CW Network could bail on Netflix and Hulu in favor of its own standalone streaming service

By Chris Leo Palermino January 13, 2016

cw network standalone streaming service theflash1 — Image used with permission by copyright holder

Warner Bros. and CBS are considering launching a new streaming service for its youth-oriented The CW Network that would cost subscribers between$2 to $4 per month. The new initiative, which comes as CW winds up current deals with Netflix and Hulu, is aimed to squeeze revenue from fans who already watch its popular shows — including Jane the Virgin — online, according to Bloomberg. The CW-dedicated streamer would feature a “live feed of popular shows like The Flash” and on-demand viewing of programs.

Creating a CW-dedicated streaming service would help the network pick up the steam it’s lost as young viewers watch shows online rather than on broadcast TV. As of early January, the network was averaging 1.92 million viewers per night in primetime (down from 2.2 million in 2014) according to Nielsen. It would also help negotiations with local affiliate Tribune Media, which owns stations that air the network in New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago.

Although consistently lagging behind the big four broadcast networks, The CW has received Golden Globes in two consecutive years. On Sunday, Rachel Bloom won the award for her performance in Crazy Ex-Girlfriend. Last year, Gina Rodriguez won for her starring role in Jane the Virgin.

Currently, Netflix offers CW shows’ past seasons and Hulu offers episodes of current seasons the day after their broadcast air date. The network wouldn’t likely re-up with the streamers if it goes forward with this option. “[We’re] exploring many, many, many of our options, and there are many entities who are quite interested in the CW product,” said CW president Mark Pedowitz at the Television Critics Association’s winter press tour according to The Hollywood Reporter.

If The CW does decide to launch a streaming service, its part-owner, CBS, has experience with CBS All Access. The network’s standalone streamer launched late in 2014 and gives cord-cutters live streams of shows and on-demand TV for $6 per month.

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Chris Leo Palermino

Former Digital Trends Contributor

Chris Leo Palermino is a music, tech, business, and culture journalist based between New York and Boston. He also contributes…

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If you're a cord-cutter, you've got more options than you probably realize. Many streaming services are showing Super Bowl 56, so you won't need a cable subscription or an antenna (but if you're considering the latter, we've got you covered, too). And whether you're accessing them directly through your smart TV or a streaming device, a few of the standout services we recommend are FuboTV, Sling TV, and Hulu +Live TV, which are reasonably priced and all have access to NBC, the official broadcasters of the Super Bowl this year. We've got the goods on those and more below.

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Netflix's various subscription tiers currently range from $9 to $18 depending on your desired video quality -- SD resolution is just $9 per month, but you can only stream on one device at a time. Moving up to HD will cost you $14 per month for two streams while moving up to 4K Ultra HD will now cost you $18 per month for four streams at a time. The prices will also go up should you add the DVD/Blu-ray rental service.
Hulu currently starts at just $7 for the ad-based service or $13 for the ad-free option (which we still highly recommend, even at nearly double the cost). Hulu's options don't stop there as it also offers a streaming live-TV package called Hulu+Live TV for $65 (increasing to $70 per month as of December 21, 2021), which is similar to Sling TV and YouTube TV. The subscription includes more than 75-plus channels on top of the service's regular on-demand library, and there are also add-on features at an additional fee, including a $6 fee to get rid of most ads altogether. You'll also get better savings with Hulu if you're a Disney+ and ESPN+ subscriber, as the illustrious Disney Bundle saves you $6 on the streaming trio.
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