The CW Network May Get Its Own Streaming Service

The question is whether or not Warner Bros. and CBS want to lose the licensing money they get from these other streaming services in order to build their own site (in the hopes of it turning into a more lucrative future), which insiders to the deal suggest could end up being $2-$4 a month for live feed and a back catalogue of shows.

The CW is home to popular shows such as Jane the Virgin (which star Gina Rodriguez took home a Golden Globe for last year), Crazy Ex-Girlfriend (for which Rachel Bloom nabbed a Globe for on Sunday) and superhero series The Flash. According to a report from Bloomberg, the two media companies are in talks to create a streaming subscription service based on their jointly-owned CW Network.

It’s entirely possible that reports and negotiations push Tribune, CBS and Warner Bros.to keep The CW exactly as is, though many argue that at least some form of subscription service will prove inevitable. The network also has several new comedies in development.

Representatives for The CW, Hulu, Tribune and Netflix did not immediately reply to request for comment. The Tribune said the company’s current affiliation deal with CBS expires in August and that talks between the parties are continuing.

The CW airs on Tribune-owned stations in the three largest markets, WPIX in New York, KTLA in Los Angeles and WGN in Chicago. Netflix said its accord with CW will also run out soon.

The network already gives fans access to a handful of shows and originals on CW Seed, a digital entertainment offshoot The CW launched three years ago.

The CW Television Network draws a fraction of the viewers who tune in to the four major broadcast networks, though it has nurtured a following among young viewers. The network’s prime-time audience is down about 13 percent in the current TV season, according to Nielsen data.