If you’re a fan of popular TV dramas, then you’ve probably heard of The CW channel before. Known for its genre-spanning range of hit series for younger audiences, The CW has been capturing the attention of viewers nationwide for more than 15 years now. If you’re a DISH Network subscriber eager to tune into The CW, you’re going to need to know where to look. However, the channel number will vary depending on where you are in the country. Check the chart below for the information you need to know.
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Pick your choice of ESPN+, Hulu, and Disney Plus. Plans start as low as $4.99/month for ESPN+ only.
Free trial available. Watch 75+ channels, including local channels and special premium channel offers.
Take a 7-day free trial and stream more than 70 channels live. Record your favorites with unlimited DVR.
The CW Channel Guide
| City and State | The CW Channel on DISH Network |
|---|---|
| Albuquerque, NM | 19 or 21 |
| Atlanta, GA | 69 |
| Austin, TX | 54 |
| Bakersfield, CA | 17 |
| Baltimore, MD | 54 |
| Bronx, NY | 11 |
| Brooklyn, NY | 11 |
| Buffalo, NY | 11 |
| Charlotte, NC | 18 |
| Chicago, IL | 26 |
| Cincinnati, OH | 12 |
| Cleveland, