{{Short description|American TV channel}} {{About|the American TV channel|the European TV channel|AMC (European TV channel)|the Asian TV Channel|AMC (Asian TV channel)|the Middle Eastern TV channel|AMC (African and Middle Eastern TV channel)|the American movie theater chain|AMC Theatres}} {{update|reason=Out of date households, ''The Walking Dead'' Paramount Skydance franchise expansion & the end of the original series, lack of major updates to History section|date=March 2024}} {{Use American English|date=March 2026}} {{Use mdy dates|date=September 2023}} {{Infobox television channel | name = AMC | logo = frameless|class=skin-invert | logo_size = 240px | logo_caption = Current logo as of 2019. | image = | launch_date = {{Start date and age|1984|10|1}} | closed_date = | picture_format = 1080i HDTV<br />(downscaled to 480i letterboxed for the SDTV feed) | owner = AMC Global Media | country = United States | language = English | area = North America (United States<br />Canada) | headquarters = New York City, United States | sister_channels = BBC America<br />IFC<br />Sundance TV<br />We TV | online_serv_1 = Service(s) | online_chan_1 = Philo, YouTube TV, Sling TV, DirecTV Stream | terr_serv_2 = | terr_chan_2 = | former_names = American Movie Classics (1984–2002) | website = {{URL|https://amc.com}} }}

'''AMC''' is an American cable television channel that, since 2002, mainly airs a mix of original AMC shows, mostly dramas and documentaries, as well as acquired TV programs, and theatrically released films. Launched in late 1984 as '''American Movie Classics''', the flagship namesake property of AMC Networks, the channel aired classic films (from before 1970), similar to Turner Classic Movies, the channel's former rival. In 2002, AMC retired the ''American Movie Classics'' name, resulting from the major shift in its programming.<ref>{{cite web|last=Gildemeister |first=Christopher |title=What Your Kids are Discovering on Discovery Channel |url=http://www.parentstv.org/PTC/publications/culturewatch/2006/1016.asp |publisher=Parents Television Council |date=October 16, 2006 |access-date=January 22, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930210254/http://www.parentstv.org/PTC/publications/culturewatch/2006/1016.asp |archive-date=September 30, 2007 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=When TV network changes name, look close |url=http://www.cnn.com/2003/SHOWBIZ/TV/03/03/networkacronyms.ap/ |work=CNN.com |agency=Associated Press |date=March 3, 2003 |access-date=May 31, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080417043745/http://www.cnn.com/2003/SHOWBIZ/TV/03/03/networkacronyms.ap/ |archive-date=April 17, 2008 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

As of December 2024, AMC was available in approximately 60 million U.S. pay-TV households.<ref>{{cite web |title=Cable TV Continues Decline: AMC Now in Just 60 Million Homes |url=https://cordcuttersnews.com/amc-now-in-60-million-homes/ |website=Cord Cutters News |date=December 20, 2024 |access-date=2025-04-14}}</ref> This marks a decline from 65.1 million households in December 2023<ref>{{cite web|url=https://wrestlenomics.com/u-s-cable-network-households-universe-1990-2023-nielsen-data/|title=U.S. cable network households (universe), 1990 – 2023|website=wrestlenomics.com|date=May 14, 2024|access-date=July 28, 2019}}</ref> and 94.8 million in July 2015,<ref>{{cite web|url = http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2015/07/21/list-of-how-many-homes-each-cable-network-is-in-as-of-july-2015/|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160102143715/http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2015/07/21/list-of-how-many-homes-each-cable-network-is-in-as-of-july-2015/|url-status = dead|archive-date = January 2, 2016|title = List of how many homes each cable network is in as of July 2015|work = TV by the Numbers|publisher = Zap2it|date = July 21, 2015|access-date = July 21, 2015}}</ref> reflecting the broader trend of cord-cutting and the shift toward streaming platforms.

==History== {{update section|reason=No updates made since 2016. For example, ''The Walking Dead'' ended in 2022, while spin-offs have been produced since 2013|date=March 2024}}

===1984–2002: Focus on classic films=== American Movie Classics, as AMC was originally known, debuted on October 1, 1984, as a premium channel by Rainbow Programming Services (The predecessor to current-day AMC Networks owned by Cablevision). Its original format focused on classic movies – largely those made prior to the 1970s – that aired during the afternoon and early evening hours in a commercial-free, generally unedited, uncut, uninterrupted and uncolorized format.<ref name="fine arts hard to find">Gildemeister, Christopher. [http://www.parentstv.org/PTC/publications/culturewatch/2006/1002.asp The Fine Arts Are Hard To Find] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930220349/http://www.parentstv.org/PTC/publications/culturewatch/2006/1002.asp |date=September 30, 2007 }}. Parents Television Council, October 2, 2006.</ref> The new network replaced '''Montage''', a channel with a similar format that was being offered to Cablevision subscribers in the New York area.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Knoll |first1=Steve |title=CABLE TV NOTES; NEW SERVICE SHOPS FOR VINTAGE FILMS |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1984/07/15/arts/cable-tv-notes-new-service-shops-for-vintage-films.html |access-date=April 28, 2021 |work=The New York Times |date=July 15, 1984}}</ref>

In 1985, Rainbow became involved in a dispute with Ted Turner's Turner Broadcasting System over broadcast rights to the MGM/UA film library. On July 30 of that year, Rainbow had paid $45 million to license up to 800 pre-1950 films from the library. Weeks later, Turner announced an agreement to purchase the film studio with the intention of airing the films on his Superstation WTBS. Rainbow claimed it had exclusive basic cable rights to the films for the next five years. Despite its widespread cable carriage, Turner claimed that because WTBS was a broadcast station, the restriction did not apply. This led to both companies filing lawsuits against each other in September, and MGM/UA terminating the agreement with Rainbow after alleging that Rainbow had breached it by announcing its intention to offer a premium tier to the AMC cable service. By October, the lawsuit was settled. Rainbow received $50 million<ref>{{cite journal |title=Rainbow's pot |journal=Broadcasting Magazine |date=October 21, 1985 |page=p |url=https://worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Magazines/Archive-BC-IDX/85-OCR/BC-1985-10-21-OCR-Page-0009.pdf |access-date=April 28, 2021}}</ref> and agreed to terminate the licensing deal on December 31, 1985, before which time AMC would not be allowed to convert to a basic service.<ref>{{cite news |title=MGM FILM DISPUTE IS SETTLED |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1985/10/19/business/mgm-film-dispute-is-settled.html |access-date=April 28, 2021 |work=The New York Times |date=October 19, 1985}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=TBS And MGM-UA Reach Agreement With Rainbow |url=https://apnews.com/article/28497a8a796e6e0a3214639d907fbd73 |access-date=April 28, 2021 |work=AP NEWS |date=October 18, 1985}}</ref> Turner completed the acquisition of MGM in early 1986, but his ownership was short-lived and he sold it back to the previous owner months later. However, he retained the film library and executed his original plan to air the movies on WTBS and later on his new networks Turner Network Television and Turner Classic Movies, a direct competitor to AMC.

The new movie network struggled to gain carriage. By March 1986, it had only 300,000 subscribers. To solve this problem, Cablevision and CBS (which became half owner of Rainbow about a year earlier) worked out a deal with the nation's largest cable television provider, Tele-Communications Inc. (TCI). TCI gained a one-third interest in AMC (but not Bravo, Rainbow's other network) and in exchange made AMC available as an offering for most of its 3.9 million subscribers.<ref>{{cite journal |title=TCI raises programing interests, buys into AMC |journal=Broadcasting |date=March 24, 1986 |page=41 |url=https://worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Magazines/Archive-BC-IDX/86-OCR/BC-1986-03-24-OCR-Page-0041.pdf |access-date=April 27, 2021}}</ref> (TCI's Liberty Media division eventually would create another premium service—Encore, which also originally focused on older films, mainly from the 1960s to the 1980s – five years later in April 1991). During its early years, it was not uncommon for AMC to host a marathon of Marx Brothers films, or show classics such as the original 1925 release of ''The Phantom of the Opera''. In 1987, the channel began to be carried on the basic cable tiers of many cable providers.<ref name="fine arts hard to find"/><ref name="museum">Gomery, Douglas. [http://www.museum.tv/archives/etv/A/htmlA/americanmovi/americanmovi.htm American Movie Classics] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080103010048/http://www.museum.tv/archives/etv/A/htmlA/americanmovi/americanmovi.htm |date=January 3, 2008 }}. Museum of Broadcast Communications</ref> In July 1988, AMC added its first original programming: ''Classic Stories From Classic Stars'' (featuring interviews), followed later that year by ''Star Facts'' (biographies) and a mini-documentary series ''Making of a Classic''.<ref>{{cite journal |title=Original programing in works for AMC |journal=Broadcasting Magazine |date=October 17, 1988 |page=53 |url=https://worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Magazines/Archive-BC-IDX/88-OCR/BC-1988-10-17-OCR-Page-0053.pdf |access-date=April 28, 2021}}</ref> By 1989, AMC was available to 39 million subscribers in the U.S.<ref name="museum"/>

On December 1, 1990, AMC began operating on a 24-hour-a-day schedule.

