The Walking Dead spin-off series, Fear the Walking Dead, has had the biggest premiere in US cable TV history.

AMC’s 90-minute series opener of Fear the Walking Dead delivered a record-breaking 10.1 million viewers, the network said.

Set in Los Angeles, the prequel focuses on a group of characters in the early days of the zombie apocalypse.

Fear the Walking Dead Season 1 will run for six episodes and will return for a second season of 15 episodes in 2016.

Sunday’s opening episode beat The Walking Dead‘s premiere viewing figures of 5.35 million in 2010.

The first episode of Fear the Walking Dead delivered 6.3 million adults in the 18-to-49 demographic which is favored by advertisers. The previous record in the same demographic was AMC’s Breaking Bad spin-off Better Call Saul – 4.4 million – earlier this year.

The Walking Dead has been a huge hit for AMC. Season 6 is due to begin in October.