The CW

This article is about the television network. For other uses, see CW (disambiguation).

The CW Network, LLC
Logo used since January 14, 2024
TypeBroadcast television network
CountryUnited States
Affiliates
HeadquartersBurbank, California, U.S.
Programming
Language(s)English
Picture format
Ownership
OwnerNexstar Media Group (75%)
Paramount Global (12.5%)
Warner Bros. Discovery (12.5%)
Key people
  • Brad Schwartz (President)[1]
  • Heather Olander (Head, Unscripted Programming)[2]
History
FoundedJanuary 24, 2006; 18 years ago (2006-01-24)
LaunchedSeptember 18, 2006; 18 years ago (2006-09-18)
Replaced
Links
Websitewww.cwtv.com

The CW Network, LLC[3][4] (commonly referred to as The CW or simply CW) is an American commercial broadcast television network that is controlled by Nexstar Media Group through a 75-percent ownership interest. The network's name is derived from the first letters of the names of its two founding co-owners CBS Corporation and Warner Bros. Nexstar closed its acquisition of a controlling interest in the network on October 3, 2022, with Paramount Global and Warner Bros. Discovery (CBS Corporation and Warner Bros.' respective successors) each retaining a 12.5-percent ownership stake.[5][6][7]

The CW debuted on September 18, 2006, as the successor to UPN and the WB, which had respectively shut down on September 15 and 17 of that year. The CW's first two nights of programming – on September 18, 2006, and September 19, 2006 – consisted of reruns and launch-related specials. The CW marked its formal launch date on September 20, 2006, with the two-hour premiere of the seventh cycle of America's Next Top Model. The network's programming lineup is intended to appeal mainly to viewers between the ages of 18 and 34, although from 2008 to 2011, the network shifted its programming to appeal to women in that demographic.[8] As of August 2017, the network's audience was evenly split between men and women.[9]

The CW runs programming seven days a week: airing nightly in prime time, along with a Saturday morning live-action educational programming block produced by Hearst Media Production Group called One Magnificent Morning.

The CW is also available in Canada on pay television providers through stations owned-and-operated by Nexstar and on affiliates owned by others that are located within proximity to the Canada–United States border (whose broadcasts of CW shows are subject to simultaneous substitution laws imposed by the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission, if a Canadian network holds the broadcast rights); it is also available through two Nexstar-controlled stations that are classified in the United States as superstations – New York City-based de facto flagship[a] WPIX and Los Angeles-based secondary flagship KTLA.

Additionally, the network is available in northern Mexico through affiliates located near the Mexico–U.S. border (such as KFMB-DT2—San Diego/Tijuana, KECY-DT3 in El Centro, California, KVIA-DT2 in El Paso, and KCWT-CD with simulcast network KMBH-LD2 in McAllen/Brownsville, Texas) on pay television providers. In both Canada and Mexico, some free-to-air CW affiliate signals originating from the U.S. are receivable over-the-air in border areas depending on the station's signal coverage.

  1. ^ Maas, Jennifer (October 16, 2024). "CW Network President Dennis Miller to Exit, Brad Schwartz to Assume Top Role". Variety.
  2. ^ Oganesyan, Natalie (February 1, 2023). "The CW Names Heather Olander as Head of Unscripted". TheWrap. Archived from the original on February 1, 2023. Retrieved February 2, 2023.
  3. ^ "The CW Network and Sinclair Expand and Extend Affiliation Partnership". Sinclair, Inc. August 31, 2023. The CW Network, LLC is one of America's major broadcast networks and reaches 100% of US television households.
  4. ^ "THE CW NETWORK TO BECOME THE EXCLUSIVE BROADCAST HOME TO WWE NXT". corporate.wwe.com. The CW Network, LLC is one of America's major broadcast networks and reaches 100% of US television households.
  5. ^ Hayes, Dade (October 3, 2022). "New Day Dawns For Broadcast TV As Nexstar Closes Deal For Control Of The CW". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on October 14, 2022. Retrieved October 3, 2022.
  6. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (October 3, 2022). "Mark Pedowitz Exits As Chairman & CEO Of The CW As Nexstar Acquisition Closes". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on October 15, 2022. Retrieved October 3, 2022.
  7. ^ "Nexstar Media Closes Acquisition of The CW Network". Business Wire. October 3, 2022. Archived from the original on October 5, 2022. Retrieved October 5, 2022.
  8. ^ Paul J. Gough; James Hibberd (May 13, 2008). ""90210" Upfront and Center for CW". The Hollywood Reporter. Nielsen Company. Archived from the original on July 17, 2019. Retrieved April 17, 2020.
  9. ^ Holloway, Daniel (August 2, 2017). "CW Chief Looks to Lure Women Viewers Back With 'Dynasty,' 'Riverdale'". Variety. Archived from the original on June 21, 2019. Retrieved October 19, 2017.


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