The CW
Superhero Shows “Had Their Time” as New CW Leaders Outline Plans to Make Network “Bigger and Profitable”
The new CW regime outlined their pitch to reinvent the network beyond its former roster of DC Comics-inspired superhero shows in an effort to make the now Nexstar-controlled broadcaster profitable by 2025. Former Pop TV president Brad Schwartz, now entertainment president at The CW, and network president Dennis Miller (no, not that one) talked press […]
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The CW Outlines New Approach to Scripted Development: “It’s a Mix of Everything”
As The CW cut away most of its scripted series over the past two seasons, then built up its 2023-24 schedule with a number of series that originated elsewhere, a narrative took hold: The network, under new owners Nexstar, was looking for inexpensive programming to fill its lineup and abandoning homegrown original series to chase […]
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The CW Nabs Big-Budget Euro Series ‘The Swarm’ for U.S.
The Swarm, the big-budget series based on the Frank Schätzing best-seller and executive produced by Game of Thrones producer Frank Doelger, has landed with The CW in the U.S.. The deal sees the Beta Film and ZDF Studios thriller headed to American audiences after debuting at the Berlin Film Festival and recently being acquired by […]
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The CW Sets Acquisition-Heavy 2023-24 Schedule
The CW has released its schedule for 2023-24 — its first since local TV giant Nexstar took controlling ownership of the network — and as expected, it’s light on homegrown shows and features a number of series that began their lives elsewhere. All American will lead off the week (pending resolution of the writers strike) in its […]
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What Is The CW’s Brand? Because It’s Not Homegrown Originals Anymore
In 2000, when UPN landed The Hughleys from ABC as well as Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Roswell from The WB Network, industry insiders dubbed it the “Used Parts Network.” Flash forward two decades and The CW’s roster of homegrown scripted originals has tumbled from 18 in the 2021-22 broadcast season to only two shows, […]
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The CW Grabs ’61st Street’ Drama After AMC Cancellation
The CW’s latest acquisition comes from an unlikely place: AMC. The broadcast network has picked up both seasons of the drama series 61st Street from AMC. The legal thriller stars Courtney B. Vance as an attorney defending a high school athlete (Tosin Cole) who get swept up in Chicago’s corrupt criminal justice system. AMC picked […]
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‘Kung Fu,’ ‘The Winchesters’ Canceled at The CW
The CW has canceled two more series as network owner Nextstar continues to whittle down its roster of scripted shows. Kung Fu and Supernatural prequel The Winchesters — both produced by Warner Bros. TV, one of The CW’s former owners — won’t return to the network in 2023-24. Kung Fu ran for three seasons, while The […]
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‘Walker: Independence’ Canceled at The CW
Walker: Independence is no more. The CW has opted to cancel the prequel to the network’s Walker reboot after a single season. The series starring Katherine McNamara was the last of The CW’s bubble shows from CBS Studios. The news comes mere minutes after the Jared Padalecki-led Walker was renewed for an abbreviated 13-episode fourth […]
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‘Walker’ Renewed for Abbreviated Fourth Season at The CW
With new owners Nexstar set to unveil The CW’s strategy for the 2023-24 broadcast season next week, the network has added another U.S. scripted original to those plans. The CW on Tuesday announced that it has renewed Jared Padalecki drama Walker for a fourth season consisting of only 13 episodes, its lowest order to date. […]
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The CW Loses $83M in First Quarter, But Powers Nexstar to Record Revenue
The CW is still losing money, but it appears to be moving in the right direction. The broadcast network lost $83 million in the first quarter of 2023, an improvement from Q4 when it lost $94 million. While The CW remains a work in progress, it is now firmly contributing to parent company Nexstar’s bottom […]
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CBS-Owned CW Stations Will Go Independent Later This Year
Changes are coming to eight CW stations that are owned by CBS. Employees at the stations were told this morning that, beginning in September, the stations will drop their affiliation with The CW and go independent. When the change goes into effect, Paramount will own 14 CBS-branded stations and 13 independent stations. According to Wendy […]
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‘FBoy Island’ Lands at The CW After Max Cancellation
FBoy Island is moving locations. The reality dating competition series has been picked up for a third season by The CW after its cancellation at Max with returning host Nikki Glaser. The franchise also announces the new spinoff series FGirl Island, also hosted by Glaser — a seed that had been planted by creator Elan […]
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