The CW is reportedly looking to drop the number of scripted shows they have on the network from 11 to less than 5 for next season. 2022 was a rough year, if not the roughest one, for viewers of The CW. As WarnerMedia and Paramount sold 75% of the network to Nexstar, it was the first step in a major status quo change. While The CW has been known to give out multiple renewals in the past, 2022 saw the biggest amount of cancellations ever. Several popular shows got axed by the network, and things are still looking bleak for The CW with the new regime looking into new strategies.
As the 2022-2023 TV season is getting into the second half, The CW might be looking at more cutdowns. According to The Hollywood Reporter, when discussing Arrowverse creator Greg Berlanti's new WBTV deal, The CW's 2023-2024 slate may look slimmer. Per their sources, The CW is expected to pick up "fewer than five U.S. scripted originals." This is due to Nexstar's focus on wanting to "shift its business model to profitability" compared to the old regime. The current shows on the network right now include the Walker and All-American franchises, Nancy Drew, The Winchesters, Kung Fu, Riverdale, and more. At the time of the story's publication, The CW and Nexstar have not commented on this report.
What This Means For The Arrowverse
One of The CW's biggest flagship franchises is the Arrowverse, which has been carrying the network since 2012. The Berlanti-produced franchise took a lot of hits in 2022 with both Batwoman, Stargirl, and Legends of Tomorrow getting axed last year. The Flash season 9 is the last Earth-Prime-related show in the Arrowverse and will end sometime this year. Superman & Lois, which takes place on an alternative Earth, has season 3 coming, but it's unclear if season 4 will happen. Gotham Knights, while produced by Berlanti, has no ties to either show or any other Arrowverse series. With The CW looking to have fewer than 5 original shows, the Arrowverse could be the franchise to be affected the most.
Brad Schwartz, the new entertainment president for The CW, had bleak updates about the state of DC TV on the network under the new regime when asked in November 2022. The CW is also pivoting away from ordering shows from Paramount and WarnerMedia, in favor of their own original content for the next season. CFO Lee Ann Gliha has stated that there will be "minimal" carryover programming under the new regime. CEO Perry Sook has also claimed that The CW might keep "a couple of shows that distinguish themselves." The network is also looking to spend no more than $1 million dollars on episode licensing fees, which complicates things for content creation. With Arrowverse shows having high-cost demands, that doesn't bode well for something like Superman & Lois, as it's one of the most expensive series for The CW.
What Shows Will Possibly Be Renewed
As far as the 2023-2024 season goes, only All-American has been renewed. The CW. However, recent reports about The CW's midseason status have shown that Walker are still performing well for the network. The Winchesters, All-American: Homecoming, and Walker: Independence, have also remained in the top 5 rankings for The CW in their performances. However, it will also depend entirely on how the pilot season goes for The CW, as 2023 has just begun. Time will tell what happens to various shows on The CW, but based on current reports, more bad news may be coming for various series.
Source: THR