Beginning in 1993, AMC presented an annual Film Preservation Festival to raise awareness of and funding for film preservation. Coordinated with The Film Foundation, an industry group that was founded by acclaimed director Martin Scorsese, the festival was originally conceived as a multi-day marathon presenting rare and previously lost films, many airing for the first time on television, along with behind-the-scenes reports on the technical and monetary issues faced by those engaged in archival restoration. Portions of the festival were often dedicated to all-day marathons focusing on a single performer. During its fifth anniversary year in 1998, Scorsese credited the Festival for creating "not only a greater awareness, but ''[...]'' more of an expectation now to see restored films."<ref>{{Cite news |last=King |first=Susan |date=October 2, 1997 |title=Save That Movie! – After a slow start, AMC's Film Preservation Festival has raised $1.3 million |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1997-oct-02-ca-38251-story.html |work=Los Angeles Times |access-date=September 20, 2008}}</ref> In 1996, curator of the Museum of Modern Art Mary Lee Bandy called the Festival "the most important public event in support of film preservation."<ref name="query.nytimes.com">[https://www.nytimes.com/1996/06/30/tv/restoring-films-to-a-former-glory.html?pagewanted=all Van Gelder, Lawrence, (June 30, 1996) "Restoring Films to a Former Glory"], ''The New York Times''. Retrieved September 20, 2008.</ref> By its tenth anniversary in 2003, the Festival had raised $2 million from the general public, which The Film Foundation divided among its five-member archives.<ref>{{cite news |last=Elber |first=Lynn |date=August 29, 2002 |title=Even 1970s Rock Fests Need Film Preservation |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2002-aug-30-et-elber30-story.html |agency=Associated Press|work=Los Angeles Times |access-date=June 4, 2011}}</ref>

In 1993, Cablevision's Rainbow Media division became the majority owner of the channel, when it bought out Liberty Media's 50% stake in AMC; incidentally in August of that year, Liberty announced its intent to purchase the 25% stake in the channel that Cablevision held at the time, with the Turner Broadcasting System helping to finance the buyout that included an option for TBS to eventually acquire AMC outright.<ref>Higgins, John M., [https://web.archive.org/web/20121105164207/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-14473791.html "Cablevision makes moves on AMC"], ''Multichannel News'', September 20, 1993.</ref><ref>Higgins, John M., [https://web.archive.org/web/20121105164227/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-14470203.html "Liberty eyes Cablevision's share of AMC"], ''Multichannel News'', August 23, 1993.</ref> The following year, Time Warner (which later purchased rival Turner Classic Movies following the company's 1996 acquisition of the Turner Broadcasting System) also attempted to acquire at least part of Liberty Media's stake in AMC.<ref>Higgins, John M., [https://web.archive.org/web/20121105164427/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-15696153.html "Warner seeks AMC stake"], ''Multichannel News'', June 13, 1994.</ref>

In June 1995, AMC became involved with another dispute with Turner. It filed a $550 million breach of contract lawsuit against Turner Entertainment, which alleged that the company violated AMC's exclusive cable television rights to the pre-1950 Warner Bros. Pictures film library to broadcast approximately 30 times between July 1994 and April 1995, charging that Turner's objective in violating the contract was "to gain unfair advantage for the Turner Classic Movies cable network (which debuted in April 1994) at the expense of AMC."; Turner owns rights to the RKO Radio Pictures film library and licensed RKO's films to AMC in an output deal that was slated to last through 2004. Under the terms of the deal, AMC obtained the RKO titles in exclusive windows.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20121105164140/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-17277280.html Katz, Richard. "AMC sues TBS for $250M over RKO films rights"], ''Multichannel News'', June 26, 1995.</ref>

Around this time, General Electric/NBC owned a stake in AMC – which it divested in the early 2000s. From 1996 to 1998, AMC aired its first original series, ''Remember WENN'', a half-hour scripted series about a radio station during the peak of radio's influence in the 1930s. The show was well received by both critics and its enthusiastic fans, but was abruptly cancelled after its fourth season following management changes at the channel (WENN was followed up by ''The Lot'', which lasted for only 17 episodes). Despite a well publicized write-in campaign to save the series, the show was not renewed for its originally scheduled fifth season.

150px|thumb|AMC logo used from 1999 to 2002 One popular AMC program was ''American Pop!'' (originally intended as a preview of a new 24-hour cable channel),<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.allbusiness.com/services/motion-pictures/4789318-1.html |title="AMC Ushering In Nostalgic American Pop" (1998-06-20), ''Hollywood Reporter''. Retrieved on 2008-9-20 via |publisher=Allbusiness.com |access-date=June 4, 2011}}</ref> which ran from 1998 to 2003 and featured movies from the 1950s and 1960s aimed at baby boomers (such as ''Beach Blanket Bingo'' and ''Ski Party''). Of particular interest to movie completists were the segments that AMC played to fill out the timeslot (Saturday nights from 10:00&nbsp;p.m. to 12:00&nbsp;a.m. Eastern Time): classic movie trailers, drive-in movie ads and snipes (bits extolling viewers to visit the snack bar, etc.), along with music videos cribbed from movie musicals from the period.

The majority of the films presented on AMC during the 1990s had originally been released by Paramount Pictures, 20th Century Fox, Columbia Pictures, and Universal Pictures. The channel also occasionally showed classic silent films. The regular hosts of the telecasts were Bob Dorian and later, Nick Clooney (brother of singer Rosemary and father of actor and businessman George), as well as New York City radio personality Gene Klavan from WNEW (1130 AM, now WBBR). Another WNEW alum, Al "Jazzbo" Collins, provided his voice for the "Jazzbo's Swingin' Soundies" series of interstitials.

For most of its first 18 years in existence, AMC provided uncut and uncolorized films without commercial interruption. Its revenue came from carriage fees provided by the cable providers that maintained carriage agreements with the channel. However, in 1998, AMC began accepting traditional advertising, incorporating limited commercial interruptions between films (its sister movie channel Romance Classics, which had launched only one year earlier, became an entirely ad-supported channel at that point).<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20121105140314/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-19429076.html AMC on sponsorships: 'roll 'em!'], ''Multichannel News'', March 24, 1997.</ref> By 2001, AMC had also incorporated commercial breaks during its movie telecasts.<ref>Battaglio, Stephen. It now has enough commercials to make movie watching almost as intolerable as any other commercial channel.[http://www.nydailynews.com/archives/entertainment/2003/06/27/2003-06-27_old-movie_channels_nearing_s.html "Old-Movie Channels Nearing Showdown".]{{dead link|date=October 2016 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} ''Daily News''. June 27, 2003.</ref> As a result of this move, Turner Classic Movies became the only one of the two classic film-focused networks to present their films commercial-free.

