Last up is The CW, which is going into the 2019-2020 without its Netflix output deal. In its first season since 2010 without that partnership, the network will be debuting a new Arrow-verse show in Batwoman and a series adaptation of Nancy Drew, the first in over 20 years. Additionally, The CW will be saying goodbye to Arrow and Supernatural after a combined 23 seasons, hoping to channel All American‘s social media buzz into a Netflix ratings bounce, and remaking their Fridays with Charmed sliding into 8:00 and Dynasty assuming the 9:00 slot. Will this schedule, seemingly made with nightly themes in mind, reverse some of the ratings declines the network has been dealing with this season?
2019-2020 Scheduling Predictions: NBC | FOX | ABC | CBS | The CW
2019-2020 Scheduling Analysis: NBC | FOX | ABC | CBS
Trailers: Batwoman | Nancy Drew | Katy Keene
SUNDAY
ACTUAL SCHEDULE: 8:00 Batwoman; 9:00 Supergirl
SHILO: There are things to like about this lineup. Thankfully, they’re actually launching Batwoman at 8:00 instead of 9:00 and the thematic similarities between it and Supergirl make the lineup cohesive and easily marketable. When making my fantasy schedule, I didn’t think The CW would stretch the crossover across two quarters, which is what my assumption that Legends would have to be in the fall was based on. But The CW’s shown a lot of confidence in Batwoman by having it lead off the week and likely their crossover as well. It’s probably not misplaced given the hype around the project and how easier it is for a CW comic show to get sampled vs. their attempts at broadening their slate. I think that as long as the creative holds up, Batwoman should be able to overcome any local lead-in deficiency it might get and become the network’s next tent-pole.
CRAIG: Okay, so I get that an 8PM launch might work better than 9. I also get that female-fronted series might do better on Football night. I do think Batwoman will be more inherently adult than Supergirl, though, and I was really surprised to see Charmed already banished to Fridays. This was a bit of a head scratcher, but maybe there’s also a strategy here, with Batwoman as the first of a new generation of DC-based shows, and as you said, it will get things started with a big bang… err… bat.