The CW has followed co-owner CBS in essentially closing its 2016 TV upfronts book of business today.
The youngest-skewing broadcast network is celebrating a double-digit percentage volume increase this afternoon, according to a person with knowledge of the negotiations. CPMs — or cost-per-thousand impressions — are up “low double-digits,” TheWrap was told.
Like CBS before it — and almost surely every other network, too — the CW closed more deals on a C7 basis this time around. “C7” refers to the average commercial minute for a program, inclusive of one-week’s worth of delayed viewing.
Additionally, the Mark Pedowitz-led broadcaster is currently in the process of signing what our source called “premium” clients for CW Good — the company’s philanthropic digital vertical.
In terms of speed and timing, this “strong sellout” — again, our source’s phrase — is right on target with last year’s closing date.
Good news, bad news, "Supergirl": You have a new home on the lesser-viewed CW, but at least you get to stay on Monday nights! (And on TV.)
There's just one problem, however -- CBS still needs to program that hour, and as such, the Melissa Benoist vehicle must now start against TV's top comedy, the powerhouse "Big Bang Theory."
"Rosewood" Sans "Empire" vs. "Thursday Night Football":
"Rosewood" has proven to be a much-weaker performer without "Empire" behind it, so a move to Thursday and a "Bones" pairing could be quite problematic.
Plus, the Morris Chestnut procedural will also now have to contend with some "Thursday Night Football," which will be split between CBS and NBC. Good luck with that, Dr. Rosewood.
"Crazy Ex-Girlfriend" vs. The reality of Friday viewing:
"Crazy Ex-Girlfriend" performed pretty terribly in Nielsen TV ratings for its first year, which explains why the CW banished it to Fridays. The only problem is, that lowly viewed evening is likely to tank demo and overall eyeball numbers even further.
There's only so much the critics can do to keep a darling on the airwaves.
More bad news for the CW. New drama "Frequency" has been slotted for Wednesday nights at 9 p.m. Sound familiar, drama fans? That's because broadcast's top show in the 18-49 demographic, "Empire," owns that spot.
"Empire" skews young, which is exactly the type of viewers courted by the CW. Good luck to you, "Frequency" -- hope you like delayed viewing!
Neither "Conviction" nor "Timeless" feel like they have heads of steam following their trailers being unveiled at their networks' respective upfront presentations.
"Scorpion," however, is a proven commodity. With Fox and CW not scheduling national programming at 10 p.m., it'll be the battle of those dramas -- one that "Scorpion," even in a new time slot, should have no problem winning.
"Son of Zorn" is actually programmed in the right slot -- Sunday nights on Fox between "The Simpsons" and "Family Guy." Unfortunately, it -- like every other show that evening -- must contend with TV's top broadcast, "Sunday Night Football."
At least young males -- "Zorn's" target" -- don't like football. Oh, wait ...
CBS
