The CW Network
The CW Network is a U.S. broadcast television network reaching ~80% of American households, majority-owned by Nexstar Media Group. It offers free over-the-air entertainment and 800+ hours of live sports annually, including exclusive WWE NXT, NASCAR, and college football and basketball, distributed via streaming partners ESPN and Roku.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2006
- HeadquartersBurbank, United States
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingDigital Commerce or Content
What The CW Network does
The CW Network is a U.S. broadcast television network launched in 2006 and currently majority-owned by Nexstar Media Group (NASDAQ: NXST), which acquired control in 2021 from original founders CBS Corporation and Warner Bros. Entertainment. The network operates as a free over-the-air broadcaster reaching approximately 80% of U.S. households through owned-and-operated and affiliate stations, augmented by digital streaming via its cwtv.com platform, the CW mobile app, and new distribution partnerships with ESPN App (exclusive streaming home for CW Sports, launching Summer 2026) and The Roku Channel (next-day entertainment hub launching Fall 2026).
The CW has executed a strategic pivot under President Brad Schwartz toward live sports, scaling from zero to over 800 hours of live sports programming annually across NASCAR's O'Reilly Auto Parts Series, WWE NXT (exclusive home for 20 Premium Live Events plus 52 weekly shows annually), ACC/Pac-12/Mountain West college football and basketball, PBR Bull Riding, PBA Bowling, AVP Beach Volleyball, and LIV Golf. Entertainment programming continues to feature scripted series (All American, Sullivan's Crossing, Superman and Lois, Walker, 90210, Penn & Teller: Fool Us), game shows (Scrabble, Trivial Pursuit), unscripted programming (Banana Ball World Tour), and licensed international series. Core technology is broadcast infrastructure with digital streaming extensions; no proprietary AI/ML or developer-facing API capabilities are documented.
The CW generates revenue primarily through advertising sales, supplemented by cable/satellite carriage fees, streaming distribution agreements (with CW retaining advertising sales control), and sports media rights licensing. Following programming restructuring that dedicates 47% of schedule to sports or sports-adjacent content, the network has achieved a 32% cash flow improvement and is on a stated path to quarterly profitability by Q4 2026. The network is one of five major U.S. broadcast networks and operates with 101-250 employees from Burbank, California.
The CW Network firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- The CW Network
- Legal name
- The CW Network, LLC
- Website
- https://cwtv.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2006
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- The CW Network is a U.S. broadcast television network reaching ~80% of American households, majority-owned by Nexstar Media Group. It offers free over-the-air entertainment and 800+ hours of live sports annually, including exclusive WWE NXT, NASCAR, and college football and basketball, distributed via streaming partners ESPN and Roku.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
The CW Network industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Broadcast Television & Live Sports Programming
- NAICS
- Television Broadcasting Stations (51612), Television Broadcasting Stations (516120), Radio and Television Broadcasting Stations (5161)
- SIC
- Television Broadcasting Stations (4833)
- akta.pro primary industry
- National & Regional Sports TV Networks (Linear) (MPABAJAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- National Sports Broadcast Networks (MPABAAAC), Free TV / Syndication Distribution (MPADAJAI), College & University Sports Networks (Conference/School-Owned) (MPABAJAD)
Keywords
Where The CW Network is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Burbank
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Markets served
The CW Network business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Digital Commerce or Content
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Supply Chain
Revenue model
- Advertising Revenue: The CW generates primary revenue through advertising sales. Nexstar reported that The CW achieved 32% cash flow improvement through restructured programming where 47% of schedule is sports or sports-adjacent content.
- Carriage Fees: Broadcast network generates revenue from cable and satellite carriage fees for distribution through pay-TV packages.
- Streaming Distribution Deals: Revenue generated through streaming partnerships with ESPN (ESPN Unlimited subscribers) and Roku (advertising opportunities combining broadcast and streaming audiences). CW retains control over advertising sales for streaming content.
- Media Rights Agreements: Revenue from media rights deals for sports content including NASCAR, WWE NXT, ACC, Pac-12, and Mountain West conferences.
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels6 records
The CW Network product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The CW Network is a free over-the-air U.S. broadcast television network producing and airing original entertainment series, game shows, and (since 2023) an expanding slate of live sports programming including NASCAR, WWE NXT, and college football and basketball from the ACC, Pac-12, and Mountain West conferences. Distribution spans linear broadcast, the CW App (cwtv.com) and mobile apps, and streaming partnerships with the ESPN App and The Roku Channel, monetized primarily through advertising sales and cable/satellite carriage fees.
