The CW expands its primetime schedule to Saturday nights

Make way for Saturday nights!  The CW Network is expanding its primetime programming schedule to Saturday nights this Fall.  Beginning in early October, just in time for the start of the 2021-2022 season, the network will feature seven full nights of programming a week.

This change marks the first time that The CW will offer a full week of programming in its history. (Yes, even counting when it was The WB and UPN.) This new schedule will offer 14 hours of primetime programming, from 8 pm – 10 pm, Monday-Sunday.

The expansion will also provide more programming to be included on the network’s streaming platform following their initial linear broadcasts.

While we don’t know what the new schedule will look like it just yet, it will probably arrive in the next few weeks, likely timed to The CW’s May 25th Upfronts presentation.

There are a number of pilots still in contention for pick-ups, including The 100 prequel, a live-action reboot of The Powerpuff Girls, and the Tom Swift spin-off of mystery series Nancy Drew. While it’s unlikely that any of these programs would land on Saturdays (Deadline reports the night will likely feature non-scripted fare and acquisitions), they’re all still contenders to take over the slots vacated by the network’s canceled or ending series such as Supergirl, Black Lightning, and Trickster.

October 2nd will be the first official Saturday night of CW programming, beginning with night one of the IHeartRadio Festival which will then conclude on Sunday evening with night two.

The official CW press release on the shift reads as follows.

"“Becoming a seven-night-a-week network has been a long-standing goal for everyone here at The CW, and in an extremely tight broadcast environment, the ability to expand our primetime by two more hours each week is a dynamic shift that will be gladly welcomed by our clients and the agencies,” said Rob Tuck, Executive Vice President, National Sales, The CW.  “Following the recent industry trend which has seen considerable contraction on a linear basis, The CW will buck that trend this season by adding a new night of original programming, creating new opportunities for us going forward.”"

This is the latest step in the CW’s expansion under Chairman and CEO Mark Pedowitz. Back in February 2018, The CW added programming to Sunday nights, expanding the networks primetime hours from ten to twelve.

What do you think about the Saturday addition?  Do you think it was a wise decision or not?  Voice your thoughts in the comments.