The CW facts for kids
Logo used since January 14, 2024
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| Type | Broadcast television network |
|---|---|
| Country | United States |
| Affiliates |
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| Headquarters | Burbank, California, U.S. |
| Programming | |
| Language(s) | English |
| Picture format | |
| Ownership | |
| Owner | Nexstar Media Group (75%) Paramount Global (12.5%) Warner Bros. Discovery (12.5%) |
| Key people |
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| History | |
| Founded | January 24, 2006 |
| Launched | September 18, 2006 |
| Replaced | |
| Availability | |
| Streaming media | |
| Service(s) | DirecTV Stream, Hulu + Live TV, YouTube TV |
The CW is a TV network in the United States. Nexstar Media Group owns most of it (75%). Its name comes from its original owners: CBS and Warner Bros.. Nexstar bought 75% of the CW on October 3, 2022. Paramount Global and Warner Bros. Discovery each kept a smaller part (12.5%).
The CW started on September 18, 2006. It took over from two older networks, UPN and The WB, which closed that same month. Its first shows were reruns and special launch programs. The network officially launched on September 20, 2006. This was with the premiere of America's Next Top Model.
The CW's shows were first made for viewers aged 18 to 34. From 2008 to 2011, it focused on women in that age group. By August 2017, its audience was split evenly between men and women.
The CW broadcasts shows seven days a week. It airs programs every night during prime time. On Saturday mornings, it has an educational block called One Magnificent Morning. This block is produced by Hearst Media Production Group.
The CW is also available in Canada and northern Mexico. This is through stations near the borders. Some of these stations are owned by Nexstar. Others are affiliates that carry CW shows.
In Central America, Venezuela, Colombia, Peru, Ecuador, and the Caribbean, many TV providers carry CW stations. These are often major stations from U.S. cities like New York City or Los Angeles.
Contents
How the CW Started
Before the CW: The WB and UPN
In 1993, a rule changed that allowed TV networks to own rerun rights. Because of this, Warner Bros. Television and Paramount Television decided to start their own networks.
The WB and UPN both launched in January 1995. They started just as Fox was becoming popular. Both networks had a slow start. However, over the next 11 years, they aired many popular shows. These included Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Smallville, and America's Next Top Model.
By 1999, the networks had different goals. The WB aimed for young women, and UPN for young men. Towards the end of their first decade, both networks were struggling. They were not as successful as Fox or the Big Three (ABC, CBS, and NBC). Over 11 years, UPN and The WB lost a total of $2 billion.
Forming the CW Network
On January 24, 2006, CBS and Warner Bros. announced a big change. They would close UPN and The WB. Instead, they would combine their resources to create a new network called The CW. They said the new network would show programs from both old networks. It would also have new shows.
CBS and Warner Bros. wanted to make shows that were not too expensive. They could then sell these shows outside the U.S. Les Moonves, who was the CBS chairman, explained the name. He said "CW" came from the first letters of CBS and Warner Bros. He joked they couldn't call it "WC" for funny reasons.
In May 2006, the CW announced its first fall schedule. It picked up 13 shows from its old networks. Seven were from The WB, like 7th Heaven and Supernatural. Six were from UPN, including America's Next Top Model and Everybody Hates Chris. The CW decided to use The WB's scheduling style. This was because The WB had more hours of programming each week.
Early Years and Challenges (2006–2011)
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Like UPN and The WB, the CW aimed its shows at younger viewers. CBS and Time Warner hoped that combining their networks would make the CW a fifth "major" network. A week before its launch, on September 11, 2006, the CW's full website went live. It had more details about the new shows.
The CW officially launched on September 18, 2006. It started with a special launch party. The first two nights showed reruns of popular shows. The network's formal launch was on September 20, 2006. This was with the premiere of America's Next Top Model. This show brought in good ratings for the new network.
Despite having popular shows, the CW struggled to find a large audience in its first five years. Viewership declined during the 2007–08 season. Also, a writers' strike affected TV shows. On March 4, 2008, the network announced it would cut its comedy department. It also combined its drama and current programming teams. This led to about 25 to 30 layoffs.
In May 2008, the CW decided to let another company, Media Rights Capital (MRC), handle its Sunday night shows. Sundays had always been a tough night for the network. The shows MRC put on did not do well. So, the CW ended the deal and took back Sunday programming in November 2008. It aired reruns and movies instead.
