Buyer Database · Buyer / Distributor · Updated
The CW
The CW, now majority-owned by Nexstar Media Group, is rebuilding its identity around low-cost international acquisitions, acquired library titles, and sports rights as it pivots away from its legacy young-adult scripted brand toward broad-audience, cost-disciplined programming.
Current mandate
Under Nexstar's majority ownership, The CW is actively repositioning itself as a broad-audience broadcast network, shedding its longtime young-adult identity in favor of programming that travels across demographics and keeps costs low. The most visible recent landmark on the scripted side is a deal with Lionsgate to acquire all five existing seasons of ABC's blue-collar sitcom The Conners, which the network is deploying to anchor its newly designated Thursday comedy night alongside Canadian acquisitions Son of a Critch and Children Ruin Everything. The network has also recently acquired the canceled Hallmark ranch drama Ride and will soon become the exclusive U.S. broadcast home of the NASCAR Xfinity Series, signaling that sports and acquired library content are now core pillars alongside scripted programming.
Over the past twelve months, The CW's scripted acquisition pattern has been consistent and clearly sourced: Canadian comedies and dramas dominate the slate, with titles such as Son of a Critch (co-produced for Season 3), Children Ruin Everything (first U.S. run on Season 3, premiering Jan. 11), Run the Burbs, Sullivan's Crossing, and The Spencer Sisters all reflecting the network's preference for finished or near-finished international product that limits development risk and production spend. UK and Australian titles are also reportedly in the mix, though Canadian content has been the primary pipeline. Budgets across all recent acquisitions are undisclosed, and the network's public posture consistently emphasizes cost discipline over prestige spending.
For writers and rights holders, the practical access pathway runs through the network's demonstrated appetite for finished international series or library acquisitions rather than original development pitches. The CW is not publicly soliciting unsolicited scripts; the acquisition pattern suggests that relationships with Canadian broadcasters, international distributors, and established U.S. studios (as with the Lionsgate/Conners deal) are the operative channels. Decision makers tracked across the organization number 75, according to recent coverage, and the network's latest tracked signal dates to June 2026.
Signature peaks
- Primary source Canadian Scripted Pipeline — Comedies and dramas from Canada dominate recent scripted acquisitions, per reporter analysis
- 99 Total Records (12mo) — Tracked activity signals across the past twelve months
- 3 titles anchored Thursday Comedy Block — The Conners, Son of a Critch, and Children Ruin Everything form the designated comedy night
Mandate dimensions
- Genre focus
- Not disclosed
- Territory focus
- Not disclosed
- Budget tier (observed)
- Not disclosed
- Access pattern
- The CW acquires primarily through established studio and international distributor relationships. The Lionsgate deal for The Conners and the cluster of Canadian comedy and drama pickups both reflect intermediary-driven access rather than open submission. Rights holders with finished or near-finished international series, particularly from Canada, the UK, or Australia, should approach through a recognized distributor or agent with existing CW ties. Direct unsolicited outreach is not a documented pathway.
- Deal structure
- All disclosed deals list budgets as not disclosed. The network's stated strategic posture prioritizes low programming costs. Deal structures appear to favor library acquisitions (multi-season packages such as the five-season Conners deal) and international co-productions (Son of a Critch Season 3 is a co-production). Broadcast rights deals for finished series, rather than development agreements, are the dominant documented format.
Recent acquisitions
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Children Ruin Everything (Canadian comedy)
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FBoy Island Season 2 (broadcast rights)
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Ownership by Nexstar Media Group (majority)
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PBA professional bowling
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Run the Burbs (Canadian comedy)
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Son of a Critch (Canadian comedy)
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Sullivan’s Crossing (Canadian drama)
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The Chosen (Seasons 1–3) – U.S. broadcast rights
Market context
"The CW is relying largely on international acquisitions (primarily from Canada but also the UK and Australia) on the scripted side beyond a handful of existing CW dramas."
Under Nexstar's majority ownership, The CW is actively repositioning itself as a broad-audience broadcast network, shedding its longtime young-adult identity in favor of programming that travels across demographics and keeps costs low. The most visible recent landmark on the scripted side is a deal with Lionsgate to acquire all five existing seasons of ABC's blue-collar sitcom The Conners, which the network is deploying to anchor its newly designated Thursday comedy night alongside Canadian acquisitions Son of a Critch and Children Ruin Everything. The network has also recently acquired the canceled Hallmark ranch drama Ride and will soon become the exclusive U.S. broadcast home of the NASCAR Xfinity Series, signaling that sports and acquired library content are now core pillars alongside scripted programming.
Common questions about The CW
Does The CW accept unsolicited scripts?
There is no public indication that The CW accepts unsolicited scripts. The network's recent acquisition pattern points overwhelmingly toward finished or near-finished international series acquired through established distributor relationships, such as the Lionsgate deal for The Conners and multiple Canadian broadcaster partnerships. Writers seeking placement should work through a recognized agent, manager, or international distributor with an existing relationship with the network rather than submitting directly.
What budgets does The CW work with for acquisitions?
No specific acquisition prices or license fees have been publicly disclosed for any of The CW's recent deals, including the Lionsgate/Conners pact and its Canadian comedy and drama pickups. Reporter analysis consistently characterizes the network's overarching mandate as keeping programming costs low as part of its path to profitability under Nexstar ownership. All budget figures across the tracked acquisition list are listed as not disclosed.
Does The CW acquire titles from film festivals?
Festival acquisition is not a documented part of The CW's current strategy. The network's scripted pipeline is built around finished international series from Canada, the UK, and Australia, as well as library deals with major U.S. studios. Its recent moves, including Ride from Hallmark and The Conners from ABC via Lionsgate, reflect a preference for proven, already-produced content rather than festival discoveries or early-stage independent films.
How do you reach decision makers at The CW?
ScriptMatch tracks 75 decision makers across The CW's programming and acquisition leadership as of the latest signal in June 2026. The network's demonstrated deal flow runs through established studio and distributor relationships, such as Lionsgate for The Conners and Canadian broadcast partners for its international comedy and drama slate. Industry representatives with existing ties to those intermediary channels are the most documented pathway to The CW's acquisition team.
What genres is The CW acquiring right now?
The CW's current scripted focus is on low-cost international acquisitions, primarily Canadian comedies (Son of a Critch, Children Ruin Everything, Run the Burbs) and Canadian dramas (Sullivan's Crossing, The Spencer Sisters, Ride). Blue-collar and broad-audience sitcoms are a stated priority, as evidenced by the Conners acquisition. Beyond scripted, the network is expanding into sports rights, reportedly securing the NASCAR Xfinity Series and PBA professional bowling.
Is The CW currently active in acquisitions?
Yes. The CW's latest tracked signal dates to June 2026, and the network logged 99 activity records over the past twelve months. While unique deal counts in the most recent 30- and 90-day windows show zero closed transactions in the tracked data, deal velocity in the 30-day window is recorded at 15, suggesting ongoing engagement activity. The network's strategic pivot under Nexstar is an active, continuing process rather than a completed one.
Adjacent buyers in this lane
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