===2002–2009: Format change and expansion into original programming=== 150px|right|thumb|AMC logo, used from September 30, 2002, to March 30, 2013

On September 30, 2002, AMC underwent a significant rebranding, changing its format from a classic movie channel, to a more general focus on movies from all eras<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20110809174330/http://www.amctv.com/faq#q10 Why did AMC change its format?] From the AMCtv.com FAQ</ref> – as well as shortening its name to just the "AMC" abbreviation, and introducing a new logo (a rectangular outline with a lowercase and uppercase "a<small>MC</small>" text) and a new slogan that says TV for Movie people. Kate McEnroe, then-president of Rainbow Media, cited lack of subsidies from cable providers as the reason for the addition of advertising, and cited ad agencies who insist on programming relevant to their products' consumers as the reason for the shift to recent movies instead of just classics.<ref name="Dempsey">{{cite web|last=Dempsey|first=John|url=https://variety.com/2002/tv/news/amc-moves-forward-1117866790/|title=AMC moves forward|work=Variety|date=May 13, 2002|access-date=December 19, 2018}}</ref> At the time of the format switchover, the company also attempted to launch a spin-off digital cable channel, AMC's Hollywood Classics, which would have required viewers to pay an extra fee to receive the channel. This commercial-free channel would have aired black-and-white classics from the 1930s through the 1950s that American Movie Classics had been airing up until its format changeover; however, the new channel never debuted.<ref name="Dempsey"/><ref>Battaglio, Stephen. [http://www.nydailynews.com/archives/entertainment/2003/06/27/2003-06-27_old-movie_channels_nearing_s.html "Old-Movie Channels Nearing Showdown"]{{dead link|date=October 2016 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}. ''Daily News''. June 28, 2002.</ref>

AMC also gradually brought back original programming. In 2004, AMC aired its first reality series, ''FilmFakers''; the show featured out-of-work actors who believed they were auditioning for a major role in a real movie, only to be told that they were the subject of a prank and no film actually existed. A ''New York Times'' article on the show said that "''FilmFakers'' may go down as one of the meanest reality series yet."<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.nytimes.com/2004/10/26/arts/television/26fake.html?_r=1&ex=1256529600&en=63ed372d8a3775a1&ei=5090&partner=rssuserland | work=The New York Times | title=Quiet on the Fake Set; Cue the Unsuspecting Actor | first=Lola | last=Ogunnaike | date=October 26, 2004 | access-date=April 23, 2010}}</ref> From 2003 to 2007, AMC was a channel focused on American films partially classics as well as documentaries about film history such as ''Backstory'' and ''Movies that Shook the World''.

In late 2007, AMC debuted its first original drama series ''Mad Men'', a period piece about Madison Avenue advertising executives in the 1960s. The show was immediately lauded by critics,<ref name="Stanley">{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/07/19/arts/television/19stan.html?em&ex=1184990400&en=321917a96ed3bbf9&ei=5087%0A | work=The New York Times | title=Smoking, Drinking, Cheating and Selling | first=Alessandra | last=Stanley | date=July 18, 2006 | access-date=December 16, 2010}}</ref> and won 16 Primetime Emmy Awards<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.emmys.com/shows/mad-men |title=Mad Men — Television Academy |author =<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |website=Television Academy |access-date=May 28, 2014}}</ref> and a Peabody Award.<ref>[http://www.peabodyawards.com/award-profile/mad-men 67th Annual Peabody Awards], May 2008.</ref> ''Breaking Bad'', a drama series about Walter White, a cancer-stricken chemistry teacher involved in making and dealing methamphetamine (played by Bryan Cranston, who had been known primarily for comedic roles in series such as ''Malcolm in the Middle'' prior to the series), premiered in 2008; also garnering critical acclaim, winning 16 Primetime Emmy Awards.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.emmys.com/shows/breaking-bad |title=Breaking Bad — Television Academy |author =<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |website=Television Academy |access-date=May 28, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Wyatt |first=Daisy |date=May 18, 2014 |title=TV Baftas 2014: Breaking Bad wins Best International series |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/tv/news/tv-baftas-2014-breaking-bad-beats-borgen-and-house-of-cards-to-win-best-international-series-9392903.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140519184808/http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/tv/news/tv-baftas-2014-breaking-bad-beats-borgen-and-house-of-cards-to-win-best-international-series-9392903.html |archive-date=May 19, 2014 |url-access=limited |url-status=live |newspaper=The Independent |access-date=May 28, 2014 }}</ref> ''Breaking Bad'' and ''Mad Men'' ended their runs in 2013 and 2015, respectively, with ''Breaking Bad'' receiving a spin-off in the form of ''Better Call Saul''.

===2009–2013: "Story Matters Here"=== On May 31, 2009, during the second-season finale of ''Breaking Bad'', AMC rebranded with the introduction of a new slogan, "Story Matters Here".<ref name=somethingmore>{{cite web|title=AMC Introduces ''Story Matters Here''|url=http://www.thefutoncritic.com/news/2009/03/31/amc-introduces-story-matters-here-30868/20090331amc01/|website=The Futon Critic|access-date=August 15, 2013}}</ref> Later that year, the network premiered its second miniseries, ''The Prisoner''. On January 4, 2010, AMC began airing infomercials on Monday through Saturday mornings from 6:00 to 9:00&nbsp;a.m. Eastern Time; the Saturday morning infomercial block was eliminated after its March 25, 2011, airing as AMC added a Saturday block of western series and films the following week. 2010 also saw the premieres of ''Rubicon'' and ''The Walking Dead''. While ''Rubicon'' was cancelled, ''The Walking Dead'' became an enormous success and has become the most watched scripted program in basic cable history.

AMC would become the flagship property of the then newly established AMC Networks in 2011, which was founded that year after Cablevision spun off Rainbow Media's assets into the newly established company. Cablevision founder Charles Dolan and his family continue to retain a controlling interest in the company.<ref>[https://deadline.com/2011/06/amc-networks-goes-public-with-hot-shows-and-analysts-looking-for-a-sale-144751/ AMC Networks Goes Public With Hot Shows, And Analysts Looking For A Sale] ''Deadline New York'' July 1, 2011</ref> Also during this year, the network introduced two new dramas (''The Killing'' and ''Hell on Wheels''), two original web series (''The Trivial Pursuits of Arthur Banks''<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.amc.com/shows/the-trivial-pursuits-of-arthur-banks/talk/2011/07/the-trivial-pursuits-of-arthur-banks|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120118233317/http://blogs.amctv.com/movie-blog/2011/07/the-trivial-pursuits-of-arthur-banks.php#more|url-status=dead|title=AMC Launches AMC Digital Studios With The Trivial Pursuits of Arthur Banks on Aug. 22|archivedate=January 18, 2012}}</ref> and ''The Walking Dead: Torn Apart''), and the ''Walking Dead'' discussion series ''Talking Dead''. In 2012, AMC premiered three original reality series: ''The Pitch'', ''Comic Book Men''<ref name=secret>[http://www.multichannel.com/article/473160-AMC_Greenlights_Two_Unscripted_Series.php AMC Greenlights Two Unscripted Series] ''Multichannel News'' September 1, 2011,</ref> and ''Small Town Security''; along with a second web series spun off from ''The Walking Dead'', ''The Walking Dead: Cold Storage''.<ref name=secret/>

====2012 Dish Network carriage dispute==== In July 2012, AMC was dropped from Dish Network, in conjunction with a carriage dispute with the satellite provider, citing that AMC Networks charged an excessive amount in retransmission consent payments from the service for carriage which was in disproportion with the lower audience viewership for the channels. AMC Networks cited the removal as being related to a breach of contract lawsuit filed against Dish Network by the channel's former parent Rainbow Media's Voom HD Networks in 2008 for improperly terminating its carriage contract; Dish Network denied that the lawsuit had any relation to the decision to remove AMC and its sister channels and that it ended the carriage agreement on its own terms.<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Baker |first1=Liana |last2=Adegoke |first2=Yinka |date=4 May 2012 |title=CORRECTED-DISH subscribers could lose 'Mad Men' in dispute |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/2012/05/04/amc-dish-idUSL1E8G4C0B20120504/ |access-date=9 January 2024}}</ref> However, the two companies came to a resolution, bringing back the channel (and sister networks IFC, Sundance Channel and WE tv) to Dish in October 2012.<ref>{{Cite web |date=21 October 2012 |title=AMC Networks: Press Releases |url=https://www.amcnetworks.com/release_release_press.jsp?nodeid=6595 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130319162414/https://www.amcnetworks.com/release_release_press.jsp?nodeid=6595 |archive-date=19 March 2013 |access-date=10 January 2024 |website=AMC Networks}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=21 October 2012 |title=DISH Network - DISH Network and Voom Reach Settlement |url=http://press.dishnetwork.com/press-releases/dish-network-and-voom-reach-settlement-nasdaq-dish-0944283 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121023152436/http://press.dishnetwork.com/press-releases/dish-network-and-voom-reach-settlement-nasdaq-dish-0944283 |archive-date=23 October 2012 |access-date=10 January 2024 |website=DISH Network}}</ref>

===2013–2016: "Something More"=== 150px|right|thumb|AMC logo, used from 2013 to 2019

On March 31, 2013, during the third-season finale of ''The Walking Dead'', AMC unveiled a rebranding campaign with the new slogan "Something More", and inverted the logo from a rectangular outlined box to a solid gold block with the network's acronymic name retained in the center.<ref>{{cite news|last=Goldberg|first=Lesley|title=AMC Rebrands With New Logo, Tagline|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/amc-rebrands-new-logo-tagline-431997|access-date=April 1, 2013|newspaper=The Hollywood Reporter|date=April 1, 2013}}</ref> 2013 saw the channel's unscripted slate double with the additions of ''Owner's Manual'', ''Showville'', the second part of the final season of ''Breaking Bad'', the ''Breaking Bad'' discussion series ''Talking Bad'', and the second season of the unscripted series ''Freakshow'', before being cancelled.

