The fight for survival continues in October. AMC has announced that the third season of The Walking Dead will kick off on Sunday, October 14th, at 9pm. The cable channel renewed their very popular show for a 16 episode season (the drama’s biggest so far) in mid-January. AMC will once again split the season into two parts with the second premiering in February 2013.

The third season debut of Walking Dead will be followed by the second season premieres of Talking Dead and Comic Book Men. In May, both non-scripted series were also renewed for 16 new episodes.

Here’s the press release from AMC:

AMC ANNOUNCES “THE WALKING DEAD” SEASON 3 PREMIERE ON SUNDAY, OCTOBER 14 AT 9PM ET/PT

Season Two Premieres of Unscripted Series “Talking Dead” and “Comic Book Men” To Follow

International Premieres of “The Walking Dead” Season 3 Locked for the Week of October 15 Across All FOX International Channels Markets

San Diego, CA – July 13, 2012 – AMC announced today from Comic-Con 2012 in San Diego, CA the premiere of “The Walking Dead” Season 3 on Sunday, October 14 at 9pm ET/PT. As previously announced, the series’ third season will consist of 16 episodes. Season three will also air in two-parts with the first eight hours kicking off October 14 and returning February 2013 with the final eight episodes. Following “The Walking Dead” will be the season premieres of AMC’s unscripted series “Talking Dead,” hosted by Chris Hardwick (Nerdist), at 11pm ET/PT and “Comic Book Men” at 11:30pm ET/PT. Season two of both series consists of 16 half-hour episodes. Internationally, “The Walking Dead’ will return to audiences in 120+ FOX International Channels (FIC) markets the week of October 15, as part of FIC continued commitment to broadcast the series near date-and-date globally.

The season premieres of “The Walking Dead,” “Talking Dead” and “Comic Book Men” will coincide with the network’s annual blockbuster marathon of thriller and horror films, AMC Fearfest. Celebrating its 16th year, AMC Fearfest will feature 19 consecutive days of themed programming and more than 70 films, running from Saturday, October 13 through Wednesday, October 31.

Today at 1:25pm is AMC’s “The Walking Dead” Comic-Con panel event, moderated by Hardwick, and season three trailer premiere in Hall H. Following the event, the trailer can be viewed at www.amctv.com. At AMC’s “The Walking Dead” booth (#3721), fans can stop-by to take photos of themselves within a recreation of the infamous Michonne scene from the season two finale, in which she has two pet zombies on leashes. Also at AMC’s booth, from 10:45 -11:45am, there will be an autograph signing with the cast and producers.

Also at Comic-Con today, AMC presents a “Breaking Bad” panel, moderated by TV Guide Magazine’s Mike Schneider, at 6:45pm in Ballroom 20. Fans can visit Sony’s booth (#4229) on Saturday, July 14 at 10am for an autograph signing with the cast and executive producer, Vince Gilligan. The critically acclaimed series kicks off its final season on Sunday, July 15 at 10pm on AMC.

Tomorrow, Saturday, July 14 at 10pm, Kevin Smith will reveal a new video and discuss the second season of his unscripted AMC series “Comic Book Men,” for which he serves as executive producer, during his annual Comic-Con panel.

ABOUT “THE WALKING DEAD”

Based on the comic book series written by Robert Kirkman and published by Image Comics, “The Walking Dead” tells the story of the months and years that follow after a zombie apocalypse, and follows a group of survivors, led by police officer Rick Grimes (Andrew Lincoln), who travel in search of a safe and secure home. Additional cast includes: Sarah Wayne Callies as Lori Grimes; Laurie Holden as Andrea; Steven Yeun as Glenn; Norman Reedus as Daryl Dixon; Chandler Riggs as Carl; Lauren Cohan as Maggie; Scott Wilson as Hershel; Iron E. Singleton as T-Dog and Melissa McBride as Carol. The series is executive produced by Glen Mazzara, Kirkman, Gale Anne Hurd and David Alpert with Greg Nicotero as co-executive producer.

