Netflix Expands 'the Walking Dead' Deal, But Loses Exclusive Hold On Zombie Franchise

Under a caller licensing agreement, Netflix will beryllium streaming “The Walking Dead” franchise globally.

Netflix and AMC Global Media, nan web that primitively aired nan zombie series, inked a caller five-year co-streaming deal, according to a news merchandise connected Thursday. Both companies will beryllium capable to show nan original “The Walking Dead” bid and its six spinoffs connected Netflix and AMC+. The woody is weighted astatine $500 million, AMC Global Media said successful its second-quarter net report.

“This woody creates a world destination for this beingness — each shows, each episodes — making nan franchise much accessible than ever to fans astir nan world. In addition, nan co-exclusive statement allows america to bring nan original bid to AMC+ for nan first clip early adjacent year,” Kristin Dolan, nan company’s main executive, said successful a statement. “This statement is simply a awesome consequence for our companies, for nan fans and for this timeless IP.”

AMC Global Media is renting nan franchise, not trading it. The five-year licenses tally separately for each show, pinch commencement dates that alteration based connected territory and nan expiration of existing streaming deals. The authorities to “The Walking Dead” revert to AMC Global Media erstwhile nan word ends.

The institution besides keeps world authorities to tally nan “Walking Dead” beingness connected its ain services throughout. Dolan told investors nan statement would proviso what she called “a meaningful root of rate travel for years to come,” framing it arsenic grounds that nan company’s room still commands premium prices moreover arsenic its cablegram business shrinks.

The statement will widen nan franchise’s scope connected Netflix successful places for illustration nan U.K., Italy, Australia and New Zealand — making episodes disposable opening successful 2027.

“The Walking Dead” premiered connected nan AMC web successful 2010, introducing audiences to nan high-stakes world of a zombie apocalypse. In 2011, nan bid began streaming exclusively connected Netflix successful nan U.S. The show aired for 11 seasons and became 1 of AMC’s astir influential shows. Other celebrated programs from nan web see “Mad Men” and “Breaking Bad.”

“Audiences person discovered and loved ‘The Walking Dead’ connected Netflix for astir 15 years and nan show continues to pull caller fans,” Lori Conkling, Netflix’s vice president of licensing, said successful a statement.

The woody landed alongside a unsmooth quarter. AMC Global Media reported second-quarter gross of $547 million, down 9% from a twelvemonth earlier, and a nonaccomplishment of 51 cents a share, compared pinch 91 cents successful profit successful nan aforesaid play past year. Operating income fell to astir $16 cardinal from $64 million.

Netflix’s second-quarter net showed mixed results. The company‘s gross roseate 13% to $12.6 billion; its nett income was $3.4 billion, up 9% from a twelvemonth ago; and its advertizing business is connected way to scope $3 cardinal successful gross this year, double nan magnitude successful 2025.

The aforesaid filing offered immoderate specifications connected Netflix’s acquisition of InterPositive, nan AI post-production startup founded by Ben Affleck, for $587 cardinal successful rate successful March.

But Netflix’s banal value has continued to waver due successful portion to investor concerns astir nan streamer’s early growth.