Also in April, ''Rectify'', which was originally developed for AMC, premiered on AMC's sister channel Sundance Channel to jump-start that network's emerging slate of original scripted programming. It was then followed by the July announcement that fellow sister channel WE tv had picked up another series originally developed for AMC for the 2012-13 development slate, ''The Divide'', to series. During this timeframe, AMC had started to run marathons of certain shows and cross-promote programs from its co-owned sister channels.

In July 2013, the network announced that it had given series orders for two dramas: ''Turn: Washington's Spies'' (which premiered on April 6, 2014) and ''Halt and Catch Fire'' (which premiered on June 1, 2014). This marked the first time that AMC had four pilot orders picked up to series in the same cycle, the other two being ''The Divide'' and ''Low Winter Sun'' (the latter premiered on August 11, 2013, after the season premiere of the final season of ''Breaking Bad''). The former two would both be renewed for second seasons while the latter two were cancelled after their first seasons. AMC would then pick up ''Into the Badlands'' for a six episode first season<ref name="Badlands">{{cite web|title=AMC Orders Martial Arts Drama 'Badlands' Straight to Series|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/amc-orders-martial-arts-drama-718121|first=Lesley|last=Goldberg|website=The Hollywood Reporter |date=July 11, 2014|access-date=July 12, 2014}}</ref> and ''Breaking Bad'' spinoff ''Better Call Saul'' for two seasons.

On October 9, 2014, it was announced that AMC would scrap its entire current and future unscripted slate outside ''Talking Dead'' and ''Comic Book Men''.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Andreeva|first1=Nellie|title=AMC Abandons Unscripted Programming To Focus On Scripted Series, 'Talking Dead' & 'Comic Book Men' To Continue|url=https://deadline.com/2014/10/amc-unscripted-programming-scripted-series-talking-dead-comic-book-men-849024/|website=Deadline Hollywood|date=October 10, 2014 |access-date=October 10, 2014}}</ref> This announcement came shortly after AMC took over the United States co-production of the sci-fi drama ''Humans'' from Xbox Entertainment Studios.<ref name="humans">{{cite web|last1=Andreeva|first1=Nellie|title=It's Official: AMC Picks Up Channel 4 Series 'Humans'|url=https://deadline.com/2014/09/humans-amc-channel-4-838483/|website=Deadline Hollywood|date=September 22, 2014 |access-date=October 10, 2014}}</ref> At the end of October, it was announced that AMC had won the bidding war to air the miniseries ''The Night Manager''.<ref name="tnm">{{cite web|last1=Goldberg|first1=Lesley|title=AMC Lands Hugh Laurie, Tom Hiddleston Limited Series 'Night Manager'|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/amc-lands-hugh-laurie-tom-741403|website=The Hollywood Reporter|date=October 30, 2014 |access-date=December 29, 2014}}</ref> In 2015, the network premiered ''Fear the Walking Dead'', a spin-off of ''The Walking Dead''.<ref>{{cite web |last=Devore |first=Britta |date=July 21, 2023 |title='Fear the Walking Dead' Sets Return Date for Final Season |url=https://collider.com/fear-the-walking-dead-season-8-part-2-release-date/ |accessdate=July 23, 2023 |website=Collider}}</ref> In January 2015, AMC announced that they would be airing the eight part miniseries ''The Making of the Mob: New York''.<ref name="Deadline">{{cite web|last1=Andreeva|first1=Nellie|title=AMC Sets Premiere Date For 'Mad Men' Final Episodes, Sets Mob Miniseries, Confirms Pickup Of 'Night Manager' Mini|url=https://deadline.com/2015/01/mad-men-final-episodes-premiere-date-making-of-the-mob-miniseries-night-manager-amc-1201346432/|website=Deadline Hollywood|date=January 10, 2015 |access-date=January 10, 2015}}</ref>

In 2016, AMC introduced a new slate of original unscripted series, including ''Ride with Norman Reedus'', ''Geeking Out'', and new expansions of the ''Talking Dead'' format with ''Talking Saul'', ''Talking Preacher'', and ''Talking with Chris Hardwick''.<ref name=IGN>{{cite web|url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2016/06/10/the-walking-deads-norman-reedus-on-his-new-motorcycle-travel-series|title=THE WALKING DEAD'S NORMAN REEDUS ON HIS NEW MOTORCYCLE TRAVEL SERIES|website=IGN|author=Eric Goldman|date=June 10, 2016|access-date=June 13, 2016}}</ref><ref name="Geeking-Out-Premiere">{{cite news|last1=Pedersen|first1=Erik|title=AMC Sets Late-Night Talk Show Hosted By Kevin Smith & Greg Grunberg|url=https://deadline.com/2016/02/amc-late-night-talk-show-host-kevin-smith-greg-grunberg-1201700977/|access-date=February 13, 2016|website=Deadline Hollywood|date=February 11, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://tvline.com/news/talking-with-chris-hardwick-weekly-talk-show-amc-799478/ |title=Talking Dead's Chris Hardwick to Get Weekly Talk Show on AMC|work=TVLine |first=Dave |last=Nemetz |date=March 2017 |access-date=April 7, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.amc.com/shows/talking-dead/talk/2017/03/amc-to-launch-talking-with-chris-hardwick-sunday-april-9-at-1110c%3Famp%3Dtrue|title=AMC to Launch Talking with Chris Hardwick Sunday, April 9 at 11/10c|work=AMC|date=March 1, 2017|access-date=April 7, 2017}}{{Dead link|date=September 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

