AMC CEO Denies Concerns About The Walking Dead's Ratings

The Walking Dead saw a considerable slide in ratings over the course of its seventh season. The man in charge of the network, however, is none too worried about it.

The series underwent some major changes in its seventh year. Veterans Michael Cudlitz, Steven Yeun (who had been with the show since its earliest season) and Sonequa Martin-Green bowed out while Steven Ogg, Katelyn Nacon, and Pollyanna McIntosh earned upgraded roles on the show now dominated by Jeffrey Dean Morgan and his portrayal of Negan.

AMC Networks CEO Josh Sapan is quick to acknowledge the importance of The Walking Dead at the network but promises the numbers are bringing the show or its home down any time soon.

"It's pretty alive and vital and there's a long time that we're going to be playing with The Walking Dead," Sapan said, dubbing the 5 million viewer slide as "some minor erosion."

He argued the reasoning of the slide, citing reasons other than the departure of beloved characters and cast members. "We're seeing an offset of subscriber decline through Internet TV subscription, I think it's likely to accelerate ... as prices adjust, as packages adjust, as offerings are customized and so-called disrupters enter the market and offer varieties of packages that may take hold," Sapan said.

"We have a great bias to own our own content. If we don't own it, if we lease and rent from Sony (as with Better Call Saul), it makes it tougher for us to have success," Sapan said. This might be part of the reason why Fear the Walking Dead is so quick to earn a fourth season ahead of its third and The Walking Dead might just go on forever.