July 31, 2026, 3:10 pm | Read time: 2 minutes
Who has the best offer in the fiercely competitive streaming market? Providers have long tried to lure customers away from each other with exclusive films and series. This remains the most popular strategy. However, it’s now giving way, and increasingly expensive licensing deals are making waves. In this context, there’s a real scoop to report: Netflix has secured the global streaming rights for “The Walking Dead.”
Netflix Becomes “The Walking Dead” Home
This is now evident from a new announcement by AMC Global Media. The media company is responsible for the U.S. network AMC, where the popular zombie series originated and premiered. They have now agreed on a multi-year deal that makes Netflix the “co-exclusive” home of “The Walking Dead” worldwide.
Starting in 2027, all episodes of the main series and all previously produced spin-offs will be available on both Netflix and AMC+. This includes a total of 371 episodes. However, there is no specific joint launch date. The individual series will be released on different dates, depending on when previous licensing deals expire.
In Germany, for example, “The Walking Dead” is currently (as of July 31, 2026) available to stream on Amazon Prime Video, Disney+, Netflix, and Sky. But this will not last under the new deal. In the end, only Netflix will remain.
Mega-Deal for “The Walking Dead”
“The Walking Dead” is one of the biggest series brands of the past 20 years. Eleven seasons were produced by the mothership, and there are six spin-offs to date. The narrative universe has many fans worldwide, which is why AMC wanted a significant amount of money for the rights. As the U.S. trade magazine “Variety” reports, Netflix is set to pay $500 million for it.
Also interesting: “One of the greatest horror series of all time is finally (!) over“
Interesting: In the U.S., Netflix already held the exclusive streaming rights to “The Walking Dead.” This means the original has never appeared on AMC+–even though the streaming service is part of the series’ original network.