=== Expansion of franchises, AMC+ (2019–present) === In October 2019, AMC announced a new ''Walking Dead'' spin-off, ''The Walking Dead: World Beyond'', which premiered in October 2020.<ref>{{cite web |last=Hipes |first=Patrick |date=July 24, 2020 |title='The Walking Dead: World Beyond' Sets Fall Premiere Date, Shows Off Extended Trailer – Comic-Con@Home |url=https://deadline.com/2020/07/walking-dead-world-beyond-premiere-date-trailer-amc-1202993772/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200724220153/https://deadline.com/2020/07/walking-dead-world-beyond-premiere-date-trailer-amc-1202993772/ |archive-date=July 24, 2020 |access-date=July 24, 2020 |website=Deadline Hollywood}}</ref><ref name="ign nycc2019">{{cite web |last=Schwartz |first=Terri |date=October 5, 2019 |title=The Walking Dead Third AMC Series Debuts First Trailer at NYCC: 'We Are the Endlings' |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2019/10/05/the-walking-dead-third-amc-series-trailer-new-york-comic-con |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191223160026/https://www.ign.com/articles/2019/10/05/the-walking-dead-third-amc-series-trailer-new-york-comic-con |archive-date=December 23, 2019 |access-date=October 5, 2019 |work=IGN}}</ref> Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, AMC premiered the new talk show ''Friday Night In with The Morgans'' in April 2020, which featured Jeffrey Dean Morgan of ''The Walking Dead'' and his wife Hilarie Burton.<ref>{{Cite web |last=White |first=Peter |date=2020-04-10 |title=AMC Preps Quarantine Chatshow With Jeffrey Dean Morgan & Hilarie Burton Morgan |url=https://deadline.com/2020/04/hilarie-burton-morgan-jeffrey-dean-morgan-quarantine-chatshow-amc-1202905797/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200421203621/https://deadline.com/2020/04/hilarie-burton-morgan-jeffrey-dean-morgan-quarantine-chatshow-amc-1202905797/ |archive-date=April 21, 2020 |access-date=2020-05-04 |website=Deadline Hollywood |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Petski |first=Denise |date=2020-05-04 |title=AMC's Quarantine Chat Show With Jeffrey Dean Morgan Gets Four More Episodes |url=https://deadline.com/2020/05/amc-quarantine-chat-show-jeffrey-dean-morgan-four-more-episodes-1202925288/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200510235241/https://deadline.com/2020/05/amc-quarantine-chat-show-jeffrey-dean-morgan-four-more-episodes-1202925288/ |archive-date=May 10, 2020 |access-date=2020-05-04 |website=Deadline Hollywood |language=en}}</ref> The eleventh season of ''The Walking Dead'' was delayed due to the pandemic and associated production delays; season 10's originally-intended finale was delayed from April 2020 to October 2020, and the season was extended with additional episodes to air in early-2021.<ref name="DeadlineDelay">{{cite web |url=https://deadline.com/2020/03/the-walking-dead-season-10-finale-delay-coronavirus-1202891527/|title='The Walking Dead' Season 10 Finale Delayed Due To Coronavirus|first=Patrick|last=Hipes|website=Deadline Hollywood|date=March 24, 2020|access-date=March 24, 2020}}</ref><ref name="s10 extend">{{cite web |last=Otterson |first=Joe |date=July 24, 2020 |title='Walking Dead' Season 11 Delayed, Season 10 to Get Extra Episodes in 2021 |url=https://variety.com/2020/tv/news/walking-dead-season-11-delayed-season-10-finale-premiere-date-1234715287/ |access-date=July 24, 2020 |website=Variety}}</ref><ref name="S10Finale">{{cite web |title=''The Walking Dead'' Season 10 Gets Supersized; October Premiere Date Set for Coronavirus-Delayed 'Finale'|last=Mason|first=Charlie|date=July 24, 2020|url=https://tvline.com/2020/07/24/the-walking-dead-season-10-extended-six-episodes/|access-date=July 24, 2020|website=TVLine}}</ref>

In May 2020, AMC Studios acquired the rights to Anne Rice's novels ''The Vampire Chronicles'' and ''Lives of the Mayfair Witches'', with Rolin Jones named as showrunner for a planned universe of television series based on the novels for AMC.<ref>{{cite web |last=Otterson |first=Joe |date=May 13, 2020 |title=Anne Rice's ''Vampire Chronicles'', ''Lives of the Mayfair Witches'' Rights Land at AMC (EXCLUSIVE) |url=https://variety.com/2020/tv/news/vampire-chronicles-series-lives-of-the-mayfair-witches-amc-anne-rice-1234605490/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210625022750/https://variety.com/2020/tv/news/vampire-chronicles-series-lives-of-the-mayfair-witches-amc-anne-rice-1234605490/ |archive-date=June 25, 2021 |access-date=June 28, 2021 |work=Variety}}</ref> In June 2020, AMC acquired the second season of ''Gangs of London'', replacing Cinemax as its co-production partner.<ref name="Deadline2">{{cite web |url=https://deadline.com/2020/06/gangs-of-london-amc-cinemax-drops-out-sky-season-2-1202968180|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200624182347/https://deadline.com/2020/06/gangs-of-london-amc-cinemax-drops-out-sky-season-2-1202968180/|url-status=dead|archive-date=24 June 2020|title=AMC Boards Sky Drama {{'}}''Gangs of London''{{'}} After HBO's Cinemax Pulls Out; Thriller Renewed for Season 2|first=Peter|last=White|work=Deadline|date=24 June 2020|access-date=24 June 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/amc-boards-gangs-london-cinemax-drops-1300087/|title=AMC Boards {{'}}''Gangs of London''{{'}} After Cinemax Drops Out|work=The Hollywood Reporter|date=24 June 2020|last=Porter|first=Rick|access-date=24 June 2020}}</ref> In September 2020 during SDCC@Home, AMC confirmed that ''The Walking Dead'' would conclude after an extended, 24-episode season 11, and announced that a Daryl Dixon-centric spin-off starring Norman Reedus and Melissa McBride was in development for a premiere in 2023.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Patten |first=Dominic |date=2020-09-09 |title=‘Walking Dead’ To End After Super-Sized 11th Season; Norman Reedus & Melissa McBride Spinoff Set For 2023 |url=https://deadline.com/2020/09/walking-dead-ends-norman-reedus-spinoff-melissa-mcbride-anthology-angela-kang-amc-robert-kirkman-1234573093/ |access-date=2026-02-25 |website=Deadline |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name="SeriesAnnouncement">{{cite web |last=O'Dell|first=Johnny|title=Fourth Walking Dead Series Starring Norman Reedus & Melissa McBride Announced|url=https://www.skybound.com/shows/the-walking-dead/fourth-walking-dead-series-starring-norman-reedus-melissa-mcbride-announced|website=Skybound|date=September 9, 2020|access-date=September 9, 2020}}</ref>

In October 2020, AMC Networks launched a new direct-to-consumer service known as AMC+, which features live, on-demand, and digitial-exclusive content from AMC and its sister networks. Some AMC series would have new episodes premiere exclusively on the service prior to their linear television premiere.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hayes |first=Dade |date=2020-11-23 |title=AMC+ Launches On Roku |url=https://deadline.com/2020/11/amc-launches-on-roku-streaming-1234620452/ |access-date=2026-02-24 |website=Deadline |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{cite web |url=https://comicbook.com/tv-shows/news/the-walking-dead-final-season-11-episodes-release-one-week-early-amc-plus-all-season-long/|title=The Walking Dead Season 11 Episodes Will Premiere One Week Early on AMC+|first=Cameron|last=Bonomolo|website=Comicbook.com|date=July 25, 2021|access-date=August 22, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Hilliard |first=Wesley |title=AMC+ launches on Apple TV Channels for $8.99 per month |url=https://appleinsider.com/articles/20/10/01/amc-launches-on-apple-tv-channels-for-899-per-month |website=Apple Insider |date=October 1, 2020}}</ref>

In June 2021, AMC greenlit a series adaptation of the first novel in the ''Vampire Chronicles'' series, ''Interview with the Vampire,'' as the first production of its "Immortal Universe" franchise''.''<ref name="series order">{{cite web |last=White |first=Peter |date=June 24, 2021 |title=''Interview with the Vampire'' Series Greenlighted at AMC; Rolin Jones Set as Showrunner, Mark Johnson to Oversee Franchise |url=https://deadline.com/2021/06/interview-with-the-vampire-series-greenlit-amc-rolin-jones-mark-johnson-1234780879/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210627192712/https://deadline.com/2021/06/interview-with-the-vampire-series-greenlit-amc-rolin-jones-mark-johnson-1234780879/ |archive-date=June 27, 2021 |access-date=June 28, 2021 |work=Deadline Hollywood}}</ref><ref name="MTCR">{{cite web |last1=Turchiano |first1=Danielle |date=10 August 2022 |title='Anne Rice's Interview With the Vampire' Team Talks Adapting a Queer Gothic Romance for AMC |url=https://www.metacritic.com/news/anne-rice-interview-with-the-vampire-queer-gothic-romance/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230301085749/https://www.metacritic.com/news/anne-rice-interview-with-the-vampire-queer-gothic-romance/ |archive-date=March 1, 2023 |access-date=1 March 2023 |website=Metacritic}}</ref><ref name="Marya2022">{{cite news |last1=Marya |first1=Radhika |date=October 2, 2022 |title=''Interview with the Vampire'' Has an undying Legacy. Look Inside Its TV Rebirth |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2022/10/02/entertainment/interview-with-the-vampire-2022-series-behind-scenes-cec/index.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221003002922/https://edition.cnn.com/2022/10/02/entertainment/interview-with-the-vampire-2022-series-behind-scenes-cec/index.html |archive-date=October 3, 2022 |access-date=October 3, 2022 |publisher=CNN}}</ref> In July 2021, AMC greenlit ''Dark Winds'', a psychological thriller series by Graham Roland adapted from the works of Tony Hillerman, with Zahn McClarnon, George R. R. Martin, and Robert Redford as executive producers among others.<ref name=":02">{{Cite web|last=Hibberd|first=James|date=July 9, 2021|title=Graham Roland, Robert Redford, George R.R. Martin Making ''Dark Winds'' Series Starring Zahn McClarnon|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/robert-redford-george-r-r-martin-team-for-dark-winds-zahn-mcclarnon-1234979828/|url-status=live|access-date=August 29, 2021|website=The Hollywood Reporter|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210709143228/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/robert-redford-george-r-r-martin-team-for-dark-winds-zahn-mcclarnon-1234979828/|archive-date=July 9, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Rudolph|first=Ileane|date=April 27, 2025|title=Is There Hope for Joe & Emma After Heartbreaking 'Dark Winds' Season 3 Finale Ending?|url=https://www.tvinsider.com/1188464/dark-winds-joe-emma-tape-breakup-season-4-book-case/|access-date=November 17, 2025|website=TV Insider|language=en-US}}</ref>

