'Breaking Bad' Returns to Series High 2.9 Million

AMC drama's final season bows to gains in total viewers, demos

By Andrea Morabito -- Broadcasting & Cable, 7/16/2012 3:14:14 PM

The season five premiere of AMC's Breaking Bad was the drama's most-watched episode ever, drawing 2.9 million viewers on Sunday at 10 p.m., according to Nielsen.

Breaking Bad improved 14% over its season four debut in total viewers and was up 34% in adults 18-49 to 1.9 million viewers and up 28% in adults 25-54 to 1.8 million viewers.

For the night, the episode averaged 3.5 million total viewers when combined with its 11:30 p.m. replay.

Breaking Bad is embarking on its final season, with the final eight episodes of the Bryan Cranston drama set to bow in summer 2013.