[A]t least one broadcast network will flunk. Right now, I think the CW is on the edge of the cliff. I know they are going after the young audience, but their shows are not working for the most part. “Melrose Place” is a disaster. “90210″ is the same thing. Both shows are done.
I think CW has a year or two to make it. This could be the final year of the CW if the ratings don’t get better I think that network will drop.
via MediaPost.
I’m not so sure about that prediction. As long as CBS and Warner Brothers develop all the programming on the CW, their overall financial situation, considering the value of those developed show franchises, may be enough to have them continue to fund the CW. As for the CW’s strategic direction, and its current boss, Dawn Ostroff, that’s entirely another matter.
Other predictions from the same interview:
- ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox may decide to go all cable, and then local affiliates will have to scramble to survive.
- The number of television stations will decline
Click to read the rest of the excerpt from the video interview.
The CW’s in trouble, but I imagine they would axe Ostroff and try a different strategy (next season or the season after, whenever) first. If that new strategy fails, then the network would be done no doubt.
NBC, ABC, Fox, and CBS (in that order) switching to a national broadcast rather than the affiliate system is probably down the road, but I’d imagine that’s still a long way off.
IF the CW were to fold, what would happen to their existing shows that are still performing well. And by that I mean The Vampire Diaries lol.
ridiculous…..
Ok, CW it’s not best audience channel, bus I think for this channel the audience are OK!
Yes Melrose it’s a kind of disaster, and GG it’s goin’ down. But they’re having excelent numbers for OTH, Supernatural, VAMPIRE DIARIES, Smallville (fridays). And even 90210 are gettin’ greats numbers comparing the other shows.
I like most of these shows, and I think this prediction it’s completely ridiculous.
Mumbo, I agree. The next move at the CW will be a strategy/management change, not a shut down.
Chief, I don’t expect that to happen, but I think successful shows could end up on cable networks.
Pedro, OTH and GG perform about the same in A18-49, but GG usually kills OTH in W18-34. So saying GG is going down but OTH has excellent numbers is interpreting the numbers from a very very biased standpoint.
I think what always puzzles me about the CW is why they stay with Ostroff, and why they don’t try to look slightly outside of their current box. I get their strategy (faulty as it might be), and I’m not saying they need to abandon it entirely, but trying a little diversity in their schedule might really put some much needed energy into the network. Try developing another superhero show to pair with Smallville, try to include young men in your desired demo, stop the lazy re-animating of long dead shows. TVD is their biggest “hit” (relatively speaking), and its a show that targets the young female demo, but still tries something the network wasn’t previously doing.
But really, Ostroff’s continued employment is the biggest WTH to me.
I suppose if all else fails (Dawn gone, one more CW strategy revamp) they can rebrand the entire network into a new name and reboot it. SyFy, TNN (now Spike), and others have been changing directions and names. Not sure if that would count as a “dead network” but it’s possible.
As for successful shows, cable networks would be good. If it came to that, SyFy might be a front-runner for Vampire Diaries (although if it has enough in the character-driven department USA could take a look, too — I don’t know since I have not watched it, so draw your own conclusions on that notion, please
)
I think Dawn gets one more year (unless she has some really good material on someone higher up), the CW gets 1 or 2 more years, and, if improvement not significant by then… bye bye.
^Actually, I’m not so sure that’s true. This week they tied in W18-34
Oops, that was to Julia
Yeah Julia, that’s right….
but what I’m just tryin’ to sau is that, close the network it’s completely ridiculous. The shows don’t have the same numbers as ABC, NBC, CBS and FOX shows, but comparing between them, the numbers are great!
BTW, I don’t care if it ends, If they put OTH, 90210, Supernatural and The Vampire Diaries in another net!!!
I’ll be happy
I think its sad the way were simply giving up on Broadcast TV. ITS FREE TV people. I’ve been saying for years that the big 6 media companies need to trim their cable assests (trim not liquidate) to give the Big 4 networks audiences that will sustain them again.
I’m only interested in them finishing with Supernatural and they can go down. Heck, I can even push them if necessary.
Dawn is the source of The CW’s woes, we’ve seen that it’s the shows that don’t feature rich spoiled teens that are doing well and while I think they will keep one or two of them, they need a Major rethink in their development slate.
Like we haven’t seen it coming?
It’s all going to fall hard on Dawn Ostroff if it crashes and burns completely.
@ Morgan, I don’t get it either.
I read an interview where she stated that they didn’t want to develop procedural shows like the other networks.
