AMC's 'Breaking Bad' renewed for a final 16 episodes

 'Breaking Bad' will conclude its run on AMC after last-minute deal struck.

AMC announced today that “Breaking Bad,” the Emmy Award-winning and critically lauded drama series from Vince Gilligan has been renewed for a 16 episode order that will conclude the series.

Production on all episodes of the final order will commence in early 2012. The roll-out of the episodes and premiere date schedule has yet to be determined by the network. The announcement was made by Charlie Collier, president of AMC.

Negotiations between Gilligan and AMC have been long, testy and public as the two sides worked to find a way to keep the series on the network. Recently, talk had started that the series may move to another network if a deal couldn't be struck before the license deal ended Monday.

“Breaking Bad’s” fourth season premiered on Sunday, July 18, to the highest ratings ever for the series.  Household ratings are 30 percent stronger than season three and season four is delivering 28 percent more total viewers and over 45 percent more adults 18-34 than last season, AMC said in the release announcing the new deal.