The CW, home of “The Flash” and “Arrow,” has a diabolical plan to keep viewers tuned in: Fewer repeats.
That may not sound earth-shaking, but it’s a bold move for the youngest-skewing broadcast newtork. A joint venture between CBS and Warner Bros., CW didn’t cancel any of its freshman series this season. And it’s about to pick up new series for its fall slate, which bosses will pitch to media buyers next Thursday at its upfront event in New York.
The CW doesn’t have a lot of real estate. The channel has no national lineup on weekends, and its weeknight primetime is just two hours long. CBS, NBC and ABC all go three hours on weeknights and four on Sundays. Fox does two hours weeknights and three hours of national programming on Sundays, while CW takes Sundays off.
The network could expand into weekends or lengthen weeknight prime. But there are problems.
Either move would be a complicated and ambitious maneuver. First, affiliate groups would need to be involved in discussions; at the moment, the local stations all individually program the weekends. Mark Pedowitz (pictured above) cannot unilaterally dictate; agreements would need to be renegotiated.
Cutting into local news would be problematic, because that’s generally the bread-and-butter for affiliates. Pedowitz and Co. would need to convince them that revenue potential for CW programming would be higher. Not a problem if we talk about the high-rated “Flash,” but somewhat dicier for a ratings-challenged series like “Crazy Ex-Girlfriend.”
Pedowitz would need assent from about 70 percent or 80 percent of the markets nationally for the move to make sense.
So instead, to pack in all this programming, the CW will use more year-round hours on originals, TheWrap has learned, and not every series picked up will go the traditional 22-episodes length. That means fewer summer reruns, which should increase the network’s circulation over the next few months.
Then again, the CW is still evolving, and one day we may be reporting Sunday night scheduling and ratings.
For now, we’ve got 2 hours per night, 5 nights a week, a potential 52 weeks per year — that’s 520 possible hours, plenty of time for a few more DC Comics series.
The CW’s upfront event is set for Thursday morning, May 19 at New York City Center.
31 Shows at Risk of Cancellation - and Their Survival Chances (Photos)
Will your favorite show be canceled or renewed for next season? TheWrap looked at several factors to see if several low-rated shows -- from "American Crime" to "Sleepy Hollow" to "Criminal Minds" to "Undateable" to "Nashville" -- will be back this fall.
"American Crime" (ABC)
"American Crime" gets great reviews, and brings prestige to ABC's lineup. It looks likely to survive.
"Castle" (ABC)
"Castle" has had a long run, it's expensive to produce, and it's already syndicated, which means lots of money long-term. ABC has to calculate: What does it have to gain by keeping the show on the air? The news that Stana Katic is exiting the show could, counter-intuitively, be a good sign: It would be less expensive to produce, in theory.
"The Muppets" (ABC)
It's ratings won't blow anyone's mind, but coupled with delayed viewings, the show hits the "good enough" level for a sitcom. And ABC took a big swing with this "Muppets" update, and won't want to give up easily. So it will probably be back.
"The Catch" (ABC)
"The Catch" gets weak ratings, but it's good reviews were probably enough to buy it a little more time on ABC, the lowest-rated broadcast network. This one just recently started and doesn't have a place in the fall lineup, so the network has time to decide how badly it wants to keep executive producer Shonda Rhimes happy. She's done a lot for the network.
Nashville (ABC)
This is probably the end of the road for "Nashville," though people have thought that many times before. Hayden Panettiere just returned from some personal time off, but she may get more soon.
Dr. Ken (ABC)
Its ratings are probably just barely good enough to keep it alive. It's a Friday series, and nothing does very well on Friday.
"Last Man Standing" (ABC)
It does a little better than "Dr. Ken," so we like its odds. Tim Allen may keep his ABC time slot.
"The Real O'Neals" (ABC)
Its ratings are just good enough. And it likely benefits from the same question as other ABC sitcoms: Does the network have anything better with which to replace them?
ABC has probably already milked this "Captain America" spinoff for all it's worth. The Hayley Atwell vehicle hasn't made enough of a mark.
"Galavant" (ABC)
This was a favorite of former ABC entertainment chief Paul Lee, who is no longer around to revive it yet again. It's gone.
"The Family" (ABC)
This look at a child's apparent return from the dead probably hasn't made enough of an impact to save it from its own death. While the ratings aren't impressive, the slow-burner has gained some momentum lately.
"Criminal Minds" (CBS)
It easily has strong enough ratings to come back. CBS knows procedurals, and it knows this one works.