That’s fine. After all, procedurals are getting so out of hand, but they bring in viewers.
My biggest complaint has always been putting women front and center, but pushing the male audience off to the side like cattle, as if they don’t matter.
You can’t target one group and marginalize the other.
Also, I never really understood the name of the network. Back in 2006, when they announced the actual name of it, I remember thinking: “What the hell are they thinking?” The CW?
If it were me, I would’ve gone with WBC (Warner Bros. / CBS)…but what do I know? According to Dawn, I’m a male who doesn’t watch television.
Holly, this week they tied, and last week it wasn’t an outright killing (2.9 vs 2.6), but in their averages, GG is still killing OTH.
Julia, you’re probably right. I haven’t really been paying attention, I just remembered them being close this week.
Considering the shows in development for the CW that were announced here on tvbythenumbers.com a few weeks ago, I would agree that the network has a very short life ahead of it.
GG 90210 ANTM are 100% for next season, OTH,SV SN the cw will try to bring back but they may want to end
It could be that they are evening out more now that we’re really into the season, but it still doesn’t change how wrong Pedro is, considering GG is CW’s #1 show in W18-34.
You can’t target one group and marginalize the other.
Yes, I can.
The question asked is where he sees broadcast television in five years. I think even my dog and cat have predicted the CW wouldn’t be around in five years. If a big gun like NBC is struggling “netlets” don’t stand a chance. Not unless The CW goes cable. Which they should, but without Ostroff.
I give the CW two years tops if they stay broadcast. I honestly don’t think they’re at the end this season and yes, a management change will come first before a shutdown. Shutting down a network is very expensive. I think Warner Brothers and CBS are still paying for shutting down The WB and UPN.
@ J.R.,
If you were trying to be funny with that little bit of sarcasm you failed — just like Dawn.
andrew, ever heard of ESPN, or Oxygen?
Yeah, I don’t see CW dying off this year by any means. Ostroff probably gets yanked, but the network continues in 10/11.
Just about the only circumstance I could see that causes CW to fold in the short term is CBS’ financials being dire enough that they drop peripheral interests like some of their web properties and the CW.
And even then you get the other prediction: CBS sells their shows to the Viacom cable properties (e.g. GG on MTV), and WB revives The WB as a cable network and moves their shows there.
But yeah, the local affiliates are in for an ugly time over the next decade. I expect a lot of consolidation, especially since the DTV switch means they can carry multiple channels with one tower.
Dozens of cable networks target specific groups while marginalizing others. Whether that was a good strategy for the CW, and whether they have executed well on it is another matter. In a world where the CW had few overall viewers but was in first or second place every night with women 18-34, it would have been deemed a “success”. Sadly for the CW, it doesn’t live in that world. I think it’s fair to question the strategy and very, very, very fair to question the execution.
But I do understand why targeting a niche it (thought it) could win or do much better in was an appealing strategy versus constantly trying to sell itself as the last place network with adults 18-49. I can see why that approach seemed appealing to all parties involved.
ajj, its not entirely clear how “going cable” solves any of the CWs current problems.
And “going cable” for any of the broadcast networks would be a *very* difficult transition. Not that it couldn’t be made, but it’s not like flipping a switch.
If they fold, The WB needs to come back, but with a new name: WB. No “the”. Their schedule:-
Sundays: Smallville, NEW SMALLVILLE SPIN-OFF, NEW SCI FI DRAMA
Mondays: Gossip Girl, NEW FROTHY TEEN DRAMA
Tuesdays: One Tree Hill, NEW SERIOUS ADULT DRAMA
Wednesdays: America’s Next Top Model, NEW OTT REALITY SERIES
Thursdays: The Vampire Diaries, Supernatural
Fridays: Encores/Imported Programming
Whatever they’d do, it needs to appeal to EVERYONE, and have variety. There’s a reason why The Vampire Diaries is popular, aside from being about vampires – it’s for both boys and girls, and is actually good.
@ J.R.,
I don’t watch ESPN and I don’t watch Oxygen.
The CW is a broadcast network, it’s not cable.
The point I was trying to make was that it’s just not ok for a network to practically ignore the male audience, which The CW has been more than guilty of.
The only time they seem to even acknowledge men who watch their network is when they can spin the numbers in their favor.
It’s pathetic.
Two words: Vampire Network.
Andrew, it would be very OK if they were making a lot of money by doing so. You don’t have enough data to conclude whether it is bad execution, a bad strategy or both.
