The horror drama series has become a Sunday night cable juggernaut for AMC, but it's seen a steep decline in its ratings throughout the current season 7.
- November 24, 2016
AceShowbiz -
The premiere of "The Walking Dead" season 7 posted the second highest viewed episode of the series, with an astounding 17.03 million viewers. However, the viewership number dropped to just under 11 million viewers in its fifth episode that aired November 20, down from episode four's 11.4 million viewers.
Though the show is still the most watched series on Sunday nights, its decline is troublesome. After the season 7 premiere, the second episode had the biggest decline, as the viewers dropped to just under 12.5 million. It was getting worse in week three, with only 11.72 million viewing the episode. The last time the show's ratings dropped to below 11 million was in season 3.
Many theorize that fans are losing interest after the show killed off two of their favorite characters. Fans have also complained that the series is changing directions too often this season. Each episode has followed a different storyline and many viewers just want to see a cohesive plot from week to week.
Meanwhile, "The Walking Dead" is planning a big back-half to season 7, as Rick (Andrew Lincoln) gears up for a war against Negan (Jeffrey Dean Morgan). The number of viewers is expected to rise alongside the increasing conflict.
"The Walking Dead" airs Sundays at 9 P.M. ET on AMC.
