The Walking Dead Gets A Free TV Channel In The UK
The Walking Dead Universe has a free UK FAST channel on ITVX and Rakuten TV. See where to watch, what FAST means and how the channel works.
Author:James RowleySep 30, 202654 Shares18K Views
When AMC first released The Walking Dead in 2010, few could have predicted that it would endure for 177 episodes across 11 seasons. On top of that, it sparked its own cinematic universe with six spinoff television series and various games.
Now, The Walking Dead has its own dedicated television channel in the UK, giving even more people a chance to get into the franchise. The Walking Dead Universe FAST channel launched on ITVX on 7th July 2026, later also expanding to Rakuten TV in August 2026. It's thought the move could inspire other franchises to get their own channels and follow a similar free-view route.
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Where Can You Watch The Walking Dead Universe Channel Free In The UK?
UK viewers currently have more than one way to access The Walking Dead Universe FAST channel without paying for another streaming subscription.
- ITVX:The dedicated channel launched on ITVX on 7 July 2026 and is currently listed as The Walking Dead Universe 24/7.
- Rakuten TV:The Walking Dead Universe channel also expanded to Rakuten TV in the UK in August 2026 as part of the wider FAST rollout.
At launch on ITVX, the channel included The Walking Deadand Fear the Walking Dead. AMC has said that additional titles from The Walking Dead Universe may be introduced over time, so the exact schedule and available series can change.
Unlike a normal on-demand box set, a FAST channel runs as a continuous scheduled stream. That scheduled format reflects the broader growth of live digital viewing, where audiences increasingly consume content through continuous and real-time online streams. Viewers join whatever is being shown at that moment rather than choosing every individual episode from a catalogue.
Availability checked in September 2026. Platform availability and schedules can change.
Walking Dead Franchise Continues To Expand
The Walking Dead has provided a solid model for other series to follow, as it has cemented its legacy throughout a wide range of franchise extensions. Even though the flagship series ended in 2022, it’s still firmly in the mainstream thanks to a wide range of other content.
Television franchises sit within a much broader entertainment landscape, alongside film, theatre, music and other parts of London's cultural scene.
One of the main ways that it has expanded beyond the original has been in the recent spinoffs, with three recent offerings spawning from The Walking Dead. Dead City, The Ones Who Live, and the Daryl Dixon spinoff all gave fans new ways to experience the show’s universe, exploring different characters and settings.
There have also been games that have helped more people discover The Walking Dead and its spinoffs. These have spanned PC and mobile titles, and now there are even slot games such as The Walking Dead Cash Collect and more recently, The Walking Dead The Ones Who Live Slot, which was released in 2025 to coincide with the miniseries of the same name.
These games can be found at many of the best bingo sites, showing how AMC has used licensing to continue to expand the brand. Moves like this also encourage more people to engage with the franchise, especially seen in examples like The Ones Who Live expansion, showing how these franchise expansions offer opportunities to feed into each other.
The move to FAST channels is another part of The Walking Dead's strategy by AMC. As discussed, this has involved the expansion of TWD intellectual property, new licensing deals and, now, free ad-supported streaming (FAST channels).
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Why The Walking Dead Is Perfect For FAST
If you're not sure what a FAST channel is, FAST stands for Free Ad-Supported Streaming Television. It’s a popular format, as it can be built into other platforms and gives viewers a chance to watch content at no cost.
Alongside these FAST channels, other examples include Pluto TV, Samsung TV Plus and Tubi. For example, Pluto TV is the primary FAST channel for the popular Star Trek franchise, with dedicated 24/7 channels for the series and films.
In simple terms, FAST combines elements of traditional television and streaming:
- Free to watch:viewers do not need another paid subscription.
- Supported by advertising:commercials help fund the service.
- Scheduled rather than fully on-demand:the channel runs continuously, so viewers join the programme already being shown.
FAST is part of a much wider change in digital viewing, with live streaming reinventing entertainmentacross television, social media and other real-time formats.
The Walking Dead is well-suited to this model because it has a vast amount of established content to offer. Instead of fans having to search for all the different series and spinoffs manually, they now have it broadcast to them. It takes away the problem of decision fatigue and allows viewers to watch a scheduled stream.
It makes sense from AMC’s perspective too, as it allows it to generate advertising revenue from content that has already been produced. According to the company, more than 80 per cent ofUK viewers said they considered FAST a primary way to watch television, showing the market interest for FAST channels is there.
The Walking Dead Free UK Channel FAQs
Is The Walking Dead Universe Channel Free In The UK?
Yes. The dedicated FAST channel is free and supported by advertising. AMC launched it on ITVX in July 2026, with Rakuten TV joining the UK rollout in August.
What Walking Dead Shows Are Available On The Channel?
The ITVX channel launched with The Walking Deadand Fear the Walking Dead. AMC has said that additional titles from The Walking Dead Universe may be introduced over time, so viewers should check the current platform schedule for the latest lineup.
Is The Walking Dead FAST Channel The Same As Watching On Demand?
Not exactly. A FAST channel works more like traditional television: it runs a continuous schedule and viewers join whatever episode is currently playing. That differs from an on-demand library where you choose a specific episode whenever you want.
Could More Franchises Get Their Own Channels?
The Walking Dead has inspired various other successful series to expand into spinoffs. Now that the zombie universe has its own dedicated television channel, it could lead to other series doing the same thing.
There are a few series that could be great contenders for this. For example, a channel that constantly played Friends episodes could be a hit, with Friends already experiencing similar franchise expansion. Game of Thrones and its numerous spinoffs could also potentially get their own channel.
The new Walking Dead channel is an exciting development for fans, and there’s a strong chance it will help attract even more viewers to the franchise. Hopefully there will soon be more spinoffs for people to enjoy.
James Rowley
Author
James Rowley is a London-based writer and researcher covering London life, cultural geography, London travel, live London webcam pages and selected public figures across entertainment, sport, business and public life.
For over 15 years, he has focused on verified sources, first-hand local context and clear explanations that help readers understand both places and people more deeply. His work combines street-level London knowledge with careful research into career credits, media work, business interests and, where relevant, transparently explained net worth estimates.
He writes and reviews articles published on LondonWebcam.
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