But that you don’t LIKE that the network doesn’t do what YOU want it to do is completely irrelevant.
andrew, Robert was kind enough to settle this already. No reason to drag it out further.
I watch most all of these shows but i wouldn’t care if the CW doesn’t excist next year. I only would be sad cause of Vampire Diaries. Supernatural is one of my favourite shows but i want it to end with a big ending and not go on after Kirpke finishes the story this season.
But i don’t think the CW will be dead next year.
Robert,
I don’t care about the data since Dawn doesn’t care about me…LMAO.
What CW needs is an outrageous reality show that everyone talks about around the water cooler at work! How about putting up a cute little Chinese baby girl up for adoption and having a group of twenty married couples compete for the baby’s adoption? Call it “Cry Baby Cry” or “The Fittest Parents”.
I said the above just to get Robert and Bill to scream. LOL
Andrew, are you a bitter Reaper fan?
I personally think a “young female only” network is a pathway to lousy ratings. It’s one thing to show Golden Girls repeats 24/7, but you can’t build a consistent audience if, ultimately, the only households that can seriously tune into a show every day of the week are those comprising of a limited demographic.
It’s no surprise to me that the CW is doing badly, I’ve said it before. It has little to do with DO, it has to do the strategy she is following and the higher ups agree with her on.
I am all for the shutdown of the CW. It’s a waste of a network. Four broadcast networks is enough. I’d like to see a shift back to localism. Shutting down the CW will create a lot of independent television stations, which is what broadcast TV needs if it is going to survive — more localism.
Perhaps the CW can become a programming service such as MyNet and the newly independent stations can pick up programming as they see fit.
@ Julia
No, I’m not a “bitter” Reaper fan. I didn’t watch one episode of that show.
I am merely trying to say that, since we are talking about the potential failure of The CW, overlooking a certain audience in favor of another is a factor.
To say that it isn’t wouldn’t be true, would it?
@everyone
if u want Supernatural and Vampire Diaries to stay on then you will have to watch them when they air and that means watching them completely until both of them are over tonight. if u are a fan of the cw then help them out. Watch Smallville tomorrow as well its gonna be a good episode.
Andrew, but that’s not what you are saying. You are saying that CW are morally wrong to ignore males. At least that’s what it sounded like you were saying. It’s true that their strategy didn’t work, but there’s nothing wrong with trying it.
Terrence, the problem is that there can only be so much localism. Any market where an indie can survive already has at least one. But what are you thinking these indie stations would be? 24 hour local news? That can only survive in huge markets like NYC (see NY1.) If you mean a few hours a day of local news, and the rest filled with syndication, how is that any more localized than what many (most?) CW affiliates already are?
Terrence, the CW local affiliates only fill 10 hours a week with CW network programming as it is. They’re very nearly independent as far as programming!
Also i am a huge smallville and supernatural fan. I also like vampire diaries but thats another of storie. Right now I speak from the world of Supernatural the only shows going to HELL are GG 90210 Melrose Place and possibly Supernatural is going to HEAVEN. Supernatural has been good, it lasted 5 seasons, so it should go to heaven but their is still a chance that kripke, jensen, and jared will want to go more seasons POSSIBLE! Smallville is most likely going a season 10 because they really need it, its like (besides vampire diaries) their only hope. OTH eh… ANTM eh eh……..
Bill, the CW programs more than the 10 hours of primetime nationally. Not much more perhaps, but there is some daytime (Tyra, which is syndicated only on the CW) and a Saturday morning block that are nationally programmed.
I only care about Vampire Diaries and 90210 so if the CW the network vanishes put these shows on bigger networks and I’m fine… Have you guys seen the new line up shows she has listed for next year? WOW..
I hope they fall
Two words: Veronica Mars. They cancelled Veronica and this is the result!
But seriously, there is a Veronica Mars-related argument to be made here. If I was in charge of a new network that was trying to find a spot at the table among the big boys, I would look at models that worked before–or rather, the one model that has worked before. Fox was once where the CW is now. Just starting out, trying to find their niche. Instead of deciding not to bother trying to appeal to half the population, they decided to be the place where you could find risky content other networks wouldn’t take a chance on. The Simpsons, Married With Children and the X-Files built Fox and they were series that could never have found a home at NBC/CBS/ABC at that time. Edgy, quality programming is what the CW needs to focus on–they should establish themselves as the place where creators can bring their most interesting, challenging concepts. Cultivte a reputation as the “bad boy” network, the avant garde network, the network that won’t constantly be running Reality Crap but will instead commit itself to pushing the envelope. If the CW were to let it be known that they’re actively looking for edgy stuff that wouldn’t have a chance on other networks, finding quality shows would become a lot easier. The CW shouldn’t be looking for the next vampire show, they should be looking for the next “The Shield”. They shouldn’t be re-making Melrose Place, they should be experimenting and throwing crazy stuff at the wall to see what sticks. You can’t find gold until you dig for it.
