US network The CW is undergoing a dramatic evolution right now. After a recent sale to Nexstar Media from Warner Bros & Paramount Global, the channel has been shedding most of its programming the past few months. This week we saw the cancellation of Stargirl.

Most of those mid-budget, kind-of awful and watchable DC superhero TV shows that have been so prominent across broadcast schedules internationally were all The CW original series, but the new owners are moving away from that. The writing is on the wall for its current slate of dramas.

The Winchesters, a Supernatural prequel series has just been told no additional episodes will be ordered for its first series. Same for Walker spin-off Walker: Independence. Returning shows All American, All American: Homecoming, Superman & Lois, and Kung Fu all awaiting renewal. Prognosis is not good.

And then you also have the aforementioned Stargirl, along with Riverdale, Nancy Drew, and The Flash all already announced as ending this season.

New The CW Entertainment President Ben Schwartz has announced that he is seeking a scrappier network, filled with cheaper original shows that he hopes can break out. It is part of an effort to make The CW profitable as a broadcast network - previously the channel made money, but only as a launching pad for big IP driven shows that could then be sold internationally or to streamers like Netflix.

New CW Entertainment President Brad Schwartz Outlines “Scrappy” Network Approach Under Nexstar
The executive who once brought ‘Schitt’s Creek’ to Pop TV talks with The Hollywood Reporter about the future of the network’s current originals and mandates to make broader, highly watched originals that also happen to be profitable.
The Hollywood ReporterLesley Goldberg
  • Warner Bros Discovery Global Consumer Products know exactly what you want under the xmas tree this year: Game of Thrones NFTs. Read: Variety
  • The UK's Channel 4 will rebrand its digital player All4 as... wait for it... Channel 4. Read: Radio Times
  • As Channel 4 celebrates 40 years of broadcasting, questions surround whether it can avoid privatisation. Read: The Guardian
  • Feb 22 is when the Playstation VR2 will be released, at a price of US$549.99. Read: The Verge
  • Sky is reportedly developing a 5-part TV show based on Amadeus to be written by Joe Barton. Read: Deadline
  • Starz has cancelled Being Elizabeth after 1 season. Read: Deadline
  • They say there is always money in the banana stand. Twitter is reportedly considering launching a paywall video feature, which would be open to all users, but really is a quiet way of supporting the growing porn market on Twitter with an OnlyFans competitor. Read: The Verge
  • The UK's ITV Studios has purchased Australian production company Lingo Pictures. Read: TBI Vision
  • Australia's Princess Pictures has purchased Irish production company Boulder Media. Read: TV Tonight
  • Australian broadcaster SBS yesterday announced three new drama productions - among them a new anthology titled Erotic Stories which will prove to be successful filler programming for the next 30 years. Read: IF

With a trailer that demands to be seen on the biggest screen, today came the first full-length trailer for Avatar: The Way of Water.

The third and final season of Dead To Me debuts on Netflix Nov 17. (Season 2 debuted May 2020, so if you feel it has been a while...)

Adam Devine's Pitch Perfect spin-off series Bumper In Berlin debuts on Peacock Nov 23.

Spirited debuts on Apple TV+ from Nov 18. It is a movie starring Ryan Reynolds and Will Ferrell.

That's it for today. It was a delight once again having my iPad Pro to put this newsletter together. I promise to never leave you behind at my parents place, baby.