"Criminal Minds: Beyond Borders" (CBS)
The "Criminal Minds" spinoff "Beyond Borders" doesn't do nearly the same numbers "Criminal Minds" does, but it recently hit its best post-debut numbers. That will help its renewal chances -- plus, crossovers!
"The Odd Couple" (CBS)
Its ratings are definitely unimpressive for a CBS comedy, but the spring series doesn't really need a decision right this minute. For now, we'll err on the side of the show slowly dropping until cancellation eventually becomes a mercy killing. Or maybe we'll let Matthew Perry and Thomas Lennon throw egg on our face next year.
"Life in Pieces" (CBS)
It's ratings are strong enough to make it likely to return. CBS seems to like the Colin Hanks-starrer paired with big hit "The Big Bang Theory."
"Limitless" (CBS)
The ratings are decent, and would CBS really cut off its Bradley Cooper connection? We think this one is safe. See the next slide for some more evidence.
"Supergirl" (CBS)
"Supergirl" isn't a sure thing. But many critics support it, and its overall ratings would be solid by most networks' standards. (CBS likes hits, and isn't shy about it.) Super synergy should help. "Supergirl" has already crossed over with CW's "The Flash." And though it exists in a separate universe from the films, it could get a bump from DC movie releases including "Batman v Superman" and "Suicide Squad." We're guessing CBS gives it another shot, and network President Les Moonves already suggested it will be among freshman series renewals.
"CSI: Cyber" (CBS)
Neither ratings nor reviews are very good for the latest "CSI" spinoff. Unplug.
"Rush Hour" (CBS)
"Rush Hour" should have stayed on the big screen. This adaptation gets terrible ratings, so we don't even expect it'll finish its initial run.
"The Grinder" (Fox)
The ratings are not good. But Fox's top executives seem to like the Rob Lowe/Fred Savage sitcom, so that's something. A coin flip, probably.
"Sleepy Hollow" (Fox)
There was a lot of hate for the Season 3 finale, in which someone we liked apparently died. The show will likely die with this character. (We're avoiding gender pronouns in case you haven't seen it.)
"Grandfathered" (Fox)
You can blame corporate America if the show doesn't return. ABC Studios owns the show, not 20th Century Fox, and Fox likes to keep things in the (corporate) family these days. Speaking of family, John Stamos might be willing to go quietly back to his -- or at least the one he has on Netflix. More "Fuller House" is coming.
"Bordertown" (Fox)
The ratings are nowhere near where they need to be. And let's be honest, do you know any adult who's seen this show? Courting the teens is great, but they don't have the money that advertisers want to see.
"Second Chance" (Fox)
The ratings aren't good enough for "Second Chance" to get one. (Sorry, that was hacky and we apologize.) It also doesn't help awareness with the number of name changes this flop has gone through.
"The Carmichael Show" (NBC)
Jerrod Carmichael's show gets passable ratings, and, more importantly, gets people talking -- like it did with its exploration of the Bill Cosby allegations earlier this year. This one's coming back.
"Undateable" (NBC)
Live or pre-taped, the Chris D'Elia comedy just isn't working out, ratings-wise. Since NBC seems to have little interest in comedy lately, this looks like a break-up.
"Crowded" (NBC)
Carrie Preston will always have a place in our hearts for her wonderful work on "The Good Wife," but "Crowded" just isn't pulling ratings -- even behind "Little Big Shots" on Sundays. Too early to say for sure, but it doesn't feel like it needs to -- or will -- come back in 2017.
"Mysteries of Laura" (NBC)
The Debra Messing series will probably be saved based on its overall viewership. Those who age out of the 18-49 demographic may not be an advertiser's first choice, but they have money -- just ask CBS.
"Heartbeat" (NBC)
The show underwent a name change and seasonal change before it even premiered, and has had little pulse, ratings-wise. We're calling it.
"Telenovela" (NBC)
Eva Longoria's "Telenovela" has a chance to come back, but not a great one. Its lead-in, "Superstore," was rewarded with a second season a while back, but there's a big ratings gap between the two.
"You, Me and the Apocalypse" (NBC)
Great cast, terrible ratings, the end is nigh.
Wow, you're a diehard for cancellations news to have made it this far! Thank you. For a deeper dive into the fate of broadcast's bubble shows, click here.
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Will your favorite show survive to next season? We’ll give it to you straight
Will your favorite show be canceled or renewed for next season? TheWrap looked at several factors to see if several low-rated shows -- from "American Crime" to "Sleepy Hollow" to "Criminal Minds" to "Undateable" to "Nashville" -- will be back this fall.