Robert, when you compare that to NBC, CBS and ABC, which program far more than one hour of daytime and a few hours on Saturday, in addition to primetime, it’s still practically independent.
@ Julia,
That IS what I’ve been trying to say.
Not once did I bring up morals or explicitly say that their approach was wrong or that they were wrong for even trying it.
I’m just trying to say that if their programming was a little broader, maybe they’d attract more men to their network and even out their audience and go from there.
It has nothing to do with morals.
CW is an unholy Frankenstein monster cobbled together out of the worst programming of UPN and WB. Shut er down.
Dawn needs help running this network.
Not once did I bring up morals or explicitly say that their approach was wrong or that they were wrong for even trying it.
andrew, you used the words “marginalize,” “guilty,” “not ok,” and “pushing the male audience off to the side like cattle, as if they don’t matter.”
Done.
for the only thing that we cant blame dawn ostroff is veronica mars cancellation!veronica mars never performed well neither on upnand dawn saved it for 3 season (it was propably her baby those years
) !
and i dont think why is bad think targeting a specific audience!!the bad think is that they should target this audience with the right way!wb did at the past and upn was really successful on african americans!
CW has the potentisl to reach a much larger audience and better ad revenues than it is. Many of the cable nets have higher rated programming in the demo. It is clear (at least to me) CW needs to step up. The super-narrow target audience is self-limiting.
Either current management needs to make changes or the management needs to change.
J.R.,
Where in that comment did I say “morally wrong” or “wrong?”
I said “not ok.” That’s not the same thing.
Oh, and don’t tell me that I shouldn’t “drag it out further” if you’re going to do the same thing.
don’t tell me that I shouldn’t “drag it out further” if you’re going to do the same thing.
Oh, sorry, I must be morally inferior.
The sad thing about a lot of the talk in this thread is that many people are saying the CW needs a strategy change or that they need to re-brand when in fact the CW is a re-brand and it represented a strategy change (it’s only been 3 years).
On second thought, I guess that’s more funny than sad.
That said, I don’t take any of this too seriously. It would be a financial disaster to just shut down the whole network and there will always be a billionaire out there who wants to try his hand at the TV business. So I suspect the network will continue to exist.
As for the shows, if the CW collapsed tomorrow I suspect there would be cable homes for any show that could draw a respectable audience.
I really hope this is the year Dawn Ostroff gets the boot. She’s had years to prove herself (well more than any NBC exec) and has failed miserably. Of the top 4 shows, three of them came from the previous networks: Supernatural, Smallville and ANTM. So she can’t take credit. With the first two she has given ZERO promotion (except a bare minimum on the network itself) and moved one to Fridays in an attempt to kill it. If this is how you treat your well-performing shows, how is she not fired already?
My vote was written in stone when she picked up the insipid Melrose Place remake and didn’t pick-up the much buzzed about Body Politic even for the EMPTY Friday night slot. Maybe she should be listening to me, since I’m a female in her coveted 18-34 demo. And a long-time fan of the previous UPN and The WB programing.
J.R.,
The only thing you’ve proven thus far is that you’re an instigator who has nothing better to do with his time.
It’s sad.
The CW is smart to target a young audience and build from there. It doesn’t happen the next day. It certainly paid off for FOX, which was once known as the little network that could and focused on all young audiences. As a male in the target CW age demographic, I can say that I watch MP, VD, SN and Smallville. I will tolerate 90210 if Shannen Doherty is appearing. The mistake that seems to be repeated over and again, is relying on soap formats. The probelm isn’t focusing on a certain age or sex, it’s the idea that anyone wants to watch only one type of program. I don’t know anyone, who doesn’t like a little variety. The shows on Mon & Tues are pretty much interchangeable. The shows that least fit into the same mold are the shows doing the best. ANTM, VD, SN, SV. – Ok, done with that.
CW affiliates probably wish the network strategy targeted the whole audience and not just the young female demo. It really narrows the field of who you can sell ad time to. Luckily, the rest of the day offers more opportunities to target other demos.
