For years, The CW’s deal with Netflix was beneficial to both the network and the streaming service. Viewers caught up on CW shows via Netflix and then became fans on the linear network, while CW shows brought subscribers to the streaming service.

But with studios and networks launching their own streaming services, that is all changing. This season, new CW shows Batwoman, Nancy Drew and Katy Keene will all be found exclusively on The CW Network in its linear window and then on ad-supported video-on-demand platforms CWTV.com, The CW app and CW Seed the next day, said Mark Pedowitz, president, The CW Network, during summer press tour in Beverly Hills, Calif., on Sunday.

“We are incredibly excited to offer our viewers the full stack of our new shows on our preeminent A-VOD digital platforms, giving them the chance to catch up on these shows from the beginning at any point during the season, for free and without authentication,” said Pedowitz in a statement. “By being the exclusive in-season streaming home for our new series going forward, it also provides us with more information about how viewers are consuming our programming, how we can engage with them, and create even more multiplatform sales opportunities for advertisers.”

Each episode of these new series will be available for catch-up viewing until 30 days prior to the next season. At that time, the full season will be pulled down and replaced with a rolling five episodes.

Older series will remain on Netflix as well as offer viewers a rolling five episodes on The CW’s digital platforms for the time being.

On the subscription side, CBS All Access has secured streaming rights to CBS TV Studios-produced Nancy Drew, while Batwoman and Katy Keene will appear on WarnerMedia’s new HBO Max, Pedowitz told reporters at press tour.

Also announced at The CW’s day at press tour on Sunday:

—CW Seed has acquired off-season streaming rights to Pop TV’s Emmy-nominated comedy Schitt’s Creek;

The 100 will end after this season, the show’s seventh, joining Arrow and Supernatural among CW series in their final seasons.

—Speaking of Arrow, Pedowitz is open to a spin-off of the DC superhero drama that started it all on The CW.

Tags: arrow batwoman katy keene mark pedowitz nancy drew summer tca 2019 the 100 the cw


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