ViacomCBS and WarnerMedia looking to sell The CW

[Jello Biafra]

In a memo to staff Thursday, CW chief Mark Pedowitz confirmed that the network is on the block, adding that it is "too early to speculate what might happen."

The Wall Street Journal, which first reported the news, says that local TV giant Nexstar is among the potential suitors. Nexstar, which owns 199 local TV stations as well as the cable channel NewsNation and The Hill, is one of the largest owners of The CW stations. It isn’t immediately clear whether ViacomCBS and WarnerMedia plan to sell the entire network, or retain minority stakes.

News of the possible sale arrives as the network — a joint venture between CBS and WarnerMedia — has never been profitable since its formation in 2006 when the two companies merged the former UPN and The WB Network. Much of the revenue that is generated from the younger-skewing network is generated from international and streaming sales for such scripted originals as The Flash and Dynasty.

The CW previously had a long-standing output deal with Netflix that helped series like Riverdale and All American reach broader audiences and, ultimately, grow on linear. That pact ended in 2019 as Warner Bros. TV and CBS Studios shifted library deals to their respective streamers, HBO Max and Paramount+. Also impacting the profit margins on originals is the fact that foreign sales have almost entirely ended as CBS Studios and Warners look to retain those rights for their respective streamers.

The end of the Netflix output deal and loss of revenue from foreign sales created a larger concern for the studios that previously generated revenue not from linear, but from Netflix and international sales.

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[Gizmo_Duck]

Thats crazy I always thought those shows got a huge ratings especially the DC shows.

 

[SchoolboyC]

Shouldn’t have cancelled all the Black shows that made UPN popping in the first place

The 100 is the only CW show I ever watched

 

[The Prince of All Saiyans]

UPN
Peach tree

 

[ORDER_66]

this was inevitable

 

[King Static X]

The CW is trash. I'm not surprised.

 

[wire28]

Do it Disney

 

[Bryan Danielson]

Do it Disney

Man that would be hilarious and crazy if Disney pulled that move

 

[King Static X]

CW hasn't been profitable since it's inception

 

[ORDER_66]

CW hasn't been profitable since it's inception

How was this even possible so all those AD sells & commercials are going to who???

 

[Thavoiceofthevoiceless]

CW hasn't been profitable since it's inception

Profitable is a iffy, broad term considering how profits are measured in that particular industry

With that being said, I can totally believe it though since shows like Dynasty would have been cancelled years ago if it wasn't for the bread they were making from it via overseas deals. Same as the case with RiverDale who is more popular on streaming instead of regular television.

I can totally believe that the Arrowverse was profitable, but that other shows on the network reduced whatever profit that they made from it.

 

[Jello Biafra]

How was this even possible so all those AD sells & commercials are going to who???

They made all their money from Netflix and foreign market deals.
That has kind of dried up since they want all of their studio's stuff staying with their respective streaming services.

 

[Jello Biafra]

Man that would be hilarious and crazy if Disney pulled that move

They wouldn't get much from it but a bunch of shows that make no money for them because they wouldn't be able to do anything with the Paramount and WB produced shows past their initial airings.

 

[ORDER_66]

They made all their money from Netflix and foreign market deals.
That has kind of dried up since they want all of their studio's stuff staying with their respective streaming services.

What a clusterfukk

 

[Ironman]

Netflix needs to just get themOr HBO Max so Star girl and Superman can keep those budgetsFlash needed a boost in writing do it