At its winter 2015 TCA session today, The CW announced that it has renewed every scripted series from its fall 2014 schedule, totaling eight shows in all. Included in this batch of renewals are Arrow, Jane the Virgin, Reign, Supernatural, The 100, The Flash, The Originals, and The Vampire Diaries.
“Each of these series have helped define what The CW is today, a network that is home to smart, provocative, quality programming, targeting a savvy adult audience,” said Pedowitz. “By picking up these shows now, our executive producers can start planning next season’s storylines, and rolling these shows out throughout next season guarantees The CW will have more proven original series for our fall, midseason and summer 2016 line-ups.”
It’s unusual for any network to renew this big a chunk of their schedule this early in the season, as typically, networks wait until more data comes in before making their renewal decisions. Last season, The CW renewed only its big hitters (the Supernaturals and Vampire Diaries of the world) and its top performing series from CBS Studios (Reign) in February before scattering additional renewals later in the season.
Not included in the mass renewal are Hart of Dixie, Beauty and the Beast, iZombie, and The Messengers. While Hart of Dixie is thought to be in its final season, the latter three have yet to air this season, with The CW setting premiere dates for iZombie and The Messengers earlier today and Beauty and the Beast becoming a summer show in its third season. Just because so many series were renewed today doesn’t mean that any others are doomed, though, considering that the network is actively trying to add scripted hours and formulate a year-round schedule.
Are you surprised that The CW announced so many renewals this early in the season? Will every series renewed today to air next fall? How many new scripted series do you think The CW should premiere this coming October?
