The CW Hires Brad Schwartz As Their New President Of Entertainment As The Network Takes Shape Under Nexstar
Image Source: The CW
It hasn’t even been a month since Nexstar’s acquisition of The CW closed. This week the new owners displayed their power, enacting sweeping action as the company worked toward its goals for the network. And it wasn’t pretty.
Ahead of the layoffs, Paul Hewitt left the network as Senior Vice President of Network Communications after 22 years, replaced by Beth Feldman. She will continue as Executive Director of Communication for the Networks Division, overseeing communications for NewsNation, multicast networks, and radio. But how bad were the layoffs? According to some, it was 30-40, a number that stuck even as the specifics of who left arose. In addition, the Executive Vice President of Distribution, Betty Ellen Berlamino, was replaced with Rebekah Dopp. The network’s affiliate relations team has also taken a hit, and the events and HR departments have lost their senior executives, including SVP Events Emilia Purchio, HR SVP Valerie Masterson and VP Jackie Cain.
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The casting department has been eliminated, including EVP of Talent & Casting Dana Theodoratos and her coordinator. There are a number of cable networks that don’t have in-house casting departments, but it doesn’t stop the feeling of the future of scripted programming being shakier there. To reportedly cut costs, Nexstar has been moving toward more unscripted and cheaper scripted programming. The ad sales department is safe for now; however, Nexstar is looking to hire a Chief Revenue Officer.
While there were no cuts to the programming department (for development and current series), there were still some effects on programming. Not only was Stargirl canceled, but Nancy Drew was announced to join The Flash and Riverdale in ending next year, and the network’s freshmen dramas, Supernatural prequel The Winchesters, and Walker spinoff Walker: Independence did not get back orders for full seasons.
This is despite the latter two doing well in the ratings by CW standards. And the list of shows cut is expected to grow, though network president Dennis Miller had to emphasize to talent and producers that no decisions about next season have been made and that not having back orders does not automatically mean cancellation. That was until Friday when the next cut show was revealed: Whose Line Is It Anyway? Colin Mochrie tweeted that the final season begins shooting in January. This was especially surprising as this was a show notoriously cheap to produce. So much that it was listed amongst the slate to be built on. Instead, it seems Nexstar is looking elsewhere.
In addition, company executives have been seeking to change the agreements with CBS Studios and Warner Bros. Television, the network’s current scripted series suppliers. Instead of the $1.6-2 million per episode license fees for dramas the networks had lately due to increasing production costs and talent competition, making that talent more expensive, Nexstar is looking to return to the $1 million price tag that it had been prior.
Sources point out that not only would it not be feasible, but the network’s current direction would devalue the scripted series internationally, tripping up monetization. It’s also mentioned that these decisions leave the network without an identity to sell. Due to the CW’s previous carriage agreements, the network can’t do a complete rebrand, so some of the existing scripted shows will likely remain for at least a little while.
So who’s going to lead the gradual charge to that eventual new identity? That would be Brad Schwartz, who was named President of CW Entertainment. He will be in charge of programming strategy, creative and brand development, and day-to-day operations. He reports to Miller, who could probably be considered the network’s Peter Safran equivalent business side.
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