The season five premiere of AMC's "The Walking Dead" delivered the highest ratings in series history. The episode was watched by 17.3 million viewers and 11 million adults aged 18-49, increases of 7% and 6%, respectively, over the season four premiere, the previous record-holder. "The Walking Dead" continues to be the #1 show on television among adults 18-49. Last night's episode outperformed everything else on television in this key demographic, including Sunday Night Football, by over 2.5 million adults 18-49. With time-shifted playback, the season five premiere should exceed 22 million viewers."It's a Dead man's party. Who could ask for more?" said Charlie Collier, AMC president. "Enormous thanks to our friends and executive producers Robert Kirkman, Scott Gimple, Greg Nicotero - who also directed last night's terrific premiere - Gale Anne Hurd, Dave Alpert and Tom Luse and all of their fellow producers, cast and crew for everything they do to make the #1 show on television such a unique and incredible experience for the fans. 'The Walking Dead' is one of those increasingly rare shows today that can command a live audience not significantly cannibalized by time-shifted viewing. Who would have thought that cannibalized television could be curtailed by cannibal-ized television?"Key Nielsen Highlights for the season five premiere of "The Walking Dead"9 pm airing - 8.2 HH rating with 17.3 million viewers9 pm airing - 8.7 rating with 11.0 million Adults 18-499 pm airing - 8.3 rating with 9.9 million Adults 25-54Key Nielsen Highlights for the season four premiere of "Talking Dead"10 pm airing - 3.4 HH rating with 6.9 million viewers10 pm airing - 3.5 rating with 4.5 million Adults 18-4910 pm airing - 3.4 rating with 4.0 million Adults 25-54Source: Nielsen Media Research fast nationals (US ratings), L+SD.The previous ratings record for an episode of "The Walking Dead" was 16.1 million total viewers and 10.4 million viewers 18-49 for the season four premiere, live/same day. With seven days of DVR playback included, the season four premiere delivered 21.1 million total viewers and 13.9 million adults 18-49, becoming the most highly-rated episode in cable television history.