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International Insider: Netflix’s $500M Zombie Gamble; The New Scottish Fest; Ngozi Onwurah On ‘Welcome II The Terrordome’
Netflix has agreed a five-year, $500m deal with AMC Global Media for co-exclusive rights to The Walking Dead franchise, expanding the long-running series and its spin-offs across several international markets. The agreement is significant because it shows Netflix continuing to pay heavily for established television libraries while facing investor scrutiny over audience engagement and the performance of newer original series.
The package includes 371 episodes of the original show and six spin-offs, now available on Netflix in the UK, Italy, Australia, New Zealand, the US and other territories, while remaining on AMC+ from next year. Separately, the Edinburgh TV Festival will hold its final event in the Scottish capital after more than five decades before moving to Greater Manchester, although plans are emerging for a new television festival in Edinburgh.
In short
- Netflix pays $500m for expanded Walking Dead rights.
- The deal covers 371 episodes and six spin-offs.
- Edinburgh TV Festival is moving to Greater Manchester.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
The deal gives Netflix a large, recognisable catalogue that may attract viewers and keep them watching, while spreading the cost over several years and markets. In a crowded streaming business, established series can complement new productions and help justify subscriptions; co-exclusive rights also allow AMC to retain a home for the franchise on AMC+.
The case against
A $500m commitment to an established franchise may expose Netflix to substantial costs if the episodes do not bring in or retain enough subscribers. Critics could argue that heavy spending on familiar material diverts resources from new work and risks making the service more dependent on ageing hits, especially when investors are already questioning audience engagement and original-series performance.
Explained simply
The Walking Dead is a television drama about people trying to survive after a zombie outbreak. Its original series ran for many years and led to several spin-offs, which follow different characters and parts of the same fictional world. AMC Global Media owns the franchise, while Netflix and AMC+ are streaming services that show television programmes online.
Netflix and AMC have agreed to share streaming rights to hundreds of episodes in several countries. Such deals let streaming services add familiar shows to their libraries, alongside programmes they produce themselves. They can also affect where viewers can watch a series and how companies compete for audiences.
The Edinburgh TV Festival is a separate event for people working in television, held in Edinburgh for more than 50 years. Its planned move to Greater Manchester marks a change for the city’s television industry, while proposals for a new Edinburgh festival could keep a similar event there.