CW is done, I’ll give it until May 2011.
Actually thanks to a higher-than-usual VD and lower-than usual GG, VD has a slim advantage in W 18-34 for the season now. I’m guessing GG will remain the #2 at the end of the season though. GG had a few 3-point-something eps, but VD seems to overall be more consistent.
Lucky,
I pretty much watch the same programs you do, too.
I only watch Melrose Place because I loved the original. Shannen Doherty was the only reason I tuned in to 90210 as well. While it’s smart for her to to overstay her welcome, I have to admit that I haven’t watched an episode since she was last seen.
Maybe you’re right: maybe it’s just that the M-Wed. line up is so similar it’s turning people off.
The CW needs to bring sports into their schedule. Probably air college sports, since college sports audience is mostly 18-34.
here’s an idea:
Get rid of Ostroff, get good shows (not just teen dramas) including comedies (good ones by the way) and no more stupid remakes.
There is nothing wrong with being a Reaper fan. That was a stupid decision to cancel it then and its still a stupid one now.
If the CW wants to survive it needs to start targeting a wider audience and put some variety in its programming. Honestly they need to give a youth oriented procedural a try. Warehouse 13 is essentially a procedural and so is White Collar and neither are in the CBS procedural mode. They are interesting and quirky shows but procedurals nonetheless. Procedurals do well and the CW should try and dip its hands in that ratings cookie pot.
As long as the CW survives long enough to give me one more season of Smallville (should it come to pass that they get the green light for a 10th and final season), then I will have no major issues with the CW.
The only thing you’ve proven thus far is that you’re an instigator who has nothing better to do with his time. It’s sad.
andrew, I’ve proven that you don’t know that you continually make moral judgments. Yes, I have plenty of free time; good for me. If you think I’m an instigator, why do you continue to fall prey to the instigations?
CW is on the hook to Tribune to provide content for six(?) more years as part of their buyout. I would not be surprised to see CW turn into a syndication service like MyNet.
The problem with CW is that it had the choice of the WB Network’s format or UPN’s format, and it chose the format of UPN. That was obviously the wrong choice in terms of marketing strategy, quality of programming, etc. While there were WB shows that came to CW, few if any of the WB executives came to CW and that hurt them.
As far as the prediction that all broadcast networks will go cable, well that’s nothing short of Bovine Scatology. No further comment is needed.
J.R.,
I don’t care if you think that I’ve made moral judgments about The CW. I could care less what you think of me, because I don’t know you.
It’s clear you don’t agree with me, which is fine. End of story.
Lets face it its almost stunning that the new Melrose Place can’ even get 2 million viewers. People just dont watch the network in general.
chuck
Dillan,
I laughed pretty good at your proposed schedule
Sundays: Smallville, NEW SMALLVILLE SPIN-OFF, NEW SCI FI DRAMA
– i think it might be a while before they try Sundays on their own original programming again. They need to just do the “Easy View” route they did a couple years ago with re-airings of some of the shows from the previous week.
Mondays: Gossip Girl, NEW FROTHY TEEN DRAMA
– BWAHH! I laughed so hard at the title. In fact I think they should just go ahead and greenlight a pilot for a show and actually just name it “Frothy Teen Drama” I would watch just for the title appearing on my tv.
Tuesdays: One Tree Hill, NEW SERIOUS ADULT DRAMA
– Hmmm what 90’s FOX drama can they remake next? Party of Five? Boston Public? Ally McBeal? Screw it…just go ahead with a remake of 24…while the original is still going. Makes just as much sense as some of the other decisions this network(including WB & UPN apart) has made in the past. Remember the pairing of 7th Heaven and Angel at one point in the WB?
Wednesdays: America’s Next Top Model, NEW OTT REALITY SERIES
– Lets just make this whole night about Tyra Banks. The more crap we give her to do the faster she will have to be committed to the loony bin. Follow ANTM with an hour long program where Tyra Banks screams about Vaseline.
Thursdays: The Vampire Diaries, Supernatural
– Don’t like VD but I agree with this pairing. As long as they don’t try to “Twilight” Supernatural along with VD.
Fridays: Encores/Imported Programming
– Encores for sure…but only encores of shows that lasted one season or less. Im sure they have enough material to last them until the end of time in that category. Imagine a night packed with Life on a Stick, That 80’s Show, and Murder in Small Town X.
Fridays: I meant to say that they Encores or Imported shows were only shows that came from FOX.
