The CW shows, the network behind a run of DC superhero series and teen-skewing dramas.
The CW is an American broadcast network formed in 2006 from the merger of The WB and UPN, historically known for teen- and young-adult-skewing dramas and a large slate of DC Comics superhero series often referred to collectively as the "Arrowverse." Ownership of the network shifted in 2022 to Nexstar Media Group, which has since adjusted its programming strategy toward more unscripted and sports content alongside scripted holdovers.
Despite the ownership and strategy changes, The CW's legacy catalog of genre and teen dramas remains widely available and influential in shaping 2010s streaming-era superhero television.
The CW forms as a joint venture between CBS Corporation and Warner Bros., combining the former WB and UPN networks.
Arrow, The Flash, Supergirl, and related series build a large interconnected DC television universe exclusive to The CW.
Nexstar Media Group becomes majority owner of The CW, shifting programming strategy in subsequent years.
| Title | Debut | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Supernatural | 2005 | One of the network's longest-running series |
| Arrow | 2012 | Launched the DC "Arrowverse" of interconnected superhero shows |
| The Flash | 2014 | Became one of the Arrowverse's flagship series |
| Riverdale | 2017 | A dark reimagining of the Archie Comics characters |
| Compared To | Key Difference |
|---|---|
| The WB / UPN | The CW was formed in 2006 specifically to combine the two struggling fifth/sixth-place networks into a single, more competitive youth-skewing broadcaster. |
| ABC/NBC/CBS/Fox | As a smaller 'fifth network,' The CW has historically programmed fewer original nights per week and leaned more on acquired and unscripted content than the legacy Big Four. |
'CW' comes from the first initials of its original co-owners, CBS and Warner Bros., which jointly launched the network in 2006.
The CW's interconnected superhero dramas, including Arrow, The Flash, and Supergirl, became known collectively as the Arrowverse, with multiple series sharing a continuity and crossover events.
Nexstar Media Group, primarily a local-TV station operator, took majority control of The CW in 2022, shifting its programming strategy toward more unscripted and sports content.
The Arrowverse series largely concluded in the early-to-mid 2020s as The CW shifted its programming strategy following its 2022 change in ownership.
The CW originally launched as a joint venture between CBS Corporation and Warner Bros. before Nexstar Media Group acquired majority ownership in 2022.
No. Nexstar Media Group acquired a 75% majority stake in 2022; Warner Bros. Discovery and Paramount Global retained minority interests.
The CW built its identity on young-adult-skewing dramas like Supernatural, Gossip Girl, Riverdale, and its Arrowverse superhero shows.
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