Why Only Four Shows Were Retained at The CW, Explains Exec

Following a series of cancellations at the network, a senior The CW executive explains the reason behind the renewal of only four shows.

The CW, formerly a joint venture of CBS Corporation and Warner Bros./WarnerMedia, was taken over by Nexstar in late 2022, with Paramount Global and Warner Bros. Discovery retaining minor stakes of 12.5 percent each.

This takeover resulted in significant reductions at the network, leading to the discontinuation of several shows, such as Batwoman, Charmed, Dynasty, Legacies and The Winchesters.

In light of the recent announcements regarding the status of some shows, TheWrap interviewed Brad Schwartz, the President of Entertainment at the CW, in hope of understanding the rationale behind the cancellation of certain shows.

Why Only Four Shows Were Retained at The CW, Explains Exec — Brad Schwartz | Source: imdb

The network executive clarified why only four shows have secured renewals and planned series finales, attributing their success to their streaming performance and their co-production arrangements with other studios that made them cost-effective. Here is what Schwartz said:

‘Homecoming’ and ‘All American’ specifically are a large percentage of our streaming. Those shows are monsters. It was very easy to focus on those four as our biggest shows and best performers. And then it was also easier to have conversations with CBS and Warner about ‘How can we make these shows work for everybody?’ because there was a successful track record. CBS and Warner Bros. know what they make on them internationally, know what they make from their Netflix and HBO sales. We know how they do for us. They can project what a library of 60 or 70 episodes is going to make for them forever. You can put all the math together and be like, ‘Is there a path for us as partners?’ For those four shows? We made it happen.

As of now, the only four shows which have escaped such reductions at The CW are Superman & Lois, All-American, its spinoff All-American: Homecoming and the Walker reboot starring Jared Padalecki.

Superman and Lois is the last DC TV show to survive after the Arrowverse’s end. All-American is a sports drama that has been renewed for season 6, while its spin-off has been renewed for a third season. The Walker reboot has been renewed for season 4. Some of the main reasons of these renewals have been extensive cast reductions and lesser number of episodes.

The ongoing Writer’s Guild of America strike for better pay and working hours could pose another big challenge for The CW’s remaining titles. The CW did proceed with planning its 2023-24 broadcast season, but another obstacle facing this plan is the potential SAG-AFTRA strike in the pipeline.

If the acting guild starts protesting after the July 12 negotiation deadline, the four surviving shows may face more difficulties in seeing light.

While a delayed and longer production cycle and subsequent delay in release could be a huge disadvantage for The CW’s remaining shows, it could also be a blessing in disguise for the future of the shows.

Given that Superman & Lois season 3 ended on a major cliffhanger, the battle between Clark and Doomsday, that finale alone is one that viewers are likely to be eager to see, not to mention the continuations of All-American, All-American: Homecoming and Walker.