The CW announces fifteen original shows; affiliation deal with Tribune Broadcasting is close
As you know by now, Supergirl is flying to a new network this fall – The CW.
The move highlighted CW’s 2016-17 schedule, its eleventh in existence. CW renewed (almost) all of its existing programming, save midseason entry Containment. However, some of those returning shows are being pushed to midseason as CW adds two new series: No Tomorrow and Frequency.
Same time, different channel: Supergirl switches from CBS to CW in the lead-off position on Mondays, and is also expected to crossover with other CW series in the DC Universe, noting the successful stunt earlier this year with The Flash. Supergirl leads into season three of Jane The Virgin.
Tuesdays features The Flash and No Tomorrow; Wednesdays has Arrow and Frequency; Thrusday has DC’s Legends Of Tomorrow paired with long-running Supernatural, on a new night. Finally, CW closes the week on Friday with The Vampire Diaries and Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, airing on a new night and time.
New midseason enteries include Riverdale, a far darker series than portrayed in the Archie comics (for the extra mile, they could have set the series in the struggling south suburb of the same name); other series slated for midseason include iZombie, The Originals, The 100, and Reign.
To see the complete 2016-17 schedule, click here.
The CW upfront presentation started with a musical performance from some band I’ve never heard of, then a number from Girlfriend’s Rachel Bloom and Virgin’s Gina Rodriguez, introducing CW head Mark Pedowitz. Wasting little time, he introduced the stars of the network, including new arrival Marissa Benoist and says a major “crossover event” will take place in December involving all four DC shows. Trailers for No Tomorrow and Frequency were well-received, but the audience was stunned when the trailer for Riverdale was played. Holy moly.
As for the schedule, there is a concern from some quarters by adding Supergirl, CW would become “the superhero network” – a moniker CBS had in the late 1970’s when it had Incredible Hulk and Spider-Man on its schedule. But adding Supergirl is a smart move and keep in mind – DC has a lot going on when it comes to TV right now than arch-rival Marvel. CW has a lot of buzzed-about and critically-acclaimed shows on its schedule – something it didn’t have when the network debuted ten years ago. But ratings need to improve for a few shows (notably Jane The Virigin and Crazy Ex-Girlfriend.)
The CW’s upfront presentation preceded despite no reports of a new affiliation deal between the network and Tribune Broadcasting, its largest affiliate group and airs CW programming in the top three markets of New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago. There didn’t seem to be a concern Thursday with ad buyers or CW execs. In fact, Deadline on Friday reported a deal between the two parties is near.
A poster on CRM’s message board stated Chicago CW affiliate WGN-TV did announce the new and returning shows on CW for next season on its morning newscast and Dean Richards spoke with two stars from a CW show.
Based on this information, there is reason to believe Tribune and CW would have a new deal or an extension of the old one likely be done by summer. Either way, CW is prepared to move ahead – with or without Tribune.