CW Going Lone Wolf

BY: DARIAN SABLON

Netflix has become the the cultural center of past and present television media. It is a place where people around the world share the experience of crying at the death of their favorite character or screaming in joy when everything goes perfect. Netflix is where people join together and enjoy the interconnectivity of modern streaming services. Yet this interconnectedness may soon come to an end for CW fans.

The CW, more notably known for its DC superhero shows The Flash, Arrow and Legends of Tomorrow, is pulling the plug on their contract with the streaming service tyrant Netflix in the coming months and starting their own streaming service. The CW streaming service will be available for $2 per month, compared to Netflix’s $8 per month obligation. Although cheaper, it offers fewer options than Netflix, streaming CW exclusive shows rather than a variety of shows and movies Netflix provides. However, unlike Netflix, CW’s new streaming service will not only allow subscribers to watch old episodes, but it will also let people watch the show in real time as it is airing.
Although until now, CW has been the only network to announce its separation from Netflix as well as other popular streaming services (i.e. Hulu), it may signify a trend of television corporations trying to separate themselves from major streaming giants such as Netflix and Hulu in an attempt to reap  financial gain. Now whether this dramatic move will ultimately benefit CW, it is too early to tell. This CW service could in fact end up being the new HBO of television.  However, one can be sure that by the CW taking their shows away from these major streaming services, the network is drastically limiting their exposure to the general public, especially to those that have no cable television and rely mostly on Netflix and Hulu for entertainment. This could possibly spell disaster for CW as well as other television corporations that decide to follow suit.