AMC is launching a brand new rewards program that literally pays fans to watch The Walking Dead and Fear the Walking Dead.
The Walking Dead Fan Rewards Club, kicking off in September, allows superfans to earn points toward virtual and actual merchandise for watching episodes of either show on any platform. Fans also earn rewards points for posting about or sharing The Walking Dead content on social media. And that’s not all, fans who create fan art or fan fiction can earn points, too.
What exactly can you earn in the Walking Dead Fan Rewards Program?
No specifics yet, but AMC says they’ll be redeemable for “exclusive digital content, collectible items, limited-edition apparel and once-in-a-lifetime fan experiences with cast members, including a private set tour and lunch with cast members.”
In tandem with the rewards program, AMC’s also launching a Walking Dead subscription box ($49.99 quarterly) that will “contain five to seven items – from t-shirts and action figures to pins and mugs.” It’ll be linked to the rewards program so that members can earn points towards a box.
Is it right to essentially pay fans to watch?
The program will inevitably spark debate about the ethics of rewarding fans in exchange for viewership and engagement. And while it does come off a bit shady, it’s not likely to have a legit measurable impact since only the hardest of the hardcore fans would sign up for such a program in the first place.
Fans who earn the most fan rewards are probably the fans who’d be watching and engaging with Walking Dead social content already, even without the program.
Both initiatives begin in September, just in time for the 100th episode of The Walking Dead and the midseason return of Fear the Walking Dead.
Charlie Collier, president of AMC, said, “Fans of The Walking Dead and Fear the Walking Dead are some of television’s most engaged, dedicated and passionate. They have been a North Star and the Fan Rewards Club and Subscription Box are two examples of extensions beyond the screen that were created based on their feedback. We look forward to customizing these experiences for them long into the future.”
