AMC inks new Netflix ‘Walking Dead’ deal as streaming revenue rises
AMC inks new Netflix ‘Walking Dead’ deal as streaming revenue rises
Ahead of its quarterly earnings report, the company announced a new, comprehensive deal with Netflix to allow that streamer to host more titles from ‘The Walking Dead’ franchise.
On Thursday, it was AMC Global Media’s turn to report its second-quarter 2026 earnings and — like many in the entertainment industry — it was a bit of a mixed bag, with both positive and less-than-positive news to disclose. However, the cable and streaming company also took the occasion to announce a massive deal to continue wider distribution of its sprawling, most popular franchise for many years to come.
Key Details:
- Going up: Streaming revenue was up 6% in the second quarter for AMC.
- Not as rosy: Revenue declined for AMC in several other key areas.
- Closer together: AMC+ has a sweeping new deal in place with Netflix.
AMC’s streaming revenue was one of the few bright spots in the latest earnings report, increasing 6% to $180 million. The company attributes the gain to price increases for the AMC+ streaming service that were introduced in February.
Domestic revenues declined for other areas of AMC+ during the quarter. Domestic operations revenue decreased 11% year-over-year to $470 million. Subscription revenue fell 5% to $306 million, and affiliate revenue slipped by 17% to $126 million. Advertising revenue was down 11% to $109 million, which AMC attributed to a one-time system integration issue.
On the brighter side for AMC, the company was able to announce a new licensing deal with Netflix for titles within The Walking Dead franchise. The flagship show has streamed exclusively on Netflix in the United States since 2011 and will continue to do so through 2032. However, TWD will also debut on AMC+ for the first time as part of the new deal in 2027.
Also starting next year, Netflix will begin streaming all episodes of “Fear the Walking Dead,” “The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon,” “The Walking Dead: Dead City,” “The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live,” “The Walking Dead: World Beyond,” and “Tales of the Walking Dead” globally. In addition, “The Walking Dead” will roll out on the streamer in the United Kingdom, Italy, Australia, and New Zealand.
“We are thrilled to expand our long-time partnership with Netflix around The Walking Dead,” AMC CEO Kristin Dolan said. “This deal creates a global destination for this universe – all shows, all episodes – making the franchise more accessible than ever to fans around the world. In addition, the co-exclusive agreement allows us to bring the original series to AMC+ for the first time early next year. Netflix has been an important partner in making The Walking Dead one of the most successful franchises in the history of entertainment. This agreement is a fantastic result for our companies, for the fans and for this timeless IP.”
AMC+
AMC+ is a premium subscription streaming bundle owned by AMC Networks. It offers curated access to award-winning originals, indie films, and prestige television. Launched in June 2020, the service combines content from AMC with flagship brands such as BBC America, IFC, Sundance TV, Shudder, Sundance Now, and IFC Films Unlimited, delivering a rich library of exclusive programming and early episode access.