OMFG: The Web Is Killing The CW (TWX, CBS)

Michael Learmonth | May 16, 2008 7:21 AM

gossip.jpegThe CW has a tortured relationship with the Web. Last month the youth-oriented network tried to stop ratings declines for its "hit" show "Gossip Girl" by taking episodes off the Web. That didn't really work. Now, with ratings down 28%, the WSJ says the CW might just have one more season to prove itself before at least one of its co-owners -- it doesn't specify whether that's Time Warner (TWX) or CBS -- bails out.

What does the Journal think is wrong with The CW? You guessed it:

Part of the problem is that the CW's young audience is most prone to spend leisure time on the Internet. Last winter's Hollywood writers' strike, which forced scripted shows off the air for three months, hastened the defection of viewers to the Web.

It's a convenient theory, impossible to prove or disprove, but it seems unlikely the Web would be a more powerful draw for CW viewers than cable TV. (MTV's "The Hills" is crushing "Gossip Girl" in the ratings.) More likely, young people just aren't that into The CW. Or, they're watching the show on their own time (an episode of "Gossip Girl" is the top-selling TV show on iTunes).

We, for one, hope the C-Dub sticks around. Here's red carpet video from The CW's upfront presentation for advertisers earlier this week:

 

 

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58 Comments

c007km (URL) said:
I agree; it's too easy to say "viewers are on the web all day;" I usually expect a little more research from WSJ.

Fact of the matter is, the dem for web-video is older (as SAI discovered with the XboxFire YouTube demographics), because most people watching tons of YouTube are wasting their employer's time - not their own.

Kids are on their own time, and they're too smart to waste it watching monkeys drink their own piss.
jason oliver (URL) said:
we're definitely way too smart to waste time watching monkeys drink their own piss.

we spend our time downloading shows like gossip girl from bittorrent and watch it whenever we want.

it's funny to read about what old people think young people do.
Shawn K (URL) said:
Quite frankly, I don't pay too much attention to what the networks do anymore, I only looked at this because I saw a picture from 'Gossip Girl.' My generation wants content, and we want it on our terms, on our time. The smartest thing they can do is take it all off the TV, make it online only, and allow us to watch whenever we want. Once that is accomplished, put even more quality content up, to keep us coming back. 'Gossip Girl' is a great show, if you do things right, you can piggy back off of that and attract a huge audience online. Don't forget, product placement is a big deal, and 'Gossip Girl' is ripe for it.
Sonia said:
I completely agree! I know tonnes of people that watch Gossip Girl and NO ONE WATCHES LIVE! They all watch on their laptops by downloading it on itunes, watching it on streaming sites, or dowloading by torrent.

That's always gonna be a problem for CW because they attracting the younger viewers who in the future will NEVER WATCH LIVE...Since much more older people watch the other networks..they not gonna see the problem for atleast 10 years..but I guarantee same thing is gonna happen to them...
Jordan Weber-Flink said:
What ridiculous claptrap. This is the same nonsense the RIAA have been spewing about CD sales.

The problem isn't the internet, it's that the CW's shows are UTTER trash, except when they aren't (Veronica Mars) which is when they get canceled.

Take Smallville, for example. One of the most powerful brands in American pop culture, a huge premiere, devoted viewers, excitement in the media.

Even if you ignore the terrible casting of Souless Robot Tom Welling to the lead role, the storyline could have done so many interesting things. Instead, they drag and draw out each storyline, milking it for maximum awful dialog and lowest possible amount of superheroism. The entire show became a bad teen soap opera instead of a bildungsroman about Kal-El.

And as bad as it was on the WB, it only got worse once the station merged into the CW. Smallville is only one example of the terrible quality of the shows on this network. If you want better ratings, try crafting a better product.
Luis Palacios said:
I laugh at the idea because prior to the merger...UPN & The WB were Sixth and Fifth place in the ratings...and now there just stuck where they are at. So maybe this isn't about technological but the fact that both networks couldn't get out of the funk of lower place and it seem there stuck there.