WWE SmackDown, a show from UPN, left the CW in September 2008. The CW decided not to renew it. The network wanted to focus on female viewers aged 18 to 34. SmackDown had a mostly male audience. After SmackDown moved to MyNetworkTV, that network started beating the CW in Friday ratings.
The CW often had low ratings. It usually ranked fifth among all networks. Sometimes, even the Spanish-language network Univision had more viewers. This made people wonder if CBS and Time Warner would give up on the network. However, the CW's ratings improved in 2008–09 and 2009–10. New shows like Gossip Girl and The Vampire Diaries became popular. CBS and Time Warner said they were still committed to the network.
On May 5, 2009, the CW announced it would stop providing Sunday night programming. It gave those five hours back to its local stations. This meant the CW would only air shows on weeknights, plus its Saturday morning kids' block.
New Leadership and Content (2011–2016)
On April 28, 2011, Mark Pedowitz became the new president of the CW. He took on more responsibilities for the network's business. Pedowitz said the network would still target its main audience. However, it would also try to attract new viewers. He wanted to bring comedies back to the CW.
Even though the network was not making a profit, CBS and Warner Bros. were good at selling CW shows overseas. In 2011, a big deal with Netflix helped sell CW shows even more. The new superhero series Arrow, based on DC Comics' Green Arrow, was a big hit. It brought in many viewers, including more male viewers.
The network also found success with summer shows. In 2013, Whose Line Is It Anyway? was revived and became very popular. Arrow led to a spin-off called The Flash. The Flash became the most-watched show on the network. Jane the Virgin received high praise from critics. It was the first CW series to win a Golden Globe Award. Its lead actress, Gina Rodriguez, won for Best Actress. Other CW shows also received awards and nominations.
By the 2014–15 season, the CW had its highest average viewership since 2007–08. It saw a 12% increase in viewers. The network also improved its ratings among males aged 18–49.
The network's superhero universe, called the Arrowverse, grew even more. DC's Legends of Tomorrow premiered with high ratings. The 2015–16 season also saw Crazy Ex-Girlfriend win a Golden Globe Award. Actress Rachel Bloom won for Best Actress.
Streaming Deals (2016–2021)
The Arrowverse expanded again when Supergirl moved to the CW from CBS. The show Riverdale, based on Archie Comics, also debuted. This showed the network was using its parent companies' famous stories to create new TV series. This led to more shows like Black Lightning and a new Dynasty. Even though Dynasty had low ratings, it made a lot of money from Netflix and international sales.
Selling CW shows to Netflix and other countries was very profitable. This meant the network almost stopped canceling shows. It also expanded its broadcast schedule. On February 14, 2018, the CW announced it would add two hours of prime time shows on Sunday nights. This brought the network back to Sundays for the first time since 2009. It also increased the CW's prime time schedule from 10 to 12 hours a week.
On June 12, 2018, AT&T bought Warner Bros.' parent company, Time Warner. Time Warner was renamed WarnerMedia. AT&T became a co-owner of the CW with CBS.
The CW debuted new versions of Charmed and Roswell. It also launched Legacies, a spin-off of Originals. These shows were renewed even with modest ratings. This showed their value for selling to Netflix and international buyers. This strategy continued with new shows like Batwoman and Nancy Drew.
On August 13, 2019, CBS and Viacom announced they would merge again. The new company was named ViacomCBS. The merger finished on December 4, 2019. This made ViacomCBS a co-owner of the CW with AT&T's WarnerMedia.
In 2019, WarnerMedia and ViacomCBS did not renew the CW's Netflix deal. They wanted to use their shows for their own streaming services. International sales also mostly stopped. This was because both companies wanted to keep rights to their shows. WarnerMedia's HBO Max streaming service then got the exclusive rights to Warner Bros.-produced CW shows. This started with shows from the 2019–20 season.
HBO Max and the CW also started working together on new shows. For example, Stargirl was first shown on DC Universe (later HBO Max) and then aired on the CW. This model allowed the CW to get new shows for its summer schedule.
On May 13, 2021, the CW announced it would start programming Saturday nights. This began in the 2021–22 TV season. With this, the CW now has shows every night of the week. It also stopped its daytime programming block.
Nexstar Takes Over (2022)
On January 5, 2022, news came out that WarnerMedia and ViacomCBS might sell the CW. Nexstar Media Group was a top bidder. Nexstar already owned many CW affiliate stations. Mark Pedowitz, the CW's CEO, confirmed the talks.
