The Walking Dead loses six million US viewers following brutal scenes… and Ofcom launch investigation into show
The controversial scenes appear to be too much for some viewers
THE Walking Dead has lost six million viewers across America following its controversial series seven opening episode.
The zombie apocalypse show, which is currently being investigated by Ofcom over the violent scenes, has suffered a huge drop in ratings since October.
The series opened with its second-biggest all-time audience of 17 million viewers just last month upon its return.
However, Entertainment Weekly claim that audience totals have dipped steadily week-to-week since.
The latest three episodes of the ABC hit has averaged between 11 and 12 million viewers across America.
Fox UK also reported how the opening episode broke Fox UK records with a debut of 1.43 million viewers.
Following the global shock the zombie drama provoked as it returned to our screens in October, media regulators Ofcom are taking the barrage of complaints from British viewers very seriously.
A rep for Ofcom revealed: “We’re investigating scenes of very strong violence shortly after the 9pm watershed, and whether these scenes were justified by the context.”
The investigation comes after Fox UK revealed they’d been forced to cut several scenes from the American edit before it hit British screens.
Related stories
In a statement to DigitalSpy, Fox UK said: “As Fox Networks Group is regulated by Ofcom, we have a duty of care to ensure all our programmes broadcast adhere to the parameters of the Ofcom Broadcasting code.”
However, Fox UK edited down the number of times Negan bashed their heads with some shots of Glenn’s battered face also not being shown.
Their efforts appear to have been in vain as the media regulators still intend on investigating the scenes.
Got a story? email [email protected] or call us direct on 02077824220