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Where to Stream The CW’s 2019-2020 TV Shows

If you’re a fan of The CW’s programming, live in the United States, and don’t watch shows live, the next year or so of viewing is about to get extremely confusing.

Back in May, the long-standing, mutually beneficial deal between the house that Michigan J. Frog built and Netflix expired, meaning the network would be treating each of its show’s post-broadcast life on a case by case basis. Throw into that mix that The CW’s two parent companies — CBS Corp. and Warner Bros. — each have their own streaming services (CBS All Access and the soon to launch HBO Max, respectively), and things got even murkier when it came to The CW’s streaming future.

Though we haven’t seen all of the fallout yet from this deal, and as the streaming wars heat up throughout the next few years you can certainly expect things to be changing rapidly, we do have a better idea where everything will be headed after the 2019-2020 TV season. As hinted at above, if you live outside the United States, none of this will impact you one bit: any deals with Netflix impact domestic streaming, not international. And regardless of where the shows head post season. The CW will still make select new episodes available on their website and their own CW Seed service throughout the year.

But that said? Without further ado, here’s where and when you can stream all of The CW’s (currently announced) 2019-2020 shows… At least for now.

1

Netflix

'Supergirl', 'All American', 'Black Lightning', 'The Flash', 'Arrow', 'Riverdale', 'Supernatural', 'Legacies', 'Charmed', 'Dynasty,' 'The 100,' 'DC's Legends of Tomorrow,' 'In The Dark'

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Photo: The CW

You can breathe a sigh of relief: the bulk of The CW’s programming will still be heading to Netflix, and at least for the next few years the content that’s currently on the service, will stay on the service. Essentially, anything that was airing during the 2018-2019 season is currently grandfathered in under the previous Netflix deal.

That includes the pre-existing Arrow-verse shows, including Arrow, Supergirl and The Flash, as well as non-Arrow-verse superhero show Black Lightning. In addition, you’ll be able to find critical hit football drama All Americanthe Archie Comics based Riverdale, the soon to conclude Supernatural, and Vampire Diaries spinoff Legacies. In addition, the Paramount produced Charmed and the CBS produced Dynasty will stay on the service.

Not only that, but previously airing CW shows like Jane the Virgin and iZombie will stay for the time being, as well.

If you’re a binge-watcher of any of these shows, they’ll drop on Netflix eight days after their season finale, as usual. That said, things may change at some point in the future as the current deals for these shows expire with Netflix, so don’t get too comfy.

2

HBO Max

'Batwoman' and 'Katy Keene'

batwoman-ruby-rose-cw
Photo: The CW

HBO Max will be launching in May, 2020. And with it, the bifurcating of The CW’s content officially begins. Sort of. Specifically, two shows that are exclusively produced by Warner Bros. TV (versus a co-production with CBS) will be heading right to the WarnerMedia owned service.

That said, if you’re aching for the Netflix schedule of release, you’re going to be disappointed. Unlike on Netflix, the HBO Max shows will debut 30 days before the new season airs. So for example, since Batwoman has a full 22-episode season, if it’s picked up for a full Season 2 expect Season 1 to drop on HBO Max around the beginning of September, 2020. Katy Keene is a midseason show, so if it’s picked up for a full Season 2, the first season could drop beginning of September; or if gets an abbreviated second season, it wouldn’t debut Season 1 until sometime in 2021.

Further adding to potential frustration/confusion, Batwoman is part of the Arrow-verse, and in fact will be participating in this year’s overarching Crisis on Infinite Earths event. Which means that most likely you’ll be able to watch four of the parts on Netflix several months before you can check out the Batwoman episode on HBO Max. Same thing with any potential crossovers between Katy Keene and its fellow Archie-verse show, Riverdale (though of note, Katy Keene takes place years later so it should be less of a big deal for fans).

The reason for this is that The CW owns the in-season rights to the show, while HBO Max has the post-season rights for the show. However, only five episodes of CW shows getting posted at a time, and they cycle out the oldest episodes as new episodes are posted. Meaning they will exclusively post episodes there until they expire, then the full seasons move to streaming. Though there are going to be some exceptions…

3

The CW

'Nancy Drew,' "Batwoman,' "Katy Keene'

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Photo: James Devaney/GC Images

Adding to (potential) further confusion, Katy KeeneBatwoman and Nancy Drew will stream their entire, full seasons on CWTV.com and CW Seed, up until 30 days before the new seasons air. The good news about this? It’s completely free, meaning you’re not going to have to subscribe to a new service to watch, just access to the internet and a love for hot teens and superheroes.

Unlike the rest of their shows, which only post up to five episodes online at a time, these three will be available in full, posting the day after they air, until they move to their new streaming homes. Speaking of which…

4

CBS All Access

'Nancy Drew'

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Photo: Robert Falconer/The CW

Want a get a clue with the original blonde-haired teen sleuth? Then you’re going to have to subscribe to CBS All Access. Nancy Drew is produced by CBS, so naturally it’ll head to CBS All Access. Like with the HBO Max deal, Nancy Drew will drop Season 1 on the service 30 days before Season 2 airs, whenever that might be (though presumably in the Fall, if it gets another full season).