Netflix lands global streaming deal for ‘The Walking Dead’

Netflix is doubling down connected 1 of television’s biggest franchises, signing a monolithic caller licensing statement worthy a reported $500 cardinal to bring The Walking Dead Universe to audiences astir the world.

AMC Global Media announced Thursday that it has reached a multi-year planetary licensing statement with Netflix that volition springiness the streaming elephantine co-exclusive rights to the archetypal “The Walking Dead” bid and each six of its spin-offs. In total, the woody covers 371 episodes spanning the full franchise.

Netflix has been the exclusive U.S. streaming location of The Walking Dead since 2011, helping present the endurance play to millions of viewers. Now, acknowledgment to the caller agreement, its availability extends to further markets including the U.K., Italy, Australia, and New Zealand.

The woody is peculiarly notable due to the fact that Netflix volition not person exclusive rights. Instead, the institution volition stock streaming entree with AMC+, meaning it volition extremity Netflix’s much than decade-long exclusive clasp connected the series.

The $500 cardinal terms tag ranks among the astir costly tv licensing deals successful caller years. (For comparison, HBO Max paid $425 million to bring “Friends” from Netflix to its level successful 2020.) 

Additionally, the determination comes arsenic recent data suggests galore Netflix subscribers don’t instrumentality astir for 2nd seasons of newer shows, making established franchises with hundreds of episodes a safer stake for driving binge-watching and wide viewing hours.

Beginning successful 2027, Netflix subscribers astir the satellite volition besides summation entree to the franchise’s full slate of spin-offs, including “Fear the Walking Dead, “World Beyond Tales of the Walking Dead,” “Dead City,” “Daryl Dixon,” and “The Ones Who Live.” 

The statement besides arrives arsenic “Dead City” returns for its 3rd season. Fans are besides looking up to the last play of “Daryl Dixon,” scheduled to premiere successful 2027.

The Walking Dead joins a increasing database of fashionable shows Netflix has pursued to thrust engagement. Over the years, it has spent billions securing streaming rights to bid specified arsenic “The Office,” portion earlier this twelvemonth it besides reached a woody to watercourse “Sesame Street.”

Meanwhile, the announcement provided a boost to AMC Networks’ fiscal outlook. The institution unveiled the Netflix statement alongside its quarterly net report connected Thursday, utilizing the woody to rise its guardant guidance.