The CW Shows Coming Faster to Netflix, But Leaving Hulu
The CW is home to a large amount of geek-friendly television. Between four different DC superhero shows, Supernatural, and shows like The 100, it’s hard to find a place with more genre programming on broadcast television. Well, there’s good news and bad news for cordcutters who enjoy watching those shows… but the bad news is pretty damn bad.
And I think The CW has screwed up.
We’ll start with the good news though — Variety is reporting that The CW and streaming service Netflix have signed a new deal to bring shows to viewers faster. One of the frustrating things for people trying to catch up with shows on The CW has been that the previous season of the show wouldn’t go online until the next season is about to start. The new deal Netflix and The CW have signed will instead bring full seasons of The CW shows to Netflix just two weeks after they conclude on air.
But there’s still some massively bad news.
Since 2011, The CW shows have had their most recent episodes available for streaming on Hulu. While only the most recent five episodes have been available on these programs, it meant that cordcutters (like myself) had an easy option to keep up with the network’s programming. Frankly, as The CW isn’t available over the air in my part of the country, without cable, Hulu was the only option to get their shows on a television for people like me.
Well, that option is going away.
You see, this October that agreement with Hulu is ending. This means the only way to view in-season programming legally for a lot of people will be The CW’s website and mobile app — and with no solution for Roku, Apple TV or Fire TV viewers, it means that these people will effectively be cut off from The CW’s programming.
I mean, unless they turn to less than legal methods — which with programs like Plex may actually be easier to use than The CW’s official methods.
Honestly, I’m angry. Personally, I’m facing a situation where I no longer have legal access to a large number of shows that I watch. If the shows were moving to another paid service, like CBS All Access, I’d understand. But that’s not what’s happening – instead they’re just going away.
And I can’t see that helping the network.
Via Variety