In all honesty they need to Fire Dawn O. I actually don’t hold her strategy against her, I actually think it’s a good strategy in theory. Her problem though is she has the same show on 4 times a week(out of 8 shows she has on her schedule).
The CW needs to learn to diversify the types of shows they have, while trying to attract a female audience. They basically should look at shows like One Tree Hill, Gossip Girls, 90210 and Melrose Place and can 2 of the 4, and in there place have some new drama targeted at females but not based around horny rich sluts.
I watch all CW shows but I only really care about my beloved Smallville.
Dawn needs to get fired already!
i think Dawn Ostroff is a major dumb-ass because she does not know how too run the cw.she has moved shows to different times messing with people’s rating like smallville. smallvile’s rating would of been differint if she did not move it.
oh for crying outloud people have been crying it’s dimiss for a long time now. if it hasn’t gone out by now it won’t no matter how much people cry and b—h about it. this channel, network still has a couple of more years in it still. every year is the same bs about the network closing down so get over it and enjoy it cause it’ll still be here another couple of more yrs then you can kiss it goodbye.
The CW has to stop putting spinoffs from other past shows and be more creative. They should quit making shows about the scandalous lives of rich and spoiled kids. Why is it always about the rich? It gets over the top ridiculous.
From the upcoming schedule, I hope the future is a bit brighter for The CW. By that I mean, I hope Rob (Veronica Mars) Thomas’ new show doesn’t get canned before it gets time to breathe.
Dawn always tries to get Thomas it seems, it appears she can tell what’s quality.
There is no such thing as broad programming anymore. Except for sports and annual events, everyone watches what specific type of programming they want. And now w. DVRs, Hulu, etc. what is a ‘network’ anyway? Certainly, what is a “broadcast network” anymore?
F., good point, I was thinking of writing a post on the term “broadcast network”, now that 90+% of the US population doesn’t get their TV from an over the air broadcast source.
I’ve noticed the Los Angeles CW affiliate KTLA is no longer including the CW logo on their branding – instead going back to the logo they had as an independent station. And – unless I’m mistaken – KTLA was a flagship for the WB/CW.
I don’t know how profitable cable is vs. a broadcast network, but I think a cable network made up of new programming at night and WB-ish shows during the day would work. If I remember correctly, The WB actually grew a lot of viewers from the fact that they had the Warner Bros.-based cartoons on Saturday mornings, getting viewers that “grew” into the prime time line-up.
I read a really fascinating book called “Season Finale” that talks about the rise and fall of the WB and UPN. It’s like night and day comparing the creativity differences between the networks. The WB also had an expert promo department, miles ahead of anything UPN could or would ever share.
It seems to me that Dawn Ostroff is kept at the CW because she’ll do whatever Moonves tells her. The fact that he can control her is good.
I will say canceling Veronica Mars was a good thing. The show had numerous chances and even repurposing on CBS and MTV and yet it still failed. Creatively, it dropped between seasons, and that FBI thing was atrocious. I will never watch a Rob Thomas-produced show again, so no interest in his new project.
And on that note – thus far, nothing about the CW’s development for next year excites me right now. Then again, I’m male so not in their target demo. I do miss the shows that appealed to both genders – probably why I love Smallville, Supernatural, and the Vampire Diaries more than their other stuff.
Still wish they’d have gone with a Smallville spin-off, too. I can’t believe considering the ratings for “Justice” a few years back they didn’t spin them off right then.
I miss The WB
For what is worth, Vampire Diaries is shaping up to be a big hit for The CW, maybe VD could do what 7th Heaven did with The WB.
I agree with R.G, airing sports might help The CW.
In theory, I don’t think that it is incorrect to target 18-34, although I think limiting it to just women, is just that, limitiing — and I don’t think it is incorrect to attempt to ‘brand’ your programming.
But it needs to work and so far, despite the ballyhoo drummed up over Gossip Girl, Vampire Diaries is the closest the CW has come to succeeding.
90210 was a failed experiment last season. It was folly to throw good money after bad and go with a Melrose remake. I don’t know what else the CW had to pick from but fergoshsakes — USA programming is beating them — these shows weren’t getting shopped around?
I gotta go with Dawn not being the right exec for this — I don’t know if anyone from the old WB would have been any better — but the WB was in better shape than UPN and Dawn came from UPN. Part of the problem may have been that there wasn’t anything wrong with the brand ‘WB’ and they should have kept it. Maybe the netlets WB & UPN just started to feel the pinch from viewer erosion that ALL broadcast networks have suffered first.
