Agreement will expand the availability of the original series and bring all companion shows to the streamers
Netflix and AMC Global Media have struck a multi-year global licensing agreement giving both companies co-exclusive streaming rights to The Walking Dead and all its spin-off shows.
The deal, which encompasses 371 episodes, will make all 11 seasons of the original show - co-produced by AMC Studios, Skybound Entertainment, Valhalla Entertainment, Circle of Confusion and Idiot Box Productions - available on Netflix in new territories such as the UK, Italy, Australia and New Zealand.
Netflix has held exclusive US streaming rights for the post-zombie-apocalypse show since 2011, but the agreement, which comes into effect early next year, will allow AMC+ to show it for the first time.
The spin-off series 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 will be available on Netflix globally, as well as on AMC+ where the platform is operating.
Licences for each show will begin on different dates in different geographic territories, as existing streaming licences expire.
Lori Conkling, vice president of licensing at Netflix, said: “Audiences have discovered and loved The Walking Dead on Netflix for nearly 15 years and the show continues to attract new fans.
“We’re excited to partner with AMC Global Media to continue to expand that access to more audiences around the world and bring the entirety of The Walking Dead Universe to Netflix.”
AMC Global Media chief executive Kristin Dolan said the company was thrilled to expand its long-running partnership with Netflix over the IP.
“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,” Dolan said.
“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.”
Neither organisation indicated how long the deal was expected to last.
The Walking Dead originally premiered on AMC on October 31 2010.
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