Surprise Is It? 'The Walking Dead' Opens Up To Series Low Ratings

Say what you will about The Walking Dead but you have got to give it to the AMC for sticking up for its flagship show over the years and even more now. It has almost become an obvious occurrence where the show continues to rake in lower numbers than before with every passing season where big twists and turns weren't enough to save the show.

But the saga continues as you already know how the show has been renewed for an 11th season already. But coming back to its performance right now well, as one would have expected the series yet again clocked falling numbers. According to The Hollywood Reporter, the show clocked its smallest same-day audience ever, drawing 4 million viewers and a 1.4 rating among adults 18-49. The previous lows came with the next-to-last episode of season nine in March, which earned 4.15 million viewers and a 1.5 in the 18-49 demographic.

Sunday's premiere was down 34 percent from the season nine debut in total viewers, 35 percent in AMC's core demographic of adults 25-54 (2.9 rating to 1.9) and 42 percent in adults 18-49. The Walking Dead, which was renewed for its 11th season a day ahead of the premiere, still holds a sizable lead over every other show on ad-supported cable (excluding sports and news).

AMC notes that the 35 percent dip in adults 25-54 is in line with declines in that demo for the season premieres of This Is Us (-33 percent), The Good Doctor (-29 percent) and Young Sheldon (-38 percent). Ad-supported TV as a whole is suffering from sizable declines in same-day ratings as audiences both have more options for programming and more ways to catch up on series after they air.