Product overview
The CW Network is a broadcast television network offering a unified streaming platform (CW TV/cwtv.com) that distributes live sports programming through CW Sports and entertainment series on-demand. CW Sports, launched in 2023, has rapidly expanded to become a significant sports broadcaster covering NASCAR O'Reilly Auto Parts Series, WWE NXT (20 Premium Live Events plus 52 weekly shows), ACC/Pac-12/Mountain West college sports, PBR Bull Riding, PBA Bowling, and AVP Beach Volleyball. Entertainment programming includes original series (All American, Sullivan's Crossing, Superman and Lois, Walker, The Swarm), game shows (Scrabble, Trivial Pursuit), and the Banana Ball World Tour. The network also operates multiple multicast channels including CW Forever, CW Gold, and branded content channels.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- CW TV (cwtv.com) Owned direct-to-consumer streaming and on-demand platform for The CW Network, offering free access to full-length episodes, live sports coverage, and original programming across web, iOS, and Android.
- CW Sports The CW's live sports programming division covering NASCAR O'Reilly Auto Parts Series, WWE NXT, college football and basketball (ACC, Pac-12, Mountain West), PBR Bull Riding, PBA Bowling, and AVP Beach Volleyball.
- NASCAR on The CW Coverage of the NASCAR O'Reilly Auto Parts Series including race broadcasts, replays, practice sessions, qualifying rounds, and driver content available free over-the-air and via streaming partners.
- WWE NXT on The CW Weekly professional wrestling programming (52 live Tuesday night shows per year) plus 20 Premium Live Events annually including Stand & Deliver, The Great American Bash, Deadline, and Vengeance Day, making The CW the exclusive home for all WWE NXT content.
- ACC Sports on The CW College football and basketball coverage from the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) under a deal extending through the 2030-31 season, with The CW carrying 14 football games, 30 men's basketball games, and 10 women's basketball games per year.
- Pac-12 Sports on The CW Pac-12 Conference college football and basketball coverage on The CW as part of new media-rights deals with CBS, The CW, and USA Sports covering the rebuilding conference.
- Mountain West Sports on The CW Mountain West Conference sports coverage under a five-year deal through 2030-31 covering football, basketball, and Olympic sports across broadcast, cable, and streaming platforms.
- CW Sports on ESPN App (ESPN Unlimited) Exclusive streaming distribution of CW Sports live events — including college football and basketball (ACC, Pac-12, Mountain West), NASCAR O'Reilly Auto Parts Series, WWE NXT, PBA Bowling, PBR Bull Riding, and AVP Volleyball — to ESPN Unlimited subscribers via the ESPN App starting Summer 2026.
- CW Content on The Roku Channel CW-branded hub on The Roku Channel providing next-day streaming of scripted and unscripted entertainment programming plus WWE NXT, with 800+ hours of library content reaching more than half of U.S. broadband households.
- Sullivan's Crossing Original scripted drama series on The CW based on novels by Robyn Carr, currently in Season 4 and ranking among the network's top three shows by total audience and 18-49 demographic.
- Scrabble (Game Show) Game-show version of Scrabble airing on The CW, hosted by Craig Ferguson in Season 2, featuring competitive word-game play.
- Trivial Pursuit Trivia-based game show adaptation airing on The CW featuring competitive gameplay.
- Banana Ball World Tour Coverage of the Savannah Bananas' Banana Ball World Tour featuring the Party Animals, Texas Tailgaters, and Savannah Bananas in choreographed, entertainment-led baseball matchups.
- Private Eyes West Coast Crime drama spin-off of Private Eyes airing on The CW and licensed to Global (Corus Entertainment) for Canadian broadcast, starring Jason Priestley and Cindy Sampson.
- CW Channels (multicast networks) A portfolio of additional multicast channels operated by The CW including CW Forever, CW Gold, CW Presents WWE NXT, ACC Digital Network, Alien Nation, A&E Crime 360, Midsomer Murders, Ebony TV, The Bold and the Beautiful, Top Gear UK, and Dog the Bounty Hunter.
Quantifiable outcome
- 32% cash flow improvement through restructured programming slate
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use The CW Network
Customer profileNamed customers7 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
The CW Network technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature1 record
The CW Network partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered minor, core and support.
- Global (Corus Entertainment)minorGlobal, a Canadian broadcaster owned by Corus Entertainment, acquired The CW's Private Eyes West Coast for Canadian broadcast in a 9:30pm ET time slot. Global confident the spin-off of the crime drama has already been renewed for a second season.