Maybe they should try to expand toward news or sports where people will watch it live.
barbara said:
veronica mars was a hot show
until the last season
they cancelled it
b/c of whatever dumb reason
people think good story line has to do with sex, cheating, drama over being straight or gay
all these things peole dogo through and face everyday but there are other things out there
maybe the new 90210 will be interesting and will help their ratings
they are cancelling all the good shows and keeping all the crappy ones
and they are always changing the days and times of the show
which makes it hard to keep up
then we get too busy watching all the good shows on abc and cbs
Q said:
You're right Barbara. They got rid of all the quality programming and left us with brainless rich kids with mediocre problems 3 - 4 nights a week. This season will be the absolute worst season The CW network has ever came up with because people aren't happy with The WB-redux nor the abandonment of the former UPN shows. Most people don't know what CW stands for or what channel it's on.

And by completely alienating the male viewer is not going to help either because most women would rather watch Lifetime, WE, or Oxygen before watching The CW . And you can get The CW over the air for free.

I'm completely disappointed at the fall line-up and as a fan of the initial launch in 2006, I am no longer a fan of this network and will only tune in on Thursdays & Fridays.
Cree said:
The shows are boring. CW used to be really good but now they took off one of the best shows they had "Girlfriends." They need to start all over again and choose a variety not just the super-hero type of mess. They need new sitcoms and reality shows and some action shows.
Bennifer said:
we're definitely way too smart to waste time watching a bunch of white trash shows on tv .
I Burn Some White Trash.

we spend our time downloading shows like gossip girl from bittorrent and watch it whenever we want.

it's funny to read about what old people think young people do.
ashley said:
Good that CW is doing bad in the ratings they cancelled every good black show that was on upn when they migrated over.then they proceded then to kill every black show their ratings were good when they had those black shows..not even the black shows but also they kill veronica mars..the only good thing they have now is smallville and supernatural. All the good shows was under Upn but when CW came into play they cancelled the good ones for what how to marry a farmer,searching for the next pussycat doll,also a trend of stupid shows.
Michele said:
The problem is all the good shows you guys get rid of and come with all these new wack shows about nothing. Go back two years and compare the shows you had then to what you have now. You will see your problem, the team replaced the majority of the best shows with about of crock teenage nothingness. If it werent for ANTM, The GAME, Girlfriends & Everbody Hates Chris, i would not watch the network either.

The best running shows should give you an ideal of what direction to take, duh!!!!!!!!!!!!!
XYZ said:
The CW's reasoning for their bad ratings is a bunch of bull. Anyone can find any scripted show on BitTorrent. The CW is acting like people are putting just their shows on BitTorrent.

The CW's problem is that, aside from Everybody Hates Chris and Smallville, their shows suck. In fact, the CW may be insulting young people by expecting them to eat up their crap. Maybe it's time for the CW to fold. Four major networks are enough. Besides, my city's CW affiliate seems to have already given up on the network. They often broadcast Cubs or White Sox games during primetime. Thus, Gossip Girl usually ends up airing at 1 or 2 in the morning.
princesstp said:
ill tell u how the CW can get ratings up ---PUT THE BLACK SHOWS BACK ON!!!----like how do you cancel girlfriends it was doing fine. It did about 7 seasons on upn and all of sudden it goes on cw and its cancelled....the girlfriend spinoff The Game's night keeps on being changed , why? so people could give up and stop watching it ? I'm telling you and im being honest african american and other minorities are the ones most likely w/o cable being forced to watch the cw so cater to them---after all they do have the most spending power according to stastistics.
Ann said:
Well once they cancelled ALL of the black shows (sorry, Chris Rock...) they totally lost my interest and every show was pulled off for no reason...started with 'Half and Half', then 'All of Us', then 'Girlfriends' and 'The Game' and all good shows at their peak...so if the CW is in trouble then it's all their own fault...I say let the network fold like a warm sheet straight from the dryer...TAH TAH CW...
TRON said:
My opinion is they cancelled good shows like girlfriend: all of us: then try to cancelled the game: but for some reason i cant get over it. why in the hell would you cancelled Girlfriend when supposely there one of the top rating show. i don't get that or maybe it just me.
I thought when the merge happen it was the big thing oh upn and WB are coming together I was like ok this could be good but as they progress in the season i was like what the hell.
did'nt they merge to do better then upn and wb
or what because the shows where going no where.
now they trying to blame the internet what ever.
because. Fox ABC AND TBS CBS all can be download on the internet but you dont see them complaning why because half or almost every show on there channel is good to watch. not saying the cw channel dont have good show but The showw you do have some of them need to be cancelled bring back Girlfriend or at least let them have a show finale is it that hard to do.
TRON said:
And veronica mars was a good show to. Just putting that out there.
TRON said:
something else Jordan Weber-Flink said about smallville i for one notice that. The show was about a boy who found out he had super powers then it became the girlfriend that was cheating on him with the enemy. And drama that was like a soap. beacause when smallville first came on i thought it was the junk but i just cant watch it any more.
Chocolate said:
I don't feel bad for the CW, The got rid of all my shows. So Fu*k them.