In May 2022, the CW canceled ten shows. This was three times more than usual. It included new shows like 4400 and older ones like Legends of Tomorrow. More shows were canceled or given final seasons later that year.
On August 15, Nexstar confirmed it would buy a 75% share in the CW. Paramount Global and Warner Bros. Discovery would each keep 12.5%. Nexstar did not pay cash upfront. Instead, it took on about $100 million of the network's debt. Nexstar took control of the network right away.
Nexstar said it wanted to run the CW more cheaply. It noted that the CW spent "almost twice" what other networks spent on shows. This was a reason for the many cancellations. Nexstar planned to find shows with smaller budgets. It aimed for the CW to make a profit by 2025.
Nexstar also wanted the CW to appeal to a wider audience. It noted that young viewers preferred streaming. The average CW viewer was about 58 years old. Nexstar planned to focus on older audiences too. It looked for older dramas, police shows, and sitcoms.
Paramount Global and Warner Bros. Discovery continued to provide shows for the CW for the 2022–23 season. Nexstar said it would look for shows from other studios too. Any CW content not sold to other streaming services would stay on its own platform, CW Seed.
On October 3, Nexstar officially closed the deal. Mark Pedowitz resigned as CEO. Dennis Miller took over as president of the CW. Other executives also left or were laid off. On November 2, Brad Schwartz became president of the entertainment division. He oversees programming and brand development.
In November 2024, Nexstar reported that the CW had reduced its operating losses by $119 million for the year. This was more than their goal of $100 million. Nexstar executives said this was due to lower-cost shows and more sports programming. Later that month, more layoffs happened to focus the network on sports and unscripted shows.
New Focus: Live TV and Sports (2023–Present)
On February 1, 2023, Heather Olander became the head of unscripted programming. The network also let go of some scripted programming executives. On February 6, 2023, Chris Spadaccini became chief marketing officer.
On May 18, 2023, the CW announced its schedule for the 2023–24 season. It mostly included shows bought from outside the U.S. and unscripted series. Brad Schwartz said the network would no longer exist just to benefit its former owners. He added that the old shows did not do well on live TV. To make a profit, the CW focused on acquired shows and co-productions. It also aimed to expand its audience.
On February 25, 2023, CW Sports was launched. It gained rights to LIV Golf and later to ACC college football and basketball games. It also acquired Inside the NFL, the NASCAR Xfinity Series, and WWE NXT. In August 2023, Schwartz said the network was working on many new U.S.-produced scripted shows. He also said sports programming was bringing in new and older viewers.
In January 2024, the CW launched a new look. It updated its logo and changed its main color to red-orange. The word "The" was removed from the logo to make it simpler. The network's name remains "The CW."
The CW announced its fall schedule for the 2024–25 season in May 2024. It includes co-produced scripted series, game shows, unscripted series, and more sports. Three of its four remaining older scripted series, Superman & Lois, All American: Homecoming, and Walker, concluded that year. This left All American as the only original series continuing. The CW also plans to air its own TV movies. The network's losses decreased by $50 million in the first quarter of 2024.
In June 2024, Schwartz hoped to have more scripted series. However, the new financial model requires finding production partners. CW Studios launched in August 2024. This happened after the CW sold The Librarians: The Next Chapter to TNT. The CW kept a share in the series through its new studio.
Dennis Miller left as president of the CW in October 2024. Brad Schwartz was promoted to fill the role. In November 2024, Nexstar reported that the CW had reduced its losses by $119 million for the year. This was more than their goal. Nexstar executives said this was due to cheaper programming and growing sports viewership.
Michael Perman became Senior Vice President of CW Sports in February 2025. He oversees programming and media rights. Nexstar President Mike Biard said that sports would make up 40% of the CW's programming in 2025. He expects the network to be profitable by 2026. By the end of the 2024-25 fiscal year, the CW had reduced its losses by $126 million.
In June 2025, the CW ordered six movies inspired by Harlequin romance novels. These will air in fall 2025. The first, Montana Mavericks, will be in theaters in August 2025 before airing on the CW.
What the CW Shows
Network Programs and Schedule
As of October 1, 2023, the CW provides 18 hours of shows each week. It offers 15 hours of prime time programming. This airs from 8:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. Eastern and Pacific Time, Monday through Saturday. On Sunday nights, it airs from 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.
On Saturday mornings, there is a three-hour educational block. It is called "One Magnificent Morning". This block airs from 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. in all time zones.
