15.2M tune in for 'Walking Dead' mid-Season 7 finale

NEW YORK, Dec. 17 (UPI) -- About 15.2 million viewers tuned in for this week's 90-minute, mid-Season 7 finale of The Walking Dead, AMC announced.

Sunday's episode of the zombie-apocalypse drama featured the deaths of longtime characters Spencer and Olivia -- played by Austin Nichols and Ann Mahoney -- as well as the kidnapping of Eugene [played by Josh McDermitt.] The show also saw Daryl [played by Norman Reedus] escape from the compound of the evil Negan [played by Jeffrey Dean Morgan.] It ended with Daryl and his fellow survivors planning to kill Negan.

"The Walking Dead has never been more alive -- on-air and online; live, near-live and time-shifted; at home and around the world," Charlie Collier, president of AMC, SundanceTV and AMC Studios, said in a statement. "Thanks to the fans for their continued passion and care and for making this series No. 1 across all of television for the fifth consecutive year. We, along with the creative partners we are so proud of and fortunate to work with, are profoundly grateful. Get ready to 'Rise Up' this February."

The second half of the season is to resume on Feb. 12.