The eleventh and final season of ''The Walking Dead'' would premiere in April 2021, with the season divided into three, eight-episode segments, and all episodes (aside from the series finale) premiering on AMC+ a week before their television airing.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://comicbook.com/tv-shows/news/the-walking-dead-the-final-season-trilogy-trailer-season-11-part-one/|title=The Walking Dead: The Final Season Trilogy Trailer Released|first=Cameron|last=Bonomolo|website=Comicbook.com|date=July 15, 2021|access-date=July 15, 2021}}</ref><ref name=":1" /><ref name="Season11Premiere">{{cite web |last=Patten |first=Dominic |date=April 4, 2021 |title='Walking Dead' Reveals Final Season To Debut In August; AMC Series Drops New Teaser |url=https://deadline.com/2021/04/walking-dead-final-season-premiere-date-revealed-teaser-video-norman-reedus-spinoff-melissa-mcbride-amc-1234727341/ |access-date=April 5, 2021 |website=Deadline Hollywood}}</ref> The October 2022 premiere of ''Interview with the Vampire''—which premiered alongside the second installment of ''The Walking Dead'' season 11—generated the largest day of viewership and new subscribers on AMC+ since its launch.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Maas |first1=Jennifer |date=October 7, 2022 |title=''Interview With the Vampire'' Debut and ''Walking Dead'' Final Season Return Drive AMC+ to Record-High Viewership, Subscriber Acquisition |url=https://variety.com/2022/tv/news/interview-with-the-vampire-ratings-walking-dead-amc-plus-1235396270/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221229070430/https://variety.com/2022/tv/news/interview-with-the-vampire-ratings-walking-dead-amc-plus-1235396270/ |archive-date=December 29, 2022 |access-date=December 29, 2022 |website=Variety}}</ref> In January 2023, AMC premiered ''Mayfair Witches'' as its second Immortal Universe series, and acquired the rights to John R. Maxim's ''Bannerman'' novel series.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Petski |first=Denise |date=2023-01-10 |title=‘Bannerman’ Spy Books In Works For Television At AMC Networks From Shane Black, Greg Nicotero & Brian Witten |url=https://deadline.com/2023/01/bannerman-spy-books-television-amc-networks-shane-black-greg-nicotero-brian-witten-1235215899/ |access-date=2026-05-13 |website=Deadline |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name="witches premiere">{{Cite web|url=https://www.avclub.com/tv-review-anne-rice-mayfair-witches-is-a-dull-adaptatio-1849943627|title=''Mayfair Witches'' Is a Dull Expansion of AMC's Anne Rice Universe|date=January 4, 2023|website=The A.V. Club|first=Jenna|last=Scherer|access-date=October 19, 2023|url-status=live|archive-date=May 14, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230514093301/https://www.avclub.com/tv-review-anne-rice-mayfair-witches-is-a-dull-adaptatio-1849943627}}</ref> In June 2023, AMC premiered ''The Walking Dead: Dead City'', a spin-off and continuation of ''The Walking Dead'' following the characters of Maggie and Negan.<ref>{{cite web |last=Squires |first=John |date=October 4, 2022 |title="The Walking Dead" – Norman Reedus Spinoff Series Simply Titled "Daryl Dixon" |url=https://bloody-disgusting.com/tv/3734775/the-walking-dead-norman-reedus-spinoff-series-simply-titled-daryl-dixon/ |access-date=October 5, 2022 |website=Bloody Disgusting}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://collider.com/the-walking-dead-dead-city-early-premiere-amc-plus/|title='The Walking Dead: Dead City' Is Set to Arrive Early for AMC+ Subscribers|website=Collider|first=Christopher|last=McPherson|date=May 18, 2023|access-date=June 15, 2023}}</ref><ref name="DeadCity&DarylDixon S2">{{cite web |last=Goldberg |first=Lesley |date=July 21, 2023 |title='Walking Dead' Spinoffs 'Dead City,' 'Daryl Dixon' Renewed at AMC |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/walking-dead-spinoffs-dead-city-daryl-dixon-renewed-amc-1235540906/ |access-date=July 21, 2023 |website=The Hollywood Reporter}}</ref> This was followed in September 2023 by the premiere of ''The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon''.<ref name="PremiereDate">{{cite web |url=https://variety.com/2023/tv/news/walking-dead-daryl-dixon-september-premiere-date-amc-1235670535/|title='Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon' Sets September Premiere Date at AMC|website=Variety|last=Otterson|first=Joe|date=July 14, 2023|accessdate=July 15, 2023}}</ref>

In October 2023, AMC acquired the North American rights to ''Nautilus'', a British miniseries originally slated for Disney+.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Porter |first=Rick |date=2023-10-30 |title=AMC Nabs ‘20,000 Leagues Under the Sea’ Reimagining From Disney |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/disney-nautilus-series-moving-amc-1235632485/ |access-date=2026-02-24 |website=The Hollywood Reporter |language=en-US}}</ref> In February 2024, the premiere of ''The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live'' became AMC's highest-rated series premiere since 2018 (''The Terror''), with approximately three million viewers on television, and being the "most watched episode of any show" on AMC+.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Porter |first=Rick |date=2024-03-01 |title=‘The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live’ Premieres to Multi-Year Highs for AMC |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/the-walking-dead-the-ones-who-live-premieres-to-multi-year-highs-for-amc-1235840644/ |access-date=2026-02-24 |website=The Hollywood Reporter |language=en-US}}</ref> In June 2024, AMC renewed ''Interview with the Vampire'' for a third season'','' with the series now adapting the second ''Vampire Chronicles'' book ''The Vampire Lestat''.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Mullinax |first=Hope |date=2024-06-26 |title=''Interview With the Vampire'' Fans, We're Officially Getting Season 3 With Rock Star Lestat |url=https://collider.com/interview-with-the-vampire-season-3-renewed/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240626162733/https://collider.com/interview-with-the-vampire-season-3-renewed/ |archive-date=June 26, 2024 |access-date=2024-06-26 |website=Collider |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Holbrook |first=Damian |date=2024-06-26 |title='Interview With the Vampire' Renewed for Season 3 — Which Book Is It Adapting? |url=https://www.tvinsider.com/1141431/interview-with-the-vampire-renewed-season-3-amc/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240626231350/https://www.tvinsider.com/1141431/interview-with-the-vampire-renewed-season-3-amc/ |archive-date=June 26, 2024 |access-date=2024-06-26 |website=TV Insider |language=en-US}}</ref> The same month, AMC also ordered a new Silicon Valley-set drama from Jonathan Glatzer directly to series.<ref>{{cite web|first=Peter|last=White|title=Silicon Valley Drama Series From Jonathan Glatzer Greenlit At AMC|url=https://deadline.com/2024/06/silicon-valley-drama-series-jonathan-glatzer-amc-1235984812/|date=June 27, 2024|website=Deadline Hollywood|access-date=July 5, 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|first=Michael|last=Schneider|title=AMC Orders Silicon Valley Drama From 'Succession' Writer Jonathan Glatzer|url=https://variety.com/2024/tv/news/amc-silicon-valley-drama-jonathan-glatzer-1236051771/|date=June 27, 2024|website=Variety|access-date=July 29, 2025}}</ref> It also premiered a spin-off of the BBC America co-production ''Orphan Black'', ''Orphan Black: Echoes''. The series was cancelled after one season.<ref>{{cite web|last=Andreeva|first=Nellie|title=''Orphan Black: Echoes'' Canceled By AMC Networks After 1 Season|url=https://deadline.com/2024/09/orphan-black-echoes-canceled-no-season-2-krysten-ritter-1236093209/|website=Deadline Hollywood|date=September 18, 2024|access-date=September 18, 2024}}</ref>

