Anchor Bay Entertainment will handle DVD and Blu-ray distribution of AMC's new hit sci-fi/horror series "The Walking Dead," the cable network announced Tuesday.
No disc release date has been announced yet for the the Robert Kirkman comic-book-inspired show, which debuted on Halloween to an AMC-record 5.3 million and has steadily grown its audience to 5.6 million this past Sunday.
"We're pleased to be working on 'The Walking Dead' series with the team at AMC," said Anchor Bay president Bill Clark. "We have some unique plans for the release and can't wait to put them into motion."
Here's the AMC press release:
AMC TEAMS WITH
ANCHOR BAY ENTERTAINMENT
FOR HOME ENTERTAINMENT DISTRIBUTION FOR
“THE WALKING DEAD”
New York/Beverly Hills – November 30, 2010 – AMC and Anchor Bay Entertainment announced today that Anchor Bay Entertainment will distribute AMC’s original hit series, “The Walking Dead,” on Blu-ray™ and DVD in the U.S. and Canada. “The Walking Dead”premiered on AMC on Sunday, October 31st – Halloween night and its debut reigns as the biggest series debut in cable’s history among Adults 18-49 with 4.2 million*. The series is based on the comic book written by Robert Kirkman and published by Image Comics. Season one consists of six, one-hour episodes. Today’s announcement was made jointly by Bill Clark, President of Anchor Bay Entertainment and Marci Wiseman, Senior Vice President of Business Affairs for AMC.
*Source: Nielsen Media Research. Live + 3 data
“We’re pleased to be working on ‘The Walking Dead’series with the team at AMC,” Clark said. “We have some unique plans for the release and can’t wait to put them into motion. We’re lucky to have such talented and committed partners at the network.”
“Anchor Bay is the leading distributor for the horror genre, and we could not have a better partner as we expand into this lucrative new market,” Wiseman said. “‘The Walking Dead’ is an epic, edge-of-your-seat drama and we are excited to extend its life into the retail marketplace.”
“Anchor Bay is the perfect home for ‘The Walking Dead,’” added Kevin Kasha, Executive Vice President of Worldwide Acquisitions and Co-Productions of Anchor Bay Films. “Over the years, the Anchor Bay Entertainment brand has become synonymous with the horror genre and this series is horror at its absolute best.”
“The Walking Dead”tells the story of the months and years that ensue after a zombie apocalypse. It follows a group of survivors, led by police officer Rick Grimes, who travel in search of a safe and secure home. He goes on to explore the challenges of life in a world overrun by zombies who take a toll on the survivors, and sometimes the interpersonal conflicts present a greater danger to their continuing survival than the zombies that roam the country. Over time, the characters are changed by the constant exposure to death and some grow willing to do anything to survive.
The deal for “The Walking Dead”was negotiated by Bill Clark, Kevin Kasha, and Richard Turner for Anchor Bay Entertainment, and Marci Wiseman for AMC.