- ACC (Atlantic Coast Conference)coreESPN, The CW, and the ACC agreed to a new television deal extending ACC football and basketball broadcasts through the 2030-31 season. The agreement grants The CW 14 regular-season football games, 30 men's basketball games, and 10 women's basketball games annually. Since the partnership began in 2023, ACC viewership has trended upward on The CW.
- Raycom SportssupportRaycom Sports will continue to produce ACC games for The CW under the new sublicense agreement extending through 2030-31. The deal extends a partnership that began in 2023 when Raycom moved its games from Diamond Sports Group-owned networks following Diamond's bankruptcy filing.
- RokucoreContent distribution deal with CW Network to bring programming to the Roku Channel starting fall 2026. This follows the broader partnership announced April 29, 2026, bringing CW-branded entertainment content to the platform.
- ESPNcoreThe CW and ESPN announced a partnership making the ESPN App the exclusive streaming home for all CW Sports live events, launching Summer 2026. The agreement covers more than 800 hours of live sports annually including college football and basketball from ACC, Pac-12, and Mountain West conferences, NASCAR O'Reilly Auto Parts Series, WWE NXT, PBA Bowling, PBR Bull Riding, and AVP Volleyball.
- RokucoreThe CW and Roku announced a partnership launching Fall 2026 bringing CW entertainment programming to The Roku Channel for next-day streaming. The CW-branded hub will feature over 800 hours of library content including scripted series, unscripted shows, and WWE NXT, reaching more than half of U.S. broadband households.
- WWEcoreThe CW acquired exclusive broadcast rights to WWE NXT Premium Live Events in a multi-year deal. CW became the sole home for all NXT programming, broadcasting 20 PLEs over the coming years (including Stand and Deliver, The Great American Bash, Deadline, and Vengeance Day) alongside weekly Tuesday night shows. The deal expands upon the existing five-year agreement entered in October 2024.
- Mountain West ConferencecoreThe Mountain West Conference announced a new multi-platform media rights package with CBS Sports, FOX Sports, and The CW Network. The five-year deal for The CW Network through 2030-31 delivers over 150 live events annually across broadcast, cable, and streaming platforms covering football, basketball, and Olympic sports.
- KiswesupportKiswe partnered with CBS Sports, FOX Sports, and The CW for the Mountain West media rights package. Kiswe will help launch the MW App as a paid subscription DTC streaming service in July 2026, available through Amazon Prime Video, Roku, and Apple TV.
- Pac-12 ConferencecoreThe Pac-12 conference announced a multi-year broadcasting agreement with The CW through 2031, complementing prior deals with CBS and ESPN. The deal extends the league's media rights for football and basketball amid conference restructuring following schools' departures.
- LIV GolfminorLIV Golf secured a TV deal with CW Network, expanding its global schedule distribution. The Saudi-backed golf league operates independently while facing ongoing industry competition with the PGA Tour.
Scale indicators12 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
The CW Network competitors and assessment
Company assessmentMarket position
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
The CW Network social profiles
Digital presenceThe CW Network compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance2 records
The CW Network financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
The CW Network leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles4 records
The CW Network funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
The CW Network M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about The CW Network
What does The CW Network do?
The CW Network is a free over-the-air U.S. broadcast television network producing and airing original entertainment series, game shows, and (since 2023) an expanding slate of live sports programming including NASCAR, WWE NXT, and college football and basketball from the ACC, Pac-12, and Mountain West conferences. Distribution spans linear broadcast, the CW App (cwtv.com) and mobile apps, and streaming partnerships with the ESPN App and The Roku Channel, monetized primarily through advertising sales and cable/satellite carriage fees.
Is The CW Network a public or private company?
The CW Network is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was The CW Network founded?
The CW Network was founded in 2006. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is The CW Network based?
The CW Network is headquartered in Burbank, United States, in the North America region.
How does The CW Network make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Advertising Revenue is the primary driver. The others are carriage Fees, streaming Distribution Deals and media Rights Agreements.
Does The CW Network have an API?
No public API is recorded for The CW Network.
What industry is The CW Network in?
The CW Network's product category is Broadcast Television & Live Sports Programming. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPABAJAA, National & Regional Sports TV Networks (Linear), with a secondary code of MPABAAAC, National Sports Broadcast Networks. Its NAICS code is 51612 and its SIC code is 4833.