I think they were willing to trade there African-American viewers in the hope to bring in more whites.

Um, guess that didn't work out.I really liked All of Us,Half & Half and Girlfriends.These were really good shows.

I really love Everyone Hates Chris and The Game but I'm trying not to get attach to them, because I know they are going to get rid of them

DEATH TO THE CW,(it's KARMA)LOLOL
Chocolate said:
I don't feel bad for the CW, The got rid of all my shows. So Fu*k them.

I think they were willing to trade there African-American viewers in the hope to bring in more whites.

Um, guess that didn't work out.I really liked All of Us,Half & Half and Girlfriends.These were really good shows.

I really love Everyone Hates Chris and The Game but I'm trying not to get attach to them, because I know they are going to get rid of them

DEATH TO THE CW,(it's KARMA)LOLOL
Carla said:
The CW's problem is it is complete CRAP. There is nothing new and exciting about this network. There is no show on it that makes me want to watch this channel. They cancel all of the good shows or move them around so much you forget when it comes on or they put it on the air at the same thing our other favorite shows are on so we have to compete. Its ridiculous! The CW is crap. I miss the old UPN, I could turn to that channel and watch it all day, reruns and all, now I turn right past it. I'm ashamed of the CW and I feel they are slowly trying to get rid of their minority audience. Cancelling "All of Us" was one thing (because I feel it was on its last leg anyway) but "Girlfriends?" I have an issue with that. I loved that show. Then they put on CRAP like "Farmer wants a wife" and "Aliens in America?" PLEASE! I don't watch the TV AT ALL except on weekdays at 10:30 am when they play Martin, hmmm, I wonder why its on that time? Because the people who would probably watch the show are in school or at work at that time! (I'm in college), thus giving them another reason to kick it out of the lineup. I dislike the CW and can't wait for it to fold.
Courtney said:
Fuck the CW, because if it wasn't for THE GAME which they are moving to friday nights, Everybody Hates Chris. I wouldent watch the CW at all. They always fuck with the black shows in cancel all of them for teen shows. So why yall are thinking about canceling shows, please take off Aliens in America that show is pointless and A Farmer's want's a Wife.
Roger said:
Like some parts of CW, but miss the African_American shows, GG,ANTM,and we're white. Hate when they change the night on you.
Nia said:
Serves them right!

They cancel the best shows. I can understand that Girlfriends has had it's run...but can't the viewers who have watched since day one get a series finale! That's cold CW....and God don't like ugly! LOL!
Nia said:
Serves them right!

They cancel the best shows. I can understand that Girlfriends has had it's run...but can't the viewers who have watched since day one get a series finale! That's cold CW....and God don't like ugly! LOL!
Nia said:
Serves them right!

