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

By Chris Leo Palermino Updated January 13, 2016

cw network standalone streaming service theflash1

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.

Topics

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…

Audio / Video

How to choose the best anime streaming service in 2022

Amazon Alexa Voice Remote

Anime is the Japanese word for “animation.” These days, it’s become a blanket term for any Japanese-made or influenced cartoon series or film. Anime has been around for decades with international hits like “Dragon Ball,” “Sailor Moon,” and “Naruto.”

Its popularity is seeing a new surge thanks to streaming services, which have helped the genre gain new audiences in all corners of the world.

Audio / Video

Best streaming services for Super Bowl 2022

An image from inside SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles.

The NFL playoffs are underway, and teams are battling it out to see who will represent the AFC and NFC in Super Bowl 2022 in Los Angeles. So, too, rages the battle for the best streaming service for Super Bowl 2022.

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.

Entertainment

The best on-demand streaming services

Amazon Fire TV Streaming Stick 4K

Of the nearly countless on-demand streaming services out there, three stand out: Amazon Prime Video, Hulu, and Netflix. Unfortunately, choosing which one is worthy of your credit card information and time isn't an easy task -- and with a combined subscription fee that's north of $40, subscribing to all three isn't a viable option for most.

Even if you're cutting the cord, the trio -- merged with a channel-specific service such as CBS All Access or HBO and a live TV platform such as Sling TV -- could add up to the same monthly cost as your traditional cable or satellite. So much for those cord-cutting savings, huh? That's why it's important to understand what you need from an on-demand streaming service. So, to help you find the best on-demand streamer for you, we've put together this comprehensive comparison guide.
Price
Amazon offers two main versions of its Prime subscription, either $119 annually or $13 per month (or $59 annually when you sign up with a valid student email address). Both versions net you the same perks, including two-day shipping -- or free one-day shipping in some cases -- discounted prices on select items, cloud storage, and, most importantly for our purposes, on-demand video (and music) streaming. The best part is that 4K Ultra HD content with HDR comes standard at no extra cost. Plus, you can share accounts with friends and family, so everyone can get in on the deals.
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.
Especially for those who want to stream 4K at the lowest possible price, Amazon is the cheapest bet and has stated that the company won't raise prices for 4K streaming. The sheer number of extra features and benefits included in Amazon Prime gives it an advantage over its competitors, as well. Throw in Amazon's student discount, and this is an easy win.
Winner: Amazon