The End Is Coming for The CW

When it was announced not quite a year ago that The CW was being bought out – well at least 75% of the network, that is – by the folks at Nexstar Media Group, the media company that is the largest TV station owner in the United States, it was clear that things were going to change at the network.

This isn’t the first time The CW has gone through significant changes. Back in 2006, The WB and UPN (United Paramount Network) merged to create The CW. At that point in time, shows from both networks were brought together to fill the weekly programming line-up.

However, with this latest change of ownership, the weekly programming line-up is basically being decimated by Nexstar. Nearly all of the shows on The CW have been cancelled with only a few remaining on the schedule.

One particular drama – Superman & Lois – recently announced that it would be back for another season; however, nearly 75% of its cast have been let go. This lone remaining DC series will now only feature the core family members – Clark Kent, Lois Lane and their twin teenaged sons – along with new series regular Michael Cudlitz, who will be stepping into the shoes of the one and only Lex Luthor starting this week.

If you look at the proposed 2023-2024 fall TV schedule for The CW, it’s very light on original programming with a smattering of shows taken from other regions or other networks and relying on reality and sports to fill in the gaps. This is all part of Nexstar’s initiative to make The CW profitable by the year 2025, but let’s be clear about something: The CW was never profitable no matter who held ownership and it was never designed to be profitable. When you’ve got big budget shows that require a LOT of CGI and costumes and the salaries for its cast members, the network isn’t actually going to make money hand over fist. It’s just not possible. This is the business of entertainment, after all. Viewers want to be entertained, but the bottom line remains: the networks WANT to make money.

Photo Credit: Getty Images

In my opinion, it’s a sad time to be a fan (former or otherwise) of The CW because the once DC-heavy network is a sad imitation of what it once was. There was a time when Arrow, The Flash, Supergirl and even DC’s Legends of Tomorrow (just to name a few from that franchise) were all strong shows for the network. There was a time when Gilmore Girls was all the rage or Supernatural was scaring us to death. But now, with this latest ownership change, The CW isn’t going to be The CW anymore. The network that was always looked down upon by its bigger and older siblings – that would be ABC, CBS, NBC and FOX, by the way – is going to continue to be the bastard child that no one really wants to talk about let alone really watch on a daily or weekly basis.

The days of wanting to watch shows on The CW have come and gone. The end is near for the network despite any efforts on the part of Nexstar, and I, for one, am sad to see this happen.

What are your thoughts on the latest changes at The CW? Please share your thoughts with us in the comments section below.