Nexstar’s ‘Ambitious’ Overhaul of The CW: Fewer Genre Series, More Low-Cost Reality

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The largest owner of national TV stations will likely prioritize content that will lead in to its local news programming

nexstar cw future owner
Nexstar now owns the majority share in The CW and that means new programming. (Getty Images)

It’s the end of The CW as we know it: As the local-TV station giant Nexstar closed its deal to acquire a majority 75% stake in the network, a new indication of its plans arrived with the news of longtime CW president Mark Pedowitz’s exit. Nexstar will seek to “completely reimagine” the network as it embarks on an entirely different creative direction, industry insiders and analysts told TheWrap.

Incoming president Dennis Miller will likely prioritize content that feeds more naturally into the company’s local news programming. Miller, who has held senior executive positions at Sony Pictures Entertainment, Lionsgate Television and Turner Network Television and recently led the production company that produces reality hits like “American Idol” and “90-Day Fiancé,” is expected to build a new primetime slate that could see a mix of unscripted series, syndicated acquisitions and cheaper foreign imports, akin to The CW’s current Friday and weekend lineup.

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