- The CW has partnerships with LIV, ACC, WWE, and Nascar
- They also air ‘Inside the NFL’
- The network aims to expand into primetime sports
The CW is planning to broaden its sports rights portfolio, seeing an opportunity for broadcast networks to benefit from the rise of cord-cutting and the decline of regional sports networks (RSN).
Sports programming has become increasingly important for The CW ever since Nexstar took over the network in 2022, securing a deal for LIV Golf that led to collaborations with the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC), Nascar, and WWE.
In an interview with Axios, CW president Dennis Miller highlighted that while broadcast networks like The CW have enjoyed the advantages of cable in terms of carriage fees and distribution, they are not as dependent on the traditional bundle model.
Miller argued that wider accessibility, the significance of local news for certain audiences, and the potential for increased advertising make traditional networks appealing partners for rights holders in a changing media landscape.
“Local news remains essential and holds a special status in the regulatory environment due to its importance to the local community,” Miller stated.
While most of The CW’s sports content is scheduled in timeslots previously filled with paid ads and religious programs, the network is eager to expand its primetime sports offerings and sees potential in local sports. Several CW affiliates have already entered agreements with major US league teams following the end of RSN contracts.
“We are in discussions with individual teams and leagues to determine the best path forward,” Miller shared with Axios. “There is still a gap between the lucrative contracts of the RSN era and the appropriate pricing in today’s market.”