During AMC's upfronts in April 2025, it was announced that the new Glatzer drama would be entitled ''The Audacity'' and premiere in April 2026.<ref name="SensationofSiliconValley">{{cite web|first=Peter|last=White|title=Zach Galifianakis Joins AMC's Silicon Valley Drama; Jonathan Glatzer Series Gets Title|url=https://deadline.com/2025/04/zach-galifianakis-the-audacity-amc-jonathan-glatzer-series-1236364388/|date=April 9, 2025|website=Deadline Hollywood|access-date=July 5, 2025}}</ref> AMC also announced a new anthology series in development known as ''Great American Stories'', which would also be overseen by Rolin Jones, and feature adaptations of "a celebrated work, historical moment, or individual narrative celebrating and highlighting the American spirit." The first installment announced for the series will be an adaptation of ''The Grapes of Wrath''.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Andreeva |first=Nellie |date=2025-04-07 |title=‘Great American Stories’ Anthology Series In Works At AMC From Rolin Jones & Mark Johnson With ‘The Grapes Of Wrath’ As First Installment |url=https://deadline.com/2025/04/great-american-stories-anthology-amc-the-grapes-of-wrath-1236359494/ |access-date=2026-04-03 |website=Deadline |language=en-US}}</ref> The same month, AMC acquired a documentary miniseries on the San Francisco 49ers' Super Bowl dynasty in the 1980s and 1990s, co-produced with Skydance Sports in association with Tom Brady's Religion of Sports and NFL Films.<ref>{{Cite web |last=White |first=Peter |date=2025-04-10 |title=San Francisco 49ers Docuseries Scores AMC Deal |url=https://deadline.com/2025/04/san-francisco-49ers-docuseries-amc-1236364565/ |access-date=2026-02-24 |website=Deadline |language=en-US}}</ref> ''Rise of the 49ers'' premiered in February 2026, coinciding with Super Bowl LX in San Francisco.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Alter |first=Ethan |date=2026-01-21 |title=‘Rise of the 49ers’ depicts the catch heard ’round the world just in time for Super Bowl LX |url=https://www.goldderby.com/tv/2026/rise-of-the-49ers-super-bowl-lx-exclusive/ |access-date=2026-02-24 |website=Gold Derby |language=en-US}}</ref>

In October 2025, AMC premiered ''Talamasca: The Secret Order''—a spin-off series set within the Immortal Universe. The series was cancelled after one season.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Cordero|first=Rosy|date=March 27, 2026|title=''Talamasca: The Secret Order'' Canceled At AMC|url=https://deadline.com/2026/03/talamasca-the-secret-order-canceled-amc-1236768227/|access-date=March 27, 2026|website=Deadline Hollywood|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://tvline.com/lists/anne-rice-talamasca-series-release-date-cast-spoilers-amc/|title=''Talamasca'' Sets October Premiere Date, Reveals Crossover With [Spoiler] From ''Interview With the Vampire''|website=TVLine|first=Andy|last=Swift|date=July 26, 2025|access-date=July 26, 2025}}</ref> In November 2025, it was reported that AMC was fast-tracking development of a NASCAR-themed drama from John Fusco entitled ''Thunder Road.''<ref>{{Cite web |last=White |first=Peter |date=2025-11-06 |title=NASCAR Drama Series ‘Thunder Road’ In The Works At AMC From John Fusco |url=https://deadline.com/2025/11/nascar-drama-series-thunder-road-amc-john-fusco-1236602514/ |access-date=2026-04-03 |website=Deadline |language=en-US}}</ref> In December 2025, Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA) announced that its flagship professional wrestling series ''TNA Impact!'' would move to AMC and AMC+ beginning January 15, 2026.<ref name="AMCImpact">{{cite news |last1=Maglio |first1=Tony |date=December 2, 2025 |title=TNA Wrestling’s ‘Thursday Night Impact!’ Moves From AXS TV to AMC Network |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/tna-wrestling-thursday-night-impact-amc-watch-1236439411/ |access-date=December 2, 2025 |work=The Hollywood Reporter}}</ref> Also that month, it was reported that AMC was developing a television series adaptation of the 1991 film ''Point Break''.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Shanfeld |first=Ethan |date=2025-12-15 |title=‘Point Break’ TV Show in the Works at AMC Networks |url=https://variety.com/2025/tv/news/point-break-tv-show-amc-1236609149/ |access-date=2026-03-13 |website=Variety |language=en-US}}</ref>

On March 7, 2026, ahead of its series premiere, AMC renewed ''The Audacity'' for a second season.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2026/03/the-audacity-renewed-season-2-amc-silicon-valley-sxsw-1236746224/|title=''The Audacity'' Silicon Valley Drama Renewed For Season 2 By AMC Ahead Of TV & SXSW Premieres|first=Nellie|last=Andreeva|website=Deadline Hollywood|date=March 9, 2026|accessdate=March 9, 2026|archive-date=March 9, 2026|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260309160638/https://deadline.com/2026/03/the-audacity-renewed-season-2-amc-silicon-valley-sxsw-1236746224/|url-status=live}}</ref> During its upfronts in April 2026, AMC officially ordered ''Thunder Road'', and confirmed development on it, ''Bannerman'', ''Point Break'', and ''The Grapes of Wrath'' for planned premieres in 2027.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Andreeva |first=Nellie |date=2026-04-30 |title=AMC Development Updates: 'Bannerman', 'Point Break', 'Grapes of Wrath' |url=https://deadline.com/2026/04/amc-status-bannerman-point-break-grapes-of-wrath-status-1236874066/ |access-date=2026-05-13 |website=Deadline |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=White |first=Peter |date=2026-04-30 |title=‘Thunder Road’ Starring Dennis Quaid Greenlit At AMC |url=https://deadline.com/2026/04/thunder-road-dennis-quaid-greenlit-amc-1236874102/ |access-date=2026-05-13 |website=Deadline |language=en-US}}</ref>

==Programming== ===Series programming=== {{Further|List of programs broadcast by AMC}} Although movies remain an integral part of AMC's schedule, the network has garnered attention in recent years for its original series. The channel's first original series was the game show ''The Movie Masters'', which ran from 1989 to 1990 and was otherwise notable for being Gene Rayburn's last hosting role; outside ''Remember WENN'' and ''Filmfakers'', most of AMC's original programming prior to September 2007 consisted of film history-related documentary and review programs. The establishment of ''Mad Men'' in 2007, followed by that of ''Breaking Bad'' in 2008, and ''Better Call Saul'' in 2015, gave AMC a reputation on par with premium cable networks HBO and Showtime (which had both turned down ''Mad Men''), with its original series of the era being considered synonymous with the overall era of "Peak TV".<ref name="Stanley" /><ref name="IrishExaminer">{{Cite web |date=October 24, 2019 |title=Is the golden age of TV over? |url=https://www.irishexaminer.com/lifestyle/arid-30959437.html |access-date=September 12, 2022 |website=Irish Examiner |language=en}}</ref><ref name="Time-Berman-Redundancy">{{cite magazine |last=Berman|first=Judy|date=November 19, 2021|url=https://time.com/6121212/tv-streaming-peak-redundancy/|title=Peak TV Is Over. Welcome to the Era of Streaming Redundancy|magazine=Time|access-date=December 31, 2021|archive-date=March 4, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250304000842/https://time.com/6121212/tv-streaming-peak-redundancy/|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite news |last=Goffe |first=Nadira |date=2024-06-08 |title=Interview With the Vampire Is the Best Show Almost Nobody Is Watching |url=https://slate.com/culture/2024/06/interview-with-the-vampire-series-season-2-anne-rice-amc.html |access-date=2026-02-24 |work=Slate |language=en-US |issn=1091-2339}}</ref> The network has also been known for its adaptations of the comic book franchise ''The Walking Dead'', which launched in 2010.<ref name="Time-Berman-Redundancy" /><ref name=":0" />

===Movie library=== AMC maintains movie licensing rights agreements with Warner Bros., Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (including films from United Artists and library content from The Samuel Goldwyn Company, Orion Pictures, and Cannon Group), Universal Pictures (including some films from DreamWorks Animation as titles from Illumination Entertainment and most from Focus Features are absent), Paramount Pictures (including films from pre-2011 DreamWorks Pictures and Miramax), Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures (primarily film content from Touchstone Pictures, Hollywood Pictures, 20th Century Studios, Searchlight Pictures, Disney, Walt Disney Animation Studios, and Buena Vista International, while titles from Pixar, Lucasfilm, much of Marvel Studios, and the defunct Blue Sky Studios are not included because of other channels' agreements, including those owned by Disney themselves) and Sony Pictures Entertainment (including Columbia Pictures, TriStar Pictures, Sony Pictures Classics, Screen Gems, and Triumph Films). Since the 2002 format change, the network's film telecasts usually are "television" cuts meant for basic cable, which feature content edits, censoring or dubbing of profanities, and some time edits by removing some superfluous plotting or toning down scenes with adult content inappropriate for basic cable broadcast to fit within a set timeslot with commercials added.

