While the summer months bring longer days and the return of Game of Thrones, it can be a frustrating time for avid TV watchers. Because the months of hiatus in between shows is a bit excruciating, especially AMC's massively popular apocalyptic drama The Walking Dead. Last season was a bit divisive, but ended with an explosive finale that saw three communities finally coming together to rise up against Negan and The Saviors. And while we still have three or so months to the new season, AMC just made an announcement that might help the wait feel not quite as long. You can now watch The Walking Dead and other AMC shows commercial free, if you're an Xfinity subscriber.
Sound too good to be true? It's not! It's actually part of the networks's new on demand service called AMC Premiere. An upgrade to a regular subscription, AMC Premiere will allow audiences to ad-free versions of their new episodes at the same point that the shows are airing live. So rather than having to sit through each commercial for The Talking Dead and whatever products are sponsoring the show, you'll be able to stay invested in the heart pumping action of your favorite AMC show.
This is particularly exciting news for fans of The Walking Dead, which is one of the more curated and fast-paced shows on television. Each frame and moment of episode's runtimes are purposeful, and commercial breaks can often take viewers out of the proper headspace. And for episodes that are more action-heavy, this could be even more exciting news. You won't have to take a breather in between shooting battles, but can watch the full episode's action straight through. Considering that the upcoming Season 8 is going to be all out war against Negan, the timing of AMC Premiere couldn't be better.
It's not currently clear if AMC will be offering this service to other cable providers. AMC Premiere is currently in the midst of its soft launch at Xfinity, so if it goes well then who knows? It it gets the network some extra money in the bank, I'd imagine that they'd be all too happy to extend the service for cable providers like Verizon and Optimum.
It should be interesting to see if AMC can manage to keep anticipation and excitement for The Walking Dead high. Eight seasons is a rather long tenure for any show, and it's usually difficult to maintain the same audience and magic as the seasons go by. Season 7 certainly wasn't without it faults, as the capsule episodes and slow pace frustrated many fans. And while the finale was a major payoff, it's unclear if the same loyal fanbase will continue watching indefinitely.
The Walking Dead will return to AMC this October. In the meantime, check our summer premiere list to plan your next binge watch.
