AMC Networks CEO Kristin Dolan expressed her desire for labor peace, but she assured investors that the ongoing strikes by the Writers Guild of America (WGA) and the Screen Actors Guild/American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG/AFTRA) would not pose a threat to the company’s programming until “well into 2024.” Dolan made these remarks during the company’s second-quarter earnings call with Wall Street analysts, where she emphasized that AMC Networks is well-prepared to weather the strikes. The WGA strike began on May 2, followed by the actors’ walkout last month. Dolan stated, “We highly value the work of our creative partners and hope that these disputes can be resolved quickly and fairly. In the short term, AMC Networks has a lineup of completed shows that will allow us to continue serving our viewers across all platforms for the rest of this year and beyond.”
Despite the positive outlook on the strikes, AMC Networks’ quarterly results fell short of analysts’ revenue forecasts, primarily due to a 17% decline in domestic advertising revenue compared to the previous year.
AMC Networks is widely recognized for its popular shows like “The Walking Dead.” Although the flagship series concluded after 11 seasons, the franchise continues with several spinoffs. AMC premiered “The Walking Dead: Dead City” in June and will debut “The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon,” a spinoff set in France, in September. Additionally, production has wrapped up on “The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live,” scheduled to air in 2024. Alongside “The Walking Dead,” AMC has recently launched three series in the Anne Rice franchise and collaborated with “Breaking Bad” and “Better Call Saul” star Bob Odenkirk for a new show called “Lucky Hank.”
