continuing popularity has led to spinoffs - including The Walking Dead: World Beyond, premiering later this year - as well as feature films in where Lincoln's character, Rick Grimes will return.
As for the main TV show, The Walking Dead's season 10 finale has been postponed due to the coronavirus-related shutdowns, but instead of turning fans away, it's created suspense about what will happen to all the characters who have managed to stay alive this long. It's expected The Walking Dead season 10 finale will air later this year, though no official date have been given. Suffice it to say, a lot of people are sure to tune in once it does air.
Source: THR