The CW, like Fox, does not air shows at 10:00 p.m. (Eastern and Pacific). This hour is used by the "Big Three" networks (NBC, CBS, and ABC). The CW also does not have national news, late-night shows, or daytime shows (except for sports). Because of this, local CW stations fill these times with other programs. Some stations air their own local news or sports.
The Saturday morning block, One Magnificent Morning, is usually shown at the same time everywhere. However, some CW Plus stations in Central, Mountain, and Alaska Time Zones air it an hour earlier. In Guam, the CW Plus station airs the CW lineup one day later. This is due to the time difference.
Supernatural was the last CW series that started on The WB. Its final episode aired in November 2020.
The CW used to air short ads called "Content Wraps" during commercial breaks. These advertised one company's product. The show CW Now was inspired by these wraps. It was meant to have product placements. However, the show was canceled in 2008.
News Programs
Before Nexstar owned it, the CW did not make national news. However, on December 6, 2023, the CW showed NewsNation's coverage of a Republican presidential debate. This was the first national news program on the network under Nexstar. The debate had 4 million viewers.
Nexstar also started a Sunday morning talk show. It is a collaboration between the CW, NewsNation, and The Hill. The show, called The Hill Sunday, started airing on the CW on April 7, 2024. The CW also aired NewsNation's 2024 U.S. presidential election night coverage.
Most CW stations do not have their own news teams. Six CW stations produce their own local news. These include WPIX in New York City and KTLA in Los Angeles. KTLA has the most hours of local news of any CW station.
Other CW stations used to have news teams but no longer do. For example, WGN-TV in Chicago had a news department since 1948. It became a news-heavy station when it was with The WB and the CW.
News on CW stations is often produced by another major network station. This happens if they are owned by the same company. For example, KWGN-TV in Denver and KPLR-TV in St. Louis are CW stations. Their news is produced by their sister Fox stations.
News programs on CW stations often air in the morning. They compete with national morning shows. They also air in prime time, usually at 10:00 p.m. Eastern/Pacific. Some may also have midday or early evening news.
Sports Programs
In January 2023, the CW made a deal to broadcast LIV Golf. This was the first national sports deal for the network. On February 14, 2023, the network said LIV Golf would be available everywhere in the U.S. However, some stations, including those owned by Paramount Global, refused to carry it. So, LIV coverage aired on Nexstar-owned stations or other channels.
On July 13, the CW announced it had rights to 50 ACC college football and basketball games. This deal runs through 2026–27.
On July 28, the CW announced it would broadcast the NASCAR Xfinity Series. This is a seven-year deal starting in 2025. The CW will air 33 races each year. The start of this deal was moved up to September 2024.
On November 7, 2023, it was announced that WWE NXT would move to the CW from USA Network. This five-year deal began in October 2024. This is the first time WWE programming has been on the CW since 2013.
In January 2024, the CW and Range Sports made a deal. Range Sports will help the CW develop content and provide support for sports programs.
The CW gained rights to broadcast eleven Pac-12 football games in 2024. These games feature Oregon State University and Washington State University. In April 2025, it gained rights for nine Pac-12 games in the 2025 season.
In August 2024, the CW acquired rights to air the 2024 Chicago Open Men's and Women's finals from the Association of Volleyball Professionals (AVP). In March 2025, the AVP renewed its agreement with the CW for multi-year rights to broadcast its volleyball matches.
In March 2025, the CW gained rights to broadcast the 4th Annual Men's HBCU All-Star Basketball Game. In April 2025, the CW and the Professional Bowlers Association (PBA) made a two-year deal. The CW will broadcast ten PBA events.
Some CW stations also air local college sports. A few carry games from professional sports teams. For example, the New York Mets on WPIX and the Los Angeles Clippers on KTLA.
Kids' Programs
On September 23, 2006, the Kids' WB block moved to the CW. It kept its name even though The WB network closed.
On October 2, 2007, the CW announced it would close Kids' WB. It would lease the Saturday morning time slots to 4Kids Entertainment. The CW said this was due to competition from cable kids' networks. Kids' WB ended on May 17, 2008.
On May 24, 4Kids Entertainment took over the Saturday morning shows. They launched a new block called The CW4Kids. It had shows from Kids' WB and 4Kids TV. It also added new shows like Chaotic. The block was renamed Toonzai on August 14, 2010. Toonzai ended on August 18, 2012.