====FearFest==== In 1997, AMC launched "Monsterfest", a popular week-long marathon of horror films and thrillers that aired from mid- or late October every year for Halloween until the day after Halloween. In the mid-2000s, AMC started a Monsterfest blog on its website,<ref>{{cite web|author =AMC|url=http://amctv.typepad.com/monsterfest/ |title=AMC TV: Monsterfest |publisher=Amctv.typepad.com |date=April 6, 2010 |access-date=June 4, 2011}}</ref> which chronicled news on horror-related film and television productions. In addition, AMC presented "Fear Friday", a horror movie double feature on late Friday evenings. On September 26, 2008, AMC announced the launch of a new horror-themed movie marathon for its October schedule called "Fearfest" (which replaced Monsterfest); coinciding with this, the "Monsterfest" blog was renamed as the "Horror Hacker" blog. "Fearfest" also ran from mid- or late October every year for Halloween until the day after Halloween too from 2008 to 2021. Beginning in 2021, Fearfest now runs throughout the whole month of October.

==== Best Christmas Ever ==== {{Main|Best Christmas Ever (TV programming block)}}

AMC had typically aired a rotating lineup of five to six Christmas movies during the holiday season. In 2018, the channel introduced a more extensive holiday lineup branded as Best Christmas Ever, running from November 26 to December 25, featuring a mix of popular Christmas and family films, along with other acquired specials. The schedule included notable acquisitions from Warner Bros., including ''Elf'', ''National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation'', ''The Polar Express'', and 12 Rankin/Bass Animated Entertainment specials (the films had been recent mainstays of Freeform's competing ''25 Days of Christmas'' schedule, with ''Elf'' in particular having received extensive airplay and high viewership during the event), as well as other specials from DreamWorks Animation.<ref name="vulture-amc18">{{Cite news|url=https://www.vulture.com/2018/09/amc-best-christmas-ever-holiday-programming.html|title=AMC Nabs Christmas Classics As the War for Holiday TV Audiences Heats Up|last=Adalian|first=Josef|work=Vulture|access-date=November 17, 2018|language=en}}</ref> As expected, AMC saw ratings gains over the holiday season; primetime viewership for the first two weeks of the event was up 40% year-over-year, airings of ''Elf'' and ''Christmas Vacation'' both peaked at 1.5 million viewers, and average viewership of feature films on Freeform fell by 36% year-over-year in the same period.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/elf-christmas-vacation-make-holiday-magic-amc-1169159|title='Elf' and 'Christmas Vacation' Make Holiday Magic for AMC|website=The Hollywood Reporter|date=December 13, 2018 |language=en|access-date=March 21, 2019}}</ref>

===AMC Premiere=== '''AMC Premiere''' is an add-on subscription service only available as an extra to those already normally subscribed to AMC. It involves access to an expanded On-Demand library compared to the standard "AMC OnDemand" library packaged with the usual cable service. This is necessary to view many "locked" programs on the AMC website (such as complete availability to The Walking Dead all eleven seasons) which prompts someone to subscribe for ~$5/mo or ~$30/yr. For currently-airing programs it sometimes gives early access to viewing them before they debut on the main AMC channel.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://comicbook.com/thewalkingdead/news/watch-the-walking-dead-season-10-premiere-early-amc/ |title=How to Watch The Walking Dead Season 10 Premiere Early |website=comicbook.com |last=Bonomolo |first=Cameron |date=September 19, 2019 |access-date=July 23, 2021 |url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200928222315/https://comicbook.com/thewalkingdead/news/watch-the-walking-dead-season-10-premiere-early-amc/ |archive-date=September 28, 2020 }}</ref>

=== AMC+ === {{main|AMC+}}

AMC+ is a premium, commercial-free streaming bundle that includes the same benefits of AMC Premiere, early access to additional AMC series, as well as additional library content from sister networks BBC America, IFC, and SundanceTV, and the complete collections of fellow AMC Networks streaming services including Shudder, Sundance Now and IFC Films Unlimited.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thefutoncritic.com/news/2020/10/01/all-seven-seasons-of-amcs-decorated-drama-mad-men-available-commercial-free-on-amcplus-beginning-today-638410/20201001amc01/|title=All Seven Seasons of AMC's Decorated Drama "Mad Men" Available Commercial-Free on AMC+ Beginning Today|author=AMC Networks (press release)|work=The Futon Critic|date=October 1, 2020|access-date=November 9, 2020}}</ref> The service is available through most streaming services for $8.99 per month like Apple TV, Amazon Prime Video and Roku and it's also at a reduced price for existing AMC channel subscribers too like Xfinity, Dish Network and Sling TV.

==International availability== ===Canada=== On September 1, 2006, AMC officially became available in Canada for cable customers of Shaw Cable and satellite customers of Shaw Direct (formerly StarChoice), marking the first time AMC was made available outside the United States.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.marketwired.com/press-release/shaw-communications-brings-critically-acclaimed-24-7-movie-channel-traditional-cable-609788.htm |title=Shaw Communications Brings Critically Acclaimed 24/7 Movie Channel to Traditional Cable Line-Up |publisher=Marketwired |date=August 29, 2006 |access-date=January 3, 2017 |archive-date=January 3, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170103165533/http://www.marketwired.com/press-release/shaw-communications-brings-critically-acclaimed-24-7-movie-channel-traditional-cable-609788.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref> The channel is also available through Rogers Cable, Bell Fibe TV, Cogeco, and Eastlink.

The Canadian feed of AMC is identical to the American feed although some of its programming, such as ''TNA Impact!'', is blacked out due to Sportsnet holding the rights to the program in Canada and its replaced with alternate programming lineup.

=== Europe === In October 2013, AMC Networks acquired the European media company Chellomedia from Liberty Global, renaming it AMC Networks International. In November 2014, the European MGM Channel was relaunched as a pan-European version of AMC.<ref>{{cite web|author =The Hollywood Reporter |url=http://www.broadbandtvnews.com/2014/09/20/amc-set-for-november-launch-in-europe/ |title=AMC set for November launch in Europe |publisher=Broadband TV News |date=September 20, 2014 |access-date=October 6, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Tartaglione |first=Nancy |date=2013-10-28 |title=AMC Networks To Pay $1B For Liberty Global’s Chellomedia |url=https://deadline.com/2013/10/amc-networks-to-pay-1-03b-for-liberty-globals-chellomedia-621506/ |access-date=2026-02-03 |website=Deadline |language=en-US}}</ref>

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== {{Sister project links|display=AMC|d=Q294660|c=category:AMC (TV channel)|n=no|q=no|s=no|wikt=no|b=no|v=no|voy=no|m=no|mw=no|species=no}} * {{Official website}}

{{AMC Networks}} {{AMC Shows}} {{U.S. movie television channels}} {{U.S. premium television services (defunct)}} {{Canadian movie channels}} {{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Amc (Tv Channel)}} Category:Television networks in the United States Category:Television channels and stations established in 1984 Category:English-language television stations in the United States Category:Movie channels in the United States Category:AMC Networks Category:1984 establishments in the United States