The Southern Ontario/WNY Radio-TV Forum / The CW Loses Its Only Real Major Sports Event To Fox

**Posted by RadioActive** January 16, 2025 6:43 pm

It was fairly big news two years ago when The CW (seen here on Buffalo's WNLO-TV Channel 23) ended its superhero and teen line-up of shows and agreed to become the host network for LIV Golf, a controversial Saudi Arabia-backed tournament with some big name duffers.

That ended abruptly on Thursday, when it was announced Fox would take over the coverage beginning in February.

It's not necessarily a big surprise, considering this:

"LIV previous was shown on the CW Network the last two years, which failed to gain any real traction and some reruns getting a bigger audience than the live competition. Overseas events were shown on tape delay in the United States on CW."

Fox will use some of its cable sports channels to augment coverage. There's no word on how long this agreement is for, with officials confirming only it's a "multi-year" deal.

The CW, meanwhile, remains a somewhat rudderless network with a mish-mash of programming, including game shows and a few Canadian imports, that are not very well viewed down south.

LIV Golf finally gets network TV partner in deal with Fox Sports

**Posted by paterson1** January 16, 2025 7:28 pm

"Mish-mash of programming, including game shows and a few Canadian imports. that are not very well viewed down south.." The Canadian programs overall do as well as other CW shows, and in some cases better. Son Of A Critch, Sullivan's Crossing and Wild Cards have all been picked up again. Season 4 of Family Law, which just kicked off on Global, is also expected to be renewed on CW. Not all of the Canadian imports have been hits, just like any other new shows. But a few have..https://www.imdb.com/news/ni64444401/

**Posted by RadioAaron** January 16, 2025 7:39 pm

Yeah, just as bad as everything else.

**Posted by RadioActive** January 16, 2025 7:48 pm

The CW is a perennial also-ran in the ratings. Even as viewership of over-the-air TV hits new lows, The CW is the lowest of the low. Almost nobody watches it anymore, and the numbers are dismal. I often wonder how it survives at all. That has nothing to do with where the programming originates. People simply aren't watching what they're offering.

**Posted by paterson1** January 16, 2025 8:02 pm

True, it may have nothing to do with where the programming originates as you mentioned. So odd that you still singled out the Canadian shows that are not "well viewed" down south. In fact some of their better "ratings" have come from a few of these shows. Granted the ratings still are terrible, but some evenings, especially Saturdays or Friday, FOX and ABC have not been that far ahead of CW with under 1 million watching.

**Posted by arc23** January 16, 2025 9:01 pm

CW has added NASCAR on Saturdays and now has NCAA college football and basketball So I think they will do fine without the A third rate golf circuit coverage

**Posted by RadioAaron** January 16, 2025 10:02 pm

paterson1 wrote:
So odd that you still singled out the Canadian shows that are not "well viewed" down south.

How "odd" of him to make it relevant to this space *eyeroll"

Last edited by RadioAaron (January 16, 2025 10:02 pm)

**Posted by mace** January 17, 2025 9:49 am

arc23 wrote:
CW has added NASCAR on Saturdays and now has NCAA college football and basketball So I think they will do fine without the A third rate golf circuit coverage

Is it Division 1 Basketball and Football that includes the Duke's and North Carolina's in BB or the Alabama's Michigan's and Ohio State's in FB. These are the college's viewers are aware of and would be interested in watching. Division II or III have schools most people are unaware of and have little or no interest in viewing.

**Posted by arc23** January 17, 2025 6:39 pm

It is division one It is mostly Atlantic Coast Conference So ACC so Duke Clemson and Syracuse are the main recognizable names and they also have NASCAR Xfinity this season most Saturdays starting in February So the golf package was starting to hold them back