AMC is just one of many networks opting to trade a big, expensive upfront event for more intimate gatherings with clients this year. It also comes to the literal dinner table with a hard-hitting sell: The Walking Dead.

With 18.4 million viewers tuning in for the season-six finale, the show sits comfortably as the number-one cable or broadcast series among primetime’s key demographic of adults 18-49. The finale drew 11.5 million viewers in that demographic.

With 8.8 million total viewers, including 5.3 million among 18-49-year-olds for season two of Fear the Walking Dead, the spinoff (which was recently renewed for season three) is also the number-two cable series in that same demographic.

This one-two punch is doing much of the heavy lifting at the network’s cozy upfront meetings.

Combine it with the consistency of Talking Dead following both shows, and the launch of Preacher on May 22, and AMC features a strong annual Sunday night lineup.

This is the second year AMC has gone with smaller upfront presentations. The network finished 2015 fourth among all cable networks in the 18-49 demographic, and EVP of Ad Sales Scott Collins told Adweek the network wanted to make a statement that would continue to hold that status, and potentially improve upon it.

“Every Sunday night, a huge millennial focused fanbase can get something from AMC all year long now,” he said.

He also highlighted the plethora of content at AMC, including Better Caul Saul, Into the Badlands, Feed the Beast (starring David Schwimmer), Turn: Washington’s Spies, Halt and Catch Fire and the new miniseries The Night Manager (starring Hugh Laurie and Tom Hiddleston.)

AMC Networks also owns SundanceTV and WE tv which “had its best year ever,” Collins said, along with IFC which offers brand partnership opportunities, and BBC America and WE, both of which have passionate fan bases.

“A lot of other groups may be up with one network, but then they’re down in two or three others,” Collins said. “We come with a great strong portfolio.”

That’s the pitch AMC Networks is promoting at the upfront dinners featuring high-level executives such as CEO Josh Sapan and COO Ed Carroll who will showcase the strengths of all the company’s brands.

“We’ll be focusing a lot of time on what’s next on AMC,” Collins said, “but they’ll get a feeling about every one of our networks.”

READ MORE: Adweek

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