"The Walking Dead" Season 6 first half ended with an exciting episode and fans are looking forward to what may happen on the second half. But some reports reveal that the declining ratings of the show might cause its cancellation.
Although it is still the most popular show on basic cable, its ratings for the debut episode on Oct. 11, 2015 and the midseason finale on Nov. 29 is lower compared to that of last year. But it was observed that more viewers are recorded with DVR time shifting.
“The Season 6 debut of The Walking Dead snared 14.6 million viewers on Sunday with 9.4 million among adults 18-49 for a 7.43 rating, according to Nielsen. While great numbers for any show on broadcast or cable nowadays, that’s down 16% and 15% in viewers and the demo, respectively, from the then and still record-breaking Season 5 premiere of the AMC series on October 12, 2014. It is also down from the Season 4 debut on October 13, 2013, which had an 8.2 demo rating and 16.1 million total viewers,” Deadline Hollywood reported.
Some reports said that one point where the show's ratings decreased is when one of the most loved characters, Glen, played by Steven Yeun was presumed dead. Meanwhile, the show's finale had lower ratings too even when it garnered 18.3 million viewers.
“With a total audience of 19.5 million and 12.9 million among the 18-49s in Live+3 results, TWD’s Season 5 winter finale was up over Season 6 by a close 6% and 8%, respectively,” Deadline Hollywood added about the Season 6 midseason finale.
“Compared with last year’s fall finale, Walking Dead was down about 7% in the demo (7.6) and 5% in total viewers (from 14.8 million),” Variety reported.
One reason that may have caused the low ratings is how the episode bogged down from two action-packed episodes and the predictable patterns of the show like how Rick's group could find a safe haven and lose it again, Inquisitr noted.
It is also reported that “The Walking Dead" is already mapped out through Season 12 which my slam the rumors that it will be cancelled.
“The Walking Dead has the potential to run for probably 4-5 more seasons based on the existing source material right now. That would mean we’d hit season 10-11 before finishing up everything in existence at the moment. But of course, [Robert] Kirkman is still writing the series, and has publicly stated that he has enough content mapped out to have the series run for 300 issues,” Forbes wrote.
