‘Fear the Walking Dead’ becomes even more fearsome in first live+3 ratings

When we saw the live ratings alone for the “Fear the Walking Dead” premiere, we knew already that even if it loses some viewers in week two, this is more or less an instant hit for AMC.

After seeing the first batch of live+3 ratings (which, for those new to ratings, track numbers both live and three days after viewing via DVRs), we feel this way even more so. The show now has a grand total of 13.3 million viewers and over 8 million in the key 18-49 demographic, which launches it ahead of many of the network’s other recent offerings, it is still of course behind the flagship show. These numbers are of course still enough to allow this to be the biggest series of the summer on cable, and the best new offering in terms of the demo since around the time “Empire” began.

As we mentioned, we do not necessarily think that the numbers are going to hold anywhere near as constant here as they did with “The Walking Dead,” which experienced quite a meteoric rise from the very beginning. That show benefited from word of mouth, while in this case it feels almost as though the majority of people who were going to watch the show knew about it going in.

“Fear the Walking Dead” was renewed for a second season long before the series even premiered, so there is really not much to worry about here from the vantage point of pure numbers alone moving into the rest of the season.

If you want to get some other scoop when it comes to “Fear the Walking Dead,” head over here to preview more of what lies ahead the rest of the way this season! Also, you can sign up right now to get some other TV news on just about everything we cover, sent right to you via our CarterMatt Newsletter. (Photo: AMC.)