During the last years of WB they were actually struggling and if I remember it right they got beaten by UPN mainly because of the strength of ANTM and Smackdown and WB had a hard time time developing hit shows since One Tree Hill.
I actually thought the merging UPN and WB was a good idea since I was hoping it would make for a stronger network but well it turned out that they’re even weaker than the two.
The marketing of WB was really good,too bad CW didn’t have that.
Also many young women prefer to watch shows like Jon and Kate and even Robot Chicken than anything on the CW.
Heck even NCIS got more 18-34 year old women watching than any show on the CW combined.
I think if I were to suggest some original programming for them I’d say they need to make a female version of NCIS if they ever want to succeed, but then again the CW made a rule against making procedurals.
forg, What sports do you think the CW should air? I’d say either MLS soccer or NCAA basketball.
Forg – The WB was struggling and they could not find anything strong since One Tree Hill. Series like Summerland, Jack and Bobby, Related, and Just Legal all bombed and the only series that actually did well was Supernatural which is still airing. Even in the comedy department WB was doing badly with Twins, Living With Fran, the aging What I Like About You. WB only had veterans Gilmore Girls, 7th Heaven, Reba, Smallville, and One Tree Hill working out, the first three only aired a season on the CW before being axed. My guess is that the remaining struggling veterans from the WB/UPN combined with The CW’s original dramas s whats bringing the combined network down.
Dan, Supernatural is younger than OTH and was far stronger than OTH on WB. OTH wasn’t doing all that great in WB’s last season.
CW won’t fold, they are getting dangerously close though, they are struggling to pick up new shows, and the old ones are aging. One Tree Hill just doesn’t make anymore sense, Supernatural ends its run after this season, the 90210 franchise is just plain awful, Gossip Girl got old VERY fast and Smallville is into it’s 9th? season. They’ve got nothing left apart from The Vampire Diaries after this season, unless they find a TV show worth watching.
CW will still be their, it may become more similar to MyNetwork TV, but it will still be their…CW will not become a cable net, itt cost way to much tolaunch a new net and recieve the clerance that it has now…Thanks to digital TV most people can recieve CBS, ABC, NBC, FOX, CW, 5 different PBS nets, 5 different Religous Channles, My Net TV, Retro TV, MGM TV, etc. w/FCC’s must carrie rule then you would be crazy to start up a cable net when you could just launch a digital net
Targetting young women doesn’t seem like a bad idea. I didn’t know that young women only watch crappy shows with awful writing and acting, though. Learn something new every day!
Rename The CW to The WB, fire Dawn Ostroff and create more shows like Vampire Diaries, Supernatural, Smallville.
Dan, unless you’re a highly effeminate gay, bi and/or metrosexual, the CW doesn’t give two craps about you.
To Dawn-O, men only serve one purpose in life – intercourse – and it reflects in the majority of the programming and ad campaigns the CW has.
Without a doubt, the only reason Dawn-O hates Smallville so much is because it brings “too many” male viewers, and is keeping her “all-female” network from actually being all-female.
Need proof? How about when the deranged bint cancelled her highest rated series because it didn’t “fit in” with the rest of her schedule? WHAT. THE. HECK. IS. WRONG. WITH. HER???
Seriously, thank God for WBTV. They actually give a crap about Dawn-O destroying the network from the inside. It’s CBS who don’t care.
Another thing about CW,Smallville cannot last forever.
This helped Fox in the early 90’s. Perhaps pick up an NFL TV deal?
I’m sorry fans but Smallville needs to end already it jumped the ship already the man doesn’t even fly yet. The show already hit its prime seasons ago and its time for them to create another sci-fi series.
Dawn needs to ditch Smallville, America’s Next Top Model and One tree Hill all of these shows already have a million seasons and are taking up time for new shows that can actually be really good if given a chance.
I’m in agreement that Smallville can’t last forever, but I think most fans are looking at a potential 10th season to be its last. It’s a good, even number.
No Andrew at this point smallville fans are being selfish its been on for like 10 years they should end it with a big bang with a 2 hour series finale most shows can’t even past 2 seasons so need to stop complaining…
The CW should consider focusing on family friendly dramas such as 7th Heaven and Gilmore Girls. However, it should NOT do re-makes of them. They need fresh concepts.
I agree 100% TT this is why Life UneXepected might just do that lets hope they give it a proper chance.