On July 3, 2012, Saban Brands took over the Saturday morning time slots. The block was relaunched as Vortexx on August 25. It featured shows like Power Rangers Lost Galaxy and Digimon Fusion. Vortexx also aired WWE Saturday Morning Slam. This brought WWE programming back to the network.
On June 5, 2014, the CW announced a deal with Litton Entertainment. Litton would program a block of live-action shows. These shows would meet educational guidelines. Vortexx was replaced by One Magnificent Morning on October 4. This block has wildlife and lifestyle shows. In January 2016, the CW and Litton renewed the deal for five years. The block's time was reduced to three hours in 2017. In July 2021, they extended the deal again.
CW Stations
The CW has 46 stations owned or operated by Nexstar Media Group. It also has agreements with 221 other TV stations. This covers 50 states, Washington D.C., and three U.S. territories. The CW reaches 100% of U.S. households. This makes it the largest U.S. broadcast network by population reach.
As of January 2023, three U.S. states (Delaware, New Hampshire, and New Jersey) do not have their own CW stations. This is because they are covered by stations in nearby states.
The CW also works with low-power stations in some areas. In some markets, these stations also have digital versions on a subchannel of a larger station. Many CW stations are only available on digital subchannels. Most of these are in smaller markets and get programming from the CW Plus.
Nexstar Media Group owns or operates the most CW stations. It covers 32% of the U.S. market.
Digital and Cable TV
The CW sends its shows to smaller markets through the CW Plus. This is a separate national feed. It is carried on various stations and cable-only channels. The CW Plus offers its own schedule of syndicated shows and movies. Some CW Plus stations may also air local news.
The WB, the CW's predecessor, also had cable-only stations. Some of these joined the CW Plus when the CW launched. The CW is the only network with a station group that includes cable-only channels.
Station Issues
Problems with Time Warner Cable
When the CW first started, some Time Warner Cable customers could not watch it. This was because stations could not agree on deals with the cable provider. In some markets, the CW was on a digital subchannel. Time Warner Cable did not always carry these subchannels.
Eventually, some stations signed deals. But not all CW stations were on the basic cable channels. For example, a station in Syracuse, New York, was only on a digital cable channel.
Pappas Telecasting Bankruptcy
One of the CW's main station groups, Pappas Telecasting Companies, filed for bankruptcy in May 2008. Pappas said the CW's low ratings were one reason for this. Many of these stations have since been sold.
Two stations owned by Pappas that were with the CW have closed. In May 2008, KCWK in Yakima, Washington, shut down. This left the area without local CW programming. The problem was solved in April 2009. CBS stations in the area started carrying the CW on digital subchannels.
Later, WLGA in Columbus, Georgia, lost its CW affiliation in April 2009. This was due to concerns about Pappas's money problems. WLGA eventually closed in June 2010.
Tribune's Relationship with the CW
Tribune Media had strong deals with the CW. But with new management in 2008, it seemed Tribune might switch some of its CW stations to Fox. In March 2008, Tribune announced that KSWB-TV in San Diego would switch from the CW to Fox.
After this news, the old Fox station, XETV, planned to sue. Its contract with Fox was not set to end until 2010. However, on July 2, 2008, XETV announced it would join the CW on August 1.
Most of Tribune's other CW stations stayed with the network. But they started to use less of the "CW" name in their branding. For example, they might use "Channel 11" instead of "CW 11." Some stations started using the CW branding again in 2011.
In May 2014, Peter Liguori, Tribune's CEO, said he was "not pleased" with the CW's ratings. He said the network "should not program to young people who don't watch television." He also said Tribune might work more closely with the CW to improve its shows.
In January 2016, the CW and Tribune started talks for a new deal. The original 10-year agreement was ending. The CW's owners wanted to stream the network's shows as a separate service. This caused a long disagreement.
On May 23, 2016, the CW and Tribune reached a new agreement. As part of the deal, Tribune's Chicago station, WGN-TV, left the network. It became an independent station. WGN-TV often had to move CW shows because of local sports. The CW affiliation moved to WPWR-TV. On September 19, 2019, Nexstar Media Group bought Tribune Media.
Roberts Broadcasting Bankruptcy
Roberts Broadcasting filed for bankruptcy on October 7, 2011. The company said losing UPN affiliations in 2006 hurt them. They also faced lawsuits for not paying fees for syndicated shows.
On March 24, 2011, the FCC canceled WAZE-TV's license. This was because Roberts failed to build its digital facilities. However, the station continued to broadcast using smaller translator stations.
