The CW

The CW Network, LLC
Logo used since January 14, 2024
TypeBroadcast television network
CountryUnited States
Affiliates
  • State
  • Market
HeadquartersBurbank, California, U.S.
Programming
Language(s)English
Picture format
  • 1080i (HDTV)
  • Downscaled to 720p or 480i or upscaled to 1080p via ATSC 3.0 in some markets
Ownership
OwnerNexstar Media Group (75%)
Paramount Skydance Corporation (12.5%)
Warner Bros. Discovery (12.5%)
Key people
  • Brad Schwartz (president)[1]
  • Heather Olander (Head, Scripted & Unscripted Programming)[2]
  • Michael Perman (Head, CW Sports)[3]
History
FoundedJanuary 24, 2006 (2006-01-24)
LaunchedSeptember 18, 2006 (2006-09-18)
Replaced
Links
Websitewww.cwtv.com
Availability
Streaming media
Service(s)DirecTV Stream, Hulu + Live TV, YouTube TV

The CW Network, LLC[4][5] (commonly referred to as the CW or simply CW) is an American commercial broadcast television network which is controlled by Nexstar Media Group through a 75% 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 acquired a 75% controlling stake in the network on October 3, 2022, with Paramount Skydance Corporation and Warner Bros. Discovery (CBS Corporation and Warner Bros.'s respective successor companies) each retaining a 12.5% ownership stake.[6][7][8]

The CW debuted on September 18, 2006 as the successor to UPN and the WB, which had both shut down that month. Its 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.[9] As of August 2017, the network's audience was evenly split between men and women.[10]

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’s 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 de jure flagship[b] 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.

In Central America, Venezuela, Colombia, Peru, Ecuador and the Caribbean, many subscription providers carry either select U.S.-based CW-affiliated stations or the main network feed from the CW O&Os WPIX in New York City, WDCW in Washington, D.C., WPHL-TV in Philadelphia, KTLA in Los Angeles, KRON-TV in San Francisco, KIAH in Houston, KDAF in Dallas, KPLR-TV in St. Louis, KWGN-TV in Denver, WBNX-TV in Cleveland or WGN-TV in Chicago.

  1. ^ Maas, Jennifer (October 16, 2024). "CW Network President Dennis Miller to Exit, Brad Schwartz to Assume Top Role". Variety.
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference Olander1 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference Perman was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ "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.
  5. ^ "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.
  6. ^ 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.
  7. ^ 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.
  8. ^ "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.
  9. ^ 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.
  10. ^ 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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