Why isn’t anyone talking about the CW picking up sports? That’s probably the only obvious solution to their ratings slump.
R.G: I actually don’t have an idea of what sports they should air since I’m not familiar with that area
Oh yeah I forgot about Supernatural, that’s the last true WB hit and yes One Tree Hill during its last year on The WB was close to cancellation, there were rumors before that CW was choosing between One Tree Hill and Everwood.
Anyway, Smallville, One Tree Hill are aging but CW could not afford to lose them now because they are reliable ratings performer which they need to launch new shows.
Vampire Diaries is getting good ratings, it got a 2.0 18-49 which is amazing for CW, maybe things will be better for the CW eventually
Dillan, although I’m not the biggest CW supporter your suggestion that viewers of the CW shows that aren’t SV or SPN are “a highly effeminate gay, bi and/or metrosexual” is very offensive.
Even if a viewer is gay/bi/metrosexual, is there a reason to call them “highly effeminate?”
I’d actually go so far as to suggest The CW leaves gay viewers out as well, and that shows like Buffy, Charmed, and even yes, early Smallville had bigger gay followings than Gossip Girl/90210/Melrose/etc.
And R.G. said:
“Why isn’t anyone talking about the CW picking up sports? That’s probably the only obvious solution to their ratings slump.”
You know, when FOX got football in the mid 90’s that seemed to me to be the “official” moment when the network started to be taken seriously by the masses. Yes, they had hits like the Simpsons, Married With Children, and the X-Files, but when they got football, EVERYONE took notice.
What still amazes me is that for the most part the CW ratings are less than what either UPN or The WB did on its own. You would think that since they were two networks around the same level of ratings expectation that they were competing for viewers. Merging them into one network should have brought more viewers since they didn’t have as many options on network television to choose from.
Im sure that right now given the opportunity to go back in time and un-cancel shows while they were on the WB or UPN they would do so.
Look at some canceled shows as compared to current CW shows by season in millions of viewers
WB
Everwood – 4.8, 4.6, 4.3, 3.6
Angel – 4.8, 4.1, 4.4, 3.7, 4.0, 4.2
UPN
Star Trek Enterprise – 5.9, 3.94, 3.3, 2.81
The CW
Gossip Girl – 2.6, 2.8, 2.2
90210 – 2.8, 2.4
Melrose Place – 1.61 avg so far
Ostroff should be fired because she ruined all the WB shows with her obsession with anoressic girls.
I miss old school supernatural so much. The episodes with Sam and Dean killing monsters with the occasional girl of the week.
Now with that awful disgusting angel the show sucks like never before, the actor can’t act for sh!t.
“You know, when FOX got football in the mid 90’s that seemed to me to be the “official” moment when the network started to be taken seriously by the masses. Yes, they had hits like the Simpsons, Married With Children, and the X-Files, but when they got football, EVERYONE took notice”
Exactly. Why doesn’t the CW go that route? I mean it’s not like 18-34 year old women don’t watch sports, they do, probably a lot more of them watch NFL games than CW shows.
However if the CW were to ever get sports deals it will most likely be college sports that isn’t football or basketball, or soccer, or ice hockey, practically sports that Americans don’t give a damn.
Forg – Thats true, CW was choosing between One Tree Hill and Everwood and they made the smart choice of One Tree Hill. Everwood would have been renewed for mondays if 7th Heaven had stayed axed in May 2006. While the series declined, One Tree Hill along with fellow veterans Supernatural and Smallville have been reliable performers. Less reliable CW originals like Gossip Girl and 90210 have done OK but nowhere near how well WB and UPN’s best series have. In fact both CW originals have only done a bit better than some of WB and UPN’s higher rated cancelled series. With CW’s WB veterans declining and their original dramas doing subpar it seems it may actually be the end for CW soon. The Vampire Diaries seemed to emerge as the only hit series for the network.
I remember before the CW became the CW (back before the merger between UPN/CBS and The WB).
Back then, the WB gave us many more genre shows that we (I) enjoyed, and they seemed to be doing hella good. There wasn’t a night I wasn’t watching that channel.
We used to have (coming from the WB): Roswell, Charmed, Angel, Buffy, 7th Heaven, Felicity, Gilmore Girls, Small Ville, Supernatural.
Since the merger in ‘06, other than Small Ville and Supernatural (and now The Vampire Diaries), what else does the CW have to offer?
They should bring back more genre shows, esp too if Small Ville and Supernatural are to end soon.