In February 2012, Roberts Broadcasting said it might sell its stations to pay off debts. In October 2012, Roberts sold WRBJ-TV to Trinity Broadcasting Network. The CW returned to the Jackson market on a subchannel of WJTV in September 2013. On January 3, 2013, WAZE's translator network stopped operating. Later that month, WTVW quickly joined the CW to keep the network in the Evansville area.
In December 2013, Roberts tried to sell two more stations. However, a bankruptcy court approved a plan for the stations to go to a trust with Ion Media Networks. The CW affiliation in Columbia moved to WKTC in March 2014.
DirecTV Dispute
In July 2023, Nexstar stopped the CW and other networks from being shown on DirecTV. DirecTV complained to the FCC. Nexstar said DirecTV was illegally streaming CW content. In August 2023, Nexstar reached a deal with Sinclair Broadcast Group. This restored the CW on DirecTV Stream in 21 markets. Nexstar and DirecTV signed a new agreement on September 17, 2023. This allowed DirecTV to show the CW again.
Paramount's Withdrawal
As part of the sale to Nexstar, Paramount Global could withdraw its eight CW stations. This happened on May 5, 2023, effective September 1, 2023. These stations were in cities like Atlanta, Detroit, and Philadelphia. In some markets, Nexstar-owned stations became the new CW affiliates. Other markets got new deals with groups like Hearst Television and Gray Television.
The CW's situation in Detroit was unclear for months. Mission Broadcasting tried to buy WADL to make it the new CW station. But the deal stalled. So, WADL stopped showing CW programs on October 30, 2023. The shows then appeared on WMYD on November 13, 2023. The WADL deal was called off in May 2024.
On April 19, 2024, Nexstar announced that the CW would not renew deals with seven Scripps-owned stations. The CW would move to Nexstar's own stations in Norfolk and Lafayette. This also ended WMYD's short time with the network. On May 1, 2024, it was announced that the CW would move back to its original Chicago station, WGN-TV, starting September 1, 2024.
Optimum Dispute
On January 10, 2025, Nexstar stopped 63 of its local stations and NewsNation from being shown on Optimum. The CW's main station, WPIX, was part of this dispute. Nexstar accused Optimum's owner of making unfair demands. Optimum accused Nexstar of asking for too much money. The two companies reached a deal on January 18. This allowed Nexstar's programs to be shown on Optimum again.
Other Services
Video-on-Demand
The CW offers video-on-demand (VOD) for its shows. You can watch full episodes on CWTV.com and its mobile apps. The most recent episodes are usually available the day after they air.
In October 2011, the network made deals with Netflix and Hulu. The Netflix deal allowed customers to watch past seasons of CW shows. The Hulu deal gave access to next-day content. The Netflix deal was worth about $1 billion. It helped the CW a lot. The Netflix deal was renewed in 2016. It allowed full seasons of CW shows to be available a week after airing. The Hulu deal ended then. In 2019, the CW and Netflix did not renew their deal. Studios now sell their shows to streaming services individually. Since 2020, WarnerMedia's Max (formerly HBO Max) is the main streaming home for Warner Bros.-produced CW shows.
On October 24, 2012, the CW made its first VOD deal with a TV provider. This was with Comcast. Customers could watch the four most recent episodes of CW shows on Comcast's Xfinity On Demand.
High-Definition TV
The CW's main broadcast is in 1080i high definition with 5.1 surround sound. All of the network's shows have been in HD since June 2012. The Saturday morning educational block, One Magnificent Morning, is also in HD.
The network is available in HD on most of its main stations. For stations on subchannels or cable-only, HD availability can vary. Some stations show the CW in 720p HD. This happens if the network is on a digital subchannel of another major network. Since June 2012, the CW Plus feed is also in HD. The CW was the last major network to use 4:3 framing for its graphics. It switched to 16:9 framing in August 2020.
CW Seed
CW Seed was a part of the CW that made original shows for digital platforms. It focused on animation, game shows, and comedy. CW Seed started as a section on the CW's website. In 2013, it became its own streaming platform. It was a free app available on devices like Roku and Amazon Fire TV.
CW Seed produced web series like Vixen and Freedom Fighters: The Ray. In January 2020, CW Seed got streaming rights to 14 shows from BBC Studios. In September 2020, it added over 300 hours of programming. This included new seasons for existing shows and new series like 90210 and Nikita. The CW Seed app and website were brought back into the CW's main website in April 2022.
