The CW: Paramount and Warner Bros. walk into a bar....

[paulvdb]

Mark Pedowitz Exits As Chairman & CEO Of The CW As Nexstar Acquisition Closes

Another sign that the Nexstar takeover means the end of the CW as we knew it.

[Trini]

Where are all the Berlanti shows going to go now?

---

I'm expecting only four of the original scripted shows to get another season after this one -- *at most*. But I wouldn't be surprised if none do, either.

[Avabelle]

Fairwell to Mark who I thought seemed like a really good guy. 

[Trini]

Eh, I think this is mostly a puff piece that doesn't really give much new info, but it works as a snapshot of the state of CW at the moment:

'New CW Entertainment President Brad Schwartz Outlines “Scrappy” Network Approach Under Nexstar'

One of the things that stands out to me is that CW has always been put down as being the 'cheap' network, or having 'cheap' shows (even though a good number of them were very popular and good), but the new execs want to go even cheaper.

I mean, I guess they have to, to try and turn a profit with a network that has historically been unprofitable; but I just don't think going 'bargain basement' is actually going to work out in the long run. Or short run.

Edited November 3, 2022 by Trini

[methodwriter85]

On 11/3/2022 at 6:14 PM, Trini said:

One of the things that stands out to me is that CW has always been put down as being the 'cheap' network, or having 'cheap' shows (even though a good number of them were very popular and good), but the new execs want to go even cheaper.

I can't picture the super hero stuff continuing save for Superman and Lois, because the CW simply doesn't have the budget to do the effects to a high standard, and because Netflix isn't using them as a content farm anymore.

[Trini]

16 hours ago, methodwriter85 said:

I can't picture the super hero stuff continuing save for Superman and Lois, because the CW simply doesn't have the budget to do the effects to a high standard, and because Netflix isn't using them as a content farm anymore.

At this point, I don't think even S&L will survive -- not on CW anyway.

Besides the reasons you stated, there's also this recent statement from Zaslav:

Quote

“The strategy that Igor put together was all Marvels in one place. You don’t wake up and find out that there’s a Batman TV show somewhere and a Batman cartoon somewhere else, they all have to relate to each other,” Zaslav said. “There has to be a look and feel for all of it. And so, I went on a journey a few months ago of, ‘How do I put all of DC in one place?’ ‘Cause I think it’s one of the biggest opportunities at this company.”

https://www.indiewire.com/2022/11/david-zaslav-james-gunn-dc-studios-batman-superman-1234782421/

It makes me think that DC shows on CW are DONE. There probably won't be any more DC shows on network TV in general; which would a shame, IMO. That's where they've had a lot of successes.

[methodwriter85]

3 hours ago, Trini said:

It makes me think that DC shows on CW are DONE. There probably won't be any more DC shows on network TV in general; which would a shame, IMO. That's where they've had a lot of successes.

Yeah I figure we're going to see what happened to Marvel happen to DC. They do have a streamer.

[Trini]

Hmmm -- somewhat concerned that the CW PR website has been down for at least a day.

The info for the CBS studios shows (Walker, Nancy Drew, etc.) are on that website(https://www.paramountpressexpress.com/cbs-studios/shows#all-shows); but I'm not sure where to go for WB and other shows info. Looking around....

[Trini]

Okay, they changed the link and it's back now:

https://www.paramountpressexpress.com/the-cw/

[MagnusHex]

Warner Bros. celebrates 100 years...

But putting Friends and Big Bang Theory in there though... especially alongside titans like Lord of the Rings and Casablanca... Come on. Who edited this? At least they've got Supernatural in there.

Warner Bros. has not aged well though, considering its recent strings of controversies regarding the firing of Snyder and Cavill. Not sure it's a good time for celebration...

[paulvdb]

On 10/3/2022 at 11:24 PM, Trini said:

Where are all the Berlanti shows going to go now?

---

I'm expecting only four of the original scripted shows to get another season after this one -- *at most*. But I wouldn't be surprised if none do, either.