“The Walking Dead” reigns as the most watched drama series on basic cable for Adults 18-49 and Adults 25-54. Last season, (season two) averaged 6.9 million viewers. The series has garnered an Emmy(R) Award for Outstanding Prosthetic Make-up and a Golden Globe(R) Award nomination for Best Television Series – Drama, among other accolades. Critics have heralded the series as “the most suspenseful show on any network” (Boston Herald) and “the greatest thriller ever produced for television” (Entertainment Weekly).

ABOUT “TALKING DEAD”

“Talking Dead” is AMC’s first live after show that serves as a platform for discussion for “The Walking Dead. Season one averaged 1.3 million viewers. The series’ finale was the most watched episode from the season attracting 4.3 million viewers. The series is executive produced by Michael Davies and co-executive produced by Jen Kelly from Embassy Row. “Talking Dead” features Hardwick spending time with fans, actors, producers and TV enthusiasts, recapping that most recent “Dead” episode, providing sneak-peeks and discussion of upcoming episodes and taking questions and comments from viewers. Fans may continue to engage with the after-show following the on-air conclusion, online, at amctv.com for more conversations, questions and trivia.

ABOUT “COMIC BOOK MEN”

Executive produced by Kevin Smith (Clerks, Chasing Amy), Charlie Corwin’s Original Media (LA Ink, Storm Chasers, Swamp People) and Elyse Seiden (Red State), “Comic Book Men” dives deep into fanboy culture by following the antics in and around master fanboy Smith’s New Jersey comic shop, Jay and Silent Bob’s Secret Stash, where both staff and customers geek out over mind-blowing pop culture artifacts and the legends behind them. Leading the crew behind the Secret Stash counter are moody manager Walt, uber-nerd Mike, career slacker Brian, and Ming, the shop’s go-to “whipping boy.” As the team buys, sells and discovers the treasures of the comic collecting world, they share all the juicy details with Kevin through their outrageous podcast, which is woven throughout the series. Season one attracted 1.5 million viewers.

ABOUT “BREAKING BAD”

The explosive drama series that Variety calls “simply one of TV’s great addictions,” returns to AMC for the first part of its final season on Sunday, July 15 at 10pm ET/PT. The final season of the Emmy(R) Award-winning drama consists of 16 episodes, with the first eight episodes beginning July 15 and culminating with the series’ final eight episodes next summer 2013. Season four’s audience increased over 20% from season three with 1.9 million viewers. Created by acclaimed writer, producer, and director Vince Gilligan and produced by Sony Pictures Television, the critically acclaimed series has garnered six Primetime Emmy(R) Award wins and a Peabody, and been named to the American Film Institute’s (AFI) list of the “Top 10 Programs of the Year” (2008, 2010, 2011). In the highly anticipated new season, a newly empowered and increasingly remorseless Walt White (Bryan Cranston) finds himself attempting to control a tenuous empire. But uneasy lies the head that wears the crown.

About AMC

AMC reigns as the only cable network in history to ever win the Emmy(R) Award for Outstanding Drama Series four years in a row, as well as the Golden Globe(R) Award for Best Television Series – Drama for three consecutive years. Whether commemorating favorite films from every genre and decade or creating acclaimed original programming, the AMC experience is an uncompromising celebration of great stories. AMC’s original stories include “Mad Men,” “Breaking Bad,” “The Walking Dead,” “The Killing” and “Hell on Wheels.” AMC further demonstrates its commitment to the art of storytelling with its slate of unscripted original series, as well as curated movie franchises like AMC’s Can’t Get Enough and AMC’s Crazy About. Available in more than 97 million homes (Source: Nielsen Media Research), AMC is owned and operated by AMC Networks Inc. and its sister networks include IFC, Sundance Channel and WE tv. AMC is available across all platforms, including on-air, online, on demand and mobile. AMC: Story Matters HereSM.

About FOX International Channels

FOX International Channels (FIC) is News Corporation’s international multi-media business. The group develops, produces and distributes 350+ wholly- and majority-owned entertainment, factual, sports and movie channels across Latin America, Europe, Asia and Africa, in 37 languages. These networks and their related mobile, non-linear and high-definition extensions, reach 1.1+ billion viewers worldwide.

What do you think? Will you be tuning in to watch the third season premiere of The Walking Dead on AMC? Do you think that it will continue to be such a hit series?