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.