All American just got an early renewal, so at least one show will be back next season. Which is already one more than I had expected when the takeover of the network was announced.

[Trini]

1 hour ago, paulvdb said:

All American just got an early renewal, so at least one show will be back next season. Which is already one more than I had expected when the takeover of the network was announced.

I think Walker is probably safe too. I don't have any guesses after that, though.

[shantown]

In continued baffling choices...

The plan to draw a big new audience is... golf? Even the writer of the headline is confused!

https://tvline.com/2023/01/19/the-cw-liv-golf-rights-2023-league-tv-schedule/

[DanaK]

On 1/19/2023 at 12:05 PM, shantown said:

In continued baffling choices...

The plan to draw a big new audience is... golf? Even the writer of the headline is confused!

https://tvline.com/2023/01/19/the-cw-liv-golf-rights-2023-league-tv-schedule/

And controversial since Saudi Arabia is backing that golf league

[Trini]

On 12/29/2022 at 1:22 PM, Trini said:

Okay, they changed the link and it's back now:

https://www.paramountpressexpress.com/the-cw/

... Aaannd CW's PR website is back to https://www.cwtvpr.com/the-cw/, and now separated from Paramount's corporate umbrella.

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Also: 'The CW Lands ‘FBoy Island’ & Sets Up Date With ‘FGirl Island’ Spinoff'

[Trini]

Paywalled article, but the most important info is that Nexstar will have an upfront event April 25th. Might get any renewal/cancellation news then.

https://www.adweek.com/convergent-tv/nexstar-finally-reveals-upfront-plans-for-the-cw/

The traditional upfronts this year are mid-May; and WB will have an event that week; doubtful anything will directly relate to CW, unless one or two shows are moving to streaming (unlikely).

[Trini]

Update on the upfronts; looks like CW will have a smaller presentation in 'upfronts week' after all: https://www.adweek.com/convergent-tv/the-cw-to-exit-upfront-week-presentations-will-instead-host-press-event/

[Trini]

A couple more foreign imports for summer:

 

Haven't found any news about the event that was supposed to be on April 25th.

But they announced another acquisition today:

 

[DanaK]

The Rising sounds prettying interesting

[Trini]

So they did have the event, but if any other programming decisions were made, they aren't public:

 

[Trini]

https://deadline.com/2023/05/cbs-stations-eight-drop-cw-go-independent-this-fall-1235357388/

Quote

The CW is about to lose eight important affiliates: the CBS owned and operated stations that are currently affiliated with the Nexstar-owned network will become independent in September.

The affected stations are WPSG Philadelphia, WUPA Atlanta, KBCW San Francisco, KSTW Seattle, WTOG Tampa-St. Petersburg, WKBD Detroit, KMAX Sacramento and WPCW Pittsburgh. These markets represent 13.9 percent of U.S. TV households.

This will give the CBS stations group a total of 14 CBS Television Network stations and 13 independent stations. ...

 

[DanaK]

interesting article questioning whether the CW brand exists anymore https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/the-cw-new-strategy-explained-1235486774/

[KWalkerInc]

I read an article where a CW exec promised they would make a decision on their three remaining undecided shows (All American: Homecoming, Gotham Knights and Superman & Lois) "sooner rather than later."  I certainly hope this is true, as I feared they were going to wait until GK and S&L have their finales at the end of June to make up their mind.  I watch Homecoming and don't expect that it's going to come back, but its season ended quite awhile ago and it would be nice to get a decision, good or bad, at some point.

[KWalkerInc]

I'm happy because CW finally made an announcement that All American: Homecoming was renewed (as was Superman & Lois, while Gotham Knights was cancelled).  An article suggested there will be major budget cuts to both renewed shows, so I hope my favorites won't be dropped from AA:HC.  (They already often had a character or two absent each episode, so I hope the budget won't have to be slashed too much.)

[KWalkerInc]

The CW has finally put out its midseason schedule, but there's still no mention of All American or All American: Homecoming.  (I don't think Superman & Lois is on it either.)  Hopefully these shows are being filmed and they will get around to showing them at some point.