AMC Network Announces 2014 Programming Schedule: TURN Premieres April 6, MAD MEN Returns April 13

AMC today announced key 2014 programming dates for new and returning scripted and unscripted series. The network's newest drama, TURN - a spy thriller about the untold story of America's first spy ring during the Revolutionary War - will kick off on Sunday, April 6 at 9 p.m. ET with a 90-minute series premiere. One week later, on Sunday, April 13 at 10 p.m. ET, the highly-anticipated first half of the final season of MAD MEN will launch.

Summer 2014 will heat up with the June premiere of HALT AND CATCH FIRE, which captures the rise of the PC era in the early 1980s, during which an unlikely trio - a visionary, an engineer and a prodigy - take staggering personal and professional risks in the race to build a computer that will change the world. Later in the summer will bring the season four roll-out of the AMC western HELL ON WHEELS, which grew to an average audience of 3.3 million viewers (live plus three days of time shifting) in its move to Saturday nights in 2013. TURN and HALT AND CATCH FIRE are produced by AMC Studios and both series will be distributed internationally through Entertainment One (eOne) Television.

On the unscripted side, GAME OF ARMS, will premiere on Tuesday, February 25 at 10 p.m., followed by May launches of the third season of SMALL TOWN SECURITY and second season of FREAKSHOW. The network also announced the season five pick-up of THE TALKING DEAD.

"We are extremely excited about the 2014 line-up," said Charlie Collier, AMC's President and General Manager. "Both the returning and new series reflect our commitment to serving passionate audiences with compelling, character-driven story-telling."

The year will wrap up with the season five premiere of television's highest rated series, THE WALKING DEAD, in October and the highly anticipated debut of the BREAKING BAD prequel, BETTER CALL SAUL, in November. From AMC and Sony Pictures, BETTER CALL SAUL focuses on the evolution of the popular Saul Goodman character before he became Walter White's lawyer. Premiere dates for HALT AND CATCH FIRE, season four of HELL ON WHEELS, season five of THE WALKING DEAD, and BETTER CALL SAUL will be announced at a later date.

As previously announced, in the coming weeks AMC's 2014 programming schedule will begin with the return of the second half of season four of THE WALKING DEAD on Sunday, February 9 at 9 p.m. The mid-season premiere will be followed by the live aftershow THE TALKING DEAD, hosted by Chris Hardwick, and a repeat of THE WALKING DEAD at 11 p.m. At midnight, the unscripted series COMIC BOOK MEN, which has been delivering one million viewers at midnight consistently, returns for the second half of its third season.