Referencing the ratings
success of AMC (AMCX-$62.40) cable
shows like The Walking Dead and the
western Hell on Wheels, chief
executive officer Josh Sapan told analysts on the quarterly earnings’ call that
the company was expanding original content on its three other channels, too:
IFC, home to eclectic comedy shows and independent films; Sundance Channel,
devoted to the airing of documentaries, award-winning film classics and
scripted dramas; and, We tv, a women’s network showcasing “unscripted” reality
shows celebrating everyday women and stars like Joan Rivers or singer Toni
Braxton.
“We feel pretty good
about the challenge and particularly good about the expansion of our
programming initiatives,” said Sapan.
However, the success of
several AMC channel shows, such as Breaking
Bad and The Walking Dead – number
one in the coveted 18 – 49 year-old demo group across all broadcast television
– hasn’t pushed the ratings dial for all of AMC’s properties. AMC Network was
the 11th most-watched cable channel during prime-time as of week-ending August
11, according to data compiled by Nielsen ratings.
Mad Men and Breaking Bad - both
in their final seasons - combined with a limited international presence (an
anemic $30 million in revenue), suggest near-term prospects for continued
growth could be at risk. Initial ratings for new programs belie Sapan’s cozened
optimism, too: A new cop drama on AMC, Low
Winter Sun, which followed the season-5 return of Breaking Bad, lost close
to 60% of its lead-in audience in its debut outing earlier this month.
Editor David J Phillips does not hold a
financial interest in any stocks mentioned in this article. The 10Q Detective
has a Full Disclosure Policy.
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