'The Killing' Returns on Par With 1.8 Million Viewers

AMC drama improves 21% from season two finale

By Andrea Morabito -- Broadcasting & Cable, 6/3/2013 3:40:55 PM

AMC's The Killing -- which was canceled last year and then revived for a third season -- returned to 1.8 million total viewers in its premiere Sunday at 8 p.m., on par with its second season debut.

Compared to the drama's second season finale last June, Sunday's two-hour episode grew 21%, according to Nielsen data.

The Killing was brought back to life by Fox Television Studios after it struck a deal with Netflix, which makes the third season available to subscribers just 90 days after airing on AMC. The third season will feature a new self-contained story line to be resolved at the conclusion of the 12-episode order, with stars Mireille Enos and Joel Kinnaman returning and the addition of Peter Sarsgaard.