The CW's 'The Vampire Diaries," one of the first shows to shoot in metro Atlanta in 2009 after tax breaks were amped up, has been renewed for a fifth season.

Ratings have slipped off a bit this season but it continues to be one of the stronger performers on a network which has become increasingly niche in recent years, targeting primarily 18 to 34 females.

For the week of January 21, the drama - which shoots frequently in Covington - drew a 1.3 rating 18-49 but saw a 54% increase in that rating when DVR usage through seven days is included. That was the 13th biggest increase of the week from a percentage basis. On Feb. 7, the show drew 2.5 million viewers, a number that will increase to about 3.5 million after DVR usage is included.

The network also renewed "Supernatural" and "Arrow."

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In other Atlanta-related sci-fi TV news, AMC's "The Walking Dead" drew 12.3 million viewers last night, the most in the series three-year history, eclipsing the 10.9 million who viewed the drama's third-season debut.

The horror drama is now drawing more overall viewers than most broadcast network shows, including 'Grey's Anatomy," "The Following," "Bones" and "The Bachelor." Its 18-49 rating places it in competition with "The Big Bang Theory," "Modern Family" and "American Idol."

It is now the most popular basic cable non-sports TV program ever.

And that 12.3 million does not include repeat airings or DVR usage.