On Monday night the derelict premises of the Old Central St Martin’s School of Art building in London was transformed into a safe bunker for the official launch party of the new TV series Fear the Walking Dead.
The launch party was also a chance for BT and AMC to celebrate its new partnership in the UK.
The first episode of Fear the Walking Dead, the companion series to The Walking Dead, was aired at last night’s launch party in an eerie setting where attendees were scanned at security and with the odd zombie attempting to infiltrate the safe zone.
Fear the Walking Dead is available exclusively on AMC from BT. The first episode will be made available free of charge to all audiences on the BT Showcase Channel (Freeview channel 59) as well as premiering on AMC from BT (BT TV channel 381 in HD and 332 in SD) on 31 August at 9pm. Sky viewers will also have free access to the first episode via AMC from BT on channel 192. The AMC from BT channel will be available for free to all BT TV and BT Sport Pack subscribers. Customers do not need to take any action to receive the channel – it will automatically be added.
In the US, Fear the Walking Dead has already made US TV history with last night’s global premiere delivering 10.1 million live/same day viewers and becoming the number one series premiere in US cable television history for total viewers and all key demos. The episode delivered 6.3 million adults aged 18-49. In that coveted demographic, AMC now is home to three of the top five cable series premieres of all time in live/same day viewing Fear the Walking Dead at number one (2015), Better Call Saul at number two (2015) and The Walking Dead at number five (2010) a remarkable accomplishment so far into the post-DVR era.
AMC Global and BT are working together on a wide array of TV series and movies to premiere on AMC from BT, in conjunction with the channel’s first ever launch in the UK on 28 August.
The AMC channel will also premiere the acclaimed drama Rectify from the producers of Breaking Bad exclusively on 1 September at 9pm.
AMC from BT will also feature the exclusive UK television premieres of top films, including Only God Forgives starring Ryan Gosling and Kristin Scott Thomas on 29 August at 11pm, TheBeaver starring Jodie Foster and Mel Gibson on 15 September at 7pm and Shelter starring Julianne Moore and Jonathan Rhys Meyers on 17 September at 11pm. These titles were acquired from Icon Film Distribution.
Two of the most acclaimed original AMC series, Breaking Bad and Mad Men, will also be seen on the channel in the UK as part of agreements with Sony Pictures Television and Lionsgate respectively, alongside popular movies and series from both distributors. All seven seasons of Mad Men will debut starting 30 August at 9pm with a special double bill with a new episode following each Sunday, and the premiere of Breaking Bad will be announced soon.
In addition, AMC from BT will showcase the first window premieres of original series Cleaners acquired from Sony Pictures Television (on 5 September at 11:30pm) and two seasons of Manhattan from Lionsgate. Eight seasons of the comedy-drama Weeds will air as part of the agreement with Lionsgate starting 2 September at 9pm with a double bill each week. AMC will also air popular film titles such as Clerks and Confessions of a Dangerous Mind from Miramax and Babel and Dreamgirls from Paramount Pictures.
“BT customers will soon have exclusive access to some of the most anticipated new original series and movies as part of AMC’s launch later this week,” said Delia Bushell, managing director, BT TV and BT Sport. “We’re looking forward to showcasing the most compelling new content from one of the world’s most celebrated TV channels for audiences in the months ahead.”
“We’re excited to offer audiences a terrific line-up of exclusive original series and films on AMC as part of our first-ever launch in the UK in partnership with BT,” commented Bruce Tuchman, president of AMC Global and Sundance Channel Global. “Combined with the first window UK premieres of Fear the Walking Dead and Rectify, AMC will offer an unparalleled selection of programming that will appeal to a wide range of adult audiences.”
Today’s news follows significant expansion for AMC since the company launched the brand for the first time outside North America late last year. AMC is now seen on subscription television platforms in over 125 countries throughout Europe, Latin America, Asia, Africa and the Middle East.
