Netflix/CW Deal Comes to an End

It was announced today by Deadline that the longstanding streaming agreement between Netflix and The CW is not being renewed this year. The deal began in 2011, and was renewed in 2016, but with many networks now offering their own streaming platforms and the market for streaming deals being far more competitive, new CW series such as Batwoman, Katy Keene, and Nancy Drew will be shopped individually.

However fans shouldn’t panic yet! The end of this output deal does not mean CW content will end up elsewhere, only that Netflix will now have to bid for each show alongside other streaming platforms.

CW series with past seasons that premiered in the 2018-19 season, including Riverdale and The Flash, will remain on Netflix through the life of the series. New show Batwoman will likely end up on the forthcoming WarnerMedia streaming service while Katy Keene and Nancy Drew are currently being shopped, according to Deadline, with Netflix among the contenders.

The former deal was what is known as a “library pact,” meaning the winning platform will bid for the completed seasons a show, and any new deals will be the same format. During the season, fans will still find all recent episodes on the CW’s current online platform.