• Loading stock data...
Sunday, August 24, 2025
The biggest names in sports media. All in one room. Buy tickets now!
exclusive
Tuned In

The CW Eyes More Bowl Games Amid Push Into Live Sports

The CW president Brad Schwartz and SVP of sports Mike Perman spoke to FOS about the network’s growing live sports strategy. 

Arizona Republic

The CW president Brad Schwartz describes the network’s strategy of adding increasing blocks of live sports rights as “compounded interest.” 

The Nexstar-owned broadcast network had never aired live sports nationally prior to early 2023, when it added LIV Golf (which has since migrated to Fox Sports). Now it’s accumulated rights for ACC football and basketball, the remnants of Pac-12 football with Oregon State and Washington State, WWE’s NXT, NASCAR, Michael Johnson’s Grand Slam Track, and AVP Beach Volleyball. The CW and the PBA recently reached an agreement for live bowling, and the network also aired the Arizona Bowl the past two years. 

Mike Perman, who joined the network as SVP of sports earlier this year, told Front Office Sports that they are eyeing additional bowl games. “Based on the success of the bowl season last year and the Arizona Bowl, we’re taking a look to add to those to potentially add to our college landscape,” Perman said. 

The CW still being in territorial expansion mode says something about how the strategy has been working in the past two-plus years.  

“There’s excitement that it’s all working the way that we thought it would,” Schwartz told FOS. “We assumed when we started doing it that our local stations would absolutely love getting live sports, which you don’t DVR. We assumed that adding sports would bring new people to the network, and lead into whatever comes after it—shows that maybe you’d [otherwise] DVR.” 

Some statistics include:

  • 40 million people have watched sports on The CW, up from zero. 
  • 14 straight NASCAR Xfinity Series races have averaged more than 1 million viewers. 
  • Q1 of NXT this year was the highest-rated quarter for the program in five years.
  • The network has had five consecutive quarters of year-over-year growth.

Schwartz attributed this “compounded interest” as a means for creating a “flywheel” as the various properties would feed off one another. “That’s kind of what sports does,” he said. “Our affiliates and local stations are thrilled—especially when they get events that are in their local markets. Nobody has mass reach better than broadcast networks. Nobody has mass reach better than sports. You put the two together, and it’s the best combo.” 

The CW has been savvy in adding programming like NASCAR and WWE that have portable audiences, who will find it wherever it airs. On NXT, Schwartz recently went viral for calling WWE’s developmental show a “game changer” for the network. Asked by FOS about how much pickup that quote got, Schwartz said, “The CW doesn’t have a consistent track record of beating other broadcast networks, but here we are on Tuesdays competing with these guys in the 18–49 and 25–54 demos. It elevates the entire network.” 

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

Bill Belichick Tells UNC Football Team Hulu Series Is Happening

FOS reported last month that the Hulu series was nearing finalization.
Dec 21, 2024; Austin, Texas, USA; Texas Longhorns quarterback Arch Manning (16) warms up as the Texas Longhorns prepare to play the Clemson Tigers in the first round of the College Football Playoffs at Darrell K Royal Texas Memorial Stadium.

Schools Are Hesitant to Allow PE Into Their Athletic Departments

Regardless of budget, schools don’t believe the risk is worth the reward.
Oct 2, 2024; Rosemont, IL, USA; Big Ten commissioner Tony Petitti speaks with the media during the 2024 Big Ten Women’s Basketball media day at Donald E. Stephens Convention Center.

‘Not Ready to Jump In’: Power 4 Commissioners Aren’t Sold on PE

Top leaders in college sports have yet to see a satisfactory proposal.
Nov 23, 2024; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions head coach James Franklin looks at quarterback Drew Allar (15) during the first quarter against the Minnesota Golden Gophers at Huntington Bank Stadium.

Private Equity Enters College Sports—Without the Equity

As college football starts, lending agreements have become PE’s best way in.

Featured Today

The Honey Deuce Effect: How Tennis Perfected the Signature Cocktail

Sold every 1.5 seconds, they total more than $12 million in sales.
Sep 8, 2024; East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA; New York Giants running back Eric Gray (20) returns a kickoff against the Minnesota Vikings during the first half at MetLife Stadium.
August 18, 2025

‘Fauxbacks’ Throw Back to a Retro Uniform That Never Existed

Many throwback jerseys are brand-new designs or “Franken-Unis.”
August 17, 2025

‘Labubu Gang’: The Creepy-Cute Dolls Sweeping Pro Sports

The creepy-cute doll is the hottest collectible—and fashion statement.
Middle Tennessee wide receiver Cam'ron Lacy (86) catches a pass and carries the ball during the season final home football game against New Mexico State on Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024.
August 15, 2025

How Middle Tennessee State Added $668,000 to Its NIL Budget

The Blue Raiders are creating a new blueprint for cutting costs.
Jul 13, 2025; Atlanta, GA, USA; MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred announces the pick for the Athletics pick during the MLB Draft at The Coca-Cola Roxy.

MLB Confident New Rights Will Exceed $550M ESPN Deal

MLB would redistribute rights forfeited by ESPN back in February.
August 21, 2025

Chris ‘The Bear’ Fallica on Fox Changes, New Studio, Working With Portnoy

Fallica is in his third year as Fox’s sports betting expert.
August 21, 2025

NBC’s MLB Chase Built on Vision for Yearlong Sunday Night Sports

NBC Sports is gunning for a Sunday night slate rivaling “The Sopranos.”
Sponsored

Building A Pro League From Scratch

Front Office Sports and Gainbridge® spotlight what it takes to build a professional women’s soccer league.
August 20, 2025

Rich Eisen Will Host More ‘SportsCenters’ After Standout Return

Eisen’s nostalgia-oriented Monday “SportsCenter” drew rave reviews.
August 19, 2025

MLB Nears Media Shake-Up: ESPN, NBC, Netflix In, Apple Out?

Sources told FOS that local rights are of particular interest to ESPN.
exclusive
August 19, 2025

Chase Daniel Joins ESPN As College Football Analyst

Daniel had a 13-year NFL career and was most recently an FS1 host.
exclusive
August 19, 2025

Former ESPN NBA Reporter Nick Friedell to Join The Athletic Warriors Beat

The Athletic and ESPN essentially traded writers focused on the Warriors.