Global InformationThe CW information
 | It has been suggested that 2023–24 CW affiliation realignment be merged into this article. (Discuss) Proposed since January 2024. |
 | |
| Type | Broadcast television network |
|---|---|
| Country | United States |
| Affiliates |
|
| Headquarters | Burbank, California, U.S. |
| Programming | |
| Language(s) | English |
| Picture format |
|
| Ownership | |
| Owner | Nexstar Media Group (75%) Paramount Global (12.5%) Warner Bros. Discovery (12.5%) |
| Parent | The CW Network, LLC[1][2] |
| Key people |
|
| History | |
| Founded | January 24, 2006 |
| Launched | September 18, 2006 |
| Replaced |
|
| Links | |
| Website | www |
The CW Television Network (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.[3][11] The network's name is derived from the first letters of the names of its two founding co-owners CBS Corporation and Warner Bros., with CBS Corporation being merged with the second iteration of Viacom to form ViacomCBS and Warner Bros. being owned by Time Warner, later AT&T's WarnerMedia. 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 WarnerMedia's respective successors) each retaining a 12.5-percent ownership stake.[3][4][11]
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 and 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.[12][13] As of August 2017, the network's audience was evenly split between men and women.[14]
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 southern 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.
- ^ "CW Network LLC profile". Businessweek. Bloomberg L.P. Archived from the original on October 15, 2012. Retrieved September 27, 2012.
- ^ "CBS Corporation and Warner Bros. Entertainment Form New 5th Broadcast Network" (Press release). The CW Press. January 24, 2006. Archived from the original on October 9, 2014. Retrieved October 6, 2014.
- ^ a b c 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.
- ^ a b 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.
- ^ Lafayette, Jon (October 3, 2022). "Nexstar Names Dennis Miller Head of The CW, Replacing Mark Pedowitz". Next TV. Broadcasting & Cable. Archived from the original on October 3, 2022. Retrieved October 3, 2022.
- ^ White, Peter (November 2, 2022). "The CW Names Brad Schwartz As President, Entertainment". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on November 2, 2022. Retrieved November 3, 2022.
- ^ "The CW Network names Brad Schwartz as president, entertainment". CBS News. November 2, 2022. Archived from the original on November 2, 2022. Retrieved November 2, 2022.
- ^ White, Peter (February 1, 2023). "The CW To Develop "Innovative" Non-Scripted Series That "Catalyze Conversations" As Network Confirms Heather Olander As Unscripted Chief". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on February 1, 2023. Retrieved February 2, 2023.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Ausiello, Michael (February 1, 2023). "The CW Orders 2 New Scripted (!!) Series, Starring Riverdale's Vanessa Morgan and Originals' Daniel Gillies". TVLine. Retrieved October 12, 2023.
- ^ a b "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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Tim Molloy (July 30, 2012). "CW's Plans Include More Men, More Muppets". The Wrap. The Wrap News Inc. Archived from the original on May 13, 2020. Retrieved April 17, 2020.
- ^ 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.
Cite error: There are <ref group=lower-alpha> tags or {{efn}} templates on this page, but the references will not show without a {{reflist|group=lower-alpha}} template or {{notelist}} template (see the help page).