As the CW Turns 20, the Once YA-Focused Network Takes a Look at the Road Ahead

By Michael Schneider

Michael Schneider

Executive Editor

Latest

• Former CW Bosses Dawn Ostroff and Mark Pedowitz Look Back at the Network’s First 20 Years 30 minutes ago
• As the CW Turns 20, the Once YA-Focused Network Takes a Look at the Road Ahead 1 hour ago
• ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live’ Kicks Off Broadcast’s Fall TV Premiere Week as No. 1 Show in Late Night (EXCLUSIVE) 1 day ago

On a recent Saturday night, the CW found itself in an unusual position: Beating ABC and CBS in total viewers. Credit goes to their coverage of college football, as its Aug. 29 broadcast of a surprisingly competitive matchup between Florida State and New Mexico State averaged 2.1 million viewers, making it the most-watched sports broadcast in network history.

Granted, the CW has only been in the sports business for three years. But it was a reminder that, as the network marks its 20th anniversary this month, the broadcast network is admittedly in quite a different place than it was even a few years ago.

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