They cancel the best shows. I can understand that Girlfriends has had it's run...but can't the viewers who have watched since day one get a series finale! That's cold CW....and God don't like ugly! LOL!
Nia said:
Serves them right! They cancel the best shows. I can understand that Girlfriends has had it's run...but can't the viewers who have watched since day one get a series finale! That's cold CW....and God don't like ugly! LOL!
Nia said:
Serves them right! They cancel the best shows. I can understand that Girlfriends has had it's run...but can't the viewers who have watched since day one get a series finale! That's cold CW....and God don't like ugly! LOL!
Nia said:
Serves them right! They cancel the best shows. I can understand that Girlfriends has had it's run...but can't the viewers who have watched since day one get a series finale! That's cold CW....and God don't like ugly! LOL!
Nia said:
OOPS! I didn't mean to do that so many times.
Sorry! LOL!
Nia said:
that's what i get for typing while under the influence. Damn those margaritas!
MsT said:
I think it's a good idea if the CW just goes away and they bring back either UPN or the WB because since the CW has taken over all they have done is taken ther best african american shows off the air.
First, they got rid of One on One, then Half and Half, then All of Us and now Girlfriends, and they tried to throw the ax on The Game but MediaTakeOut was able to keep it from ending.
Im thinking they dont care about black viewers, Im thinking the CW stands for caucasion network, maybe they are trying to tell us something? Are our shows only good enough for BET?!?
Beach girl said:
Well from a young woman's perspective on this issue the CW just no longer has anything good on anymore. There was a time when there were good shows that came on everyday of the week to the point I used to plan to be at home especially on Monday nights. All of a sudden the shows were cancelled one by one. The only thing left worth watching is the Game and America's Next Top Model! ANTM really has run its course though! I have no idea what Aliens in America is about and Gossip Girl is just full of *hit. The crazy thing is they show reruns of the week before on Sundays and that really is just stupid. They may as well hang up their hats and get in the unemployment line with the writers.
Megaberry said:
CW's chickens are coming home to roost. They got rid of so many excellent shows (and mostly the Black shows!) to make way for absolute crap. Girlfriends should not have been cancelled and the way they did it with no finale was insulting to the fans and people who worked so hard to put on a really good and smart show. Everybody Hates Chris and The Game are their last hope but clearly they want the game to tank because they put it up against Desparate Housewives! Give that show a decent timeslot (like the Monday one it had in the beginning!) and don't cancel it CW because it's your last hope
Baffled Enigma said:
ATNM and the GAME, are the ONLY things CW has going for it. I do with they would quit playing musical day/time slots though. I used to watch WB/UPN all the time, but now I only watch those two shows. (sidenote: The Game is an excellent series and if CW does end, I hope some other network will seriously consider picking it up)... anyways... moving to Fridays is like the final nail in the coffin. So I'm already prepared for next season to be the series finale for the Game. And I agree with the other fans, shame on CW for what they did to Girlfriends... would have really been THAT costly to shoot one or two more episodes... really?
P said:
Come on, jordan webber fink, smallville has been on for 8 years already, you sound stupid
Krissy (URL) said:
http://tvbythenumbers.com/category/ratings/top-shows-by-network/cw-tv-ratings

If you take a look at the ratings for the past year, it's pretty clear why they're failing. Instead of emulating what has already been proven as successful (top Model, Smackdown, Smallville and Supernatural are pretty consistently their top four rated shows), they keep throwing their energies on failing projects like Gossip Girl, bringing new Gossip Girl imitations such as 90210 into the mix.

A couple of boys hunting demons are far more interesting than a bunch of rich, spoiled, suburban kids... and their audience has been telling the CW this for a while. Haven't they figured this out yet?
ANTM_Fan said:
Were it not for ANTM, I'd never even give a second glance to The CW. They turned Smallville into soap opera, cancelled their AA-oriented comedies, and keep pumping Gossip Girl like a dime-store blow-up doll. Seriously, they need to cut their losses and go to an all-iTunes distro if they want to save anything resembling revenue.
Anonymous said:
Why are the ratings so low? The shows are lame. In Chicago, the WB/CW channel also plays the baseball games. Other than the news the only thing I ever watch is the sports events. NONE, repeat, NONE of the prime time shows are worth wasting the electricity on running the transmitter.

Who wants to watch spoiled kids in California all of whom look like models? And are air-headed to match? Can't they find decent script writers? If The CW wants to go green like the logo, they need to fold.
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