A fierce bidding war is currently underway for the rights to the hit zombie franchise, The Walking Dead. According to Deadline, AMC Networks finds itself at a critical crossroads as it nears a deal for its ‘crown jewel’ series—a move that could redefine the network’s future. It was back in 2022 when the original series had concluded with 11th and final season, but wasn’t over as a total of six spin-off were create to continue the show’s legacy and giving different perspective .
Reported by Deadline, AMC’s CEO, Kristin Dolan gives a statement with Wall Street about the predicament they are facing,”We’re really looking at every scenario. There’s a variety of ways to look at it. We definitely feel it’s important to keep some of the content for ourselves co-exclusively, so we’re emphasizing the fact that we’re looking predominantly a co-exclusive deals, but there are some very large and enthusiastic partners in the bidding process right now. So, we’re really looking at any variety of constructs, but the key thing for us is co-exclusivity.”
The deal might not be cut and dry at first glance, as AMC is prepare to shift it focus and opening up to taking part of the right patent and splitting it between flagship series and its numerous spinoffs. According to Deadline, the company has seen a revenue split with regular television rating dropped by 2 % with total $542.1 million, in contrast to streaming which increased by 11% gaining $174 million. Furthermore, AMC has maintained a robust partnership with Netflix, which significantly bolstered viewership ratings and provided the financial and cultural momentum necessary to return new episodes to the air.
With several industry giants circling the table, the outcome of these negotiations is poised to reshape the future of the franchise and fundamentally redefine the television landscape. Currently, the original The Walking Dead series, along with its various spin-offs, is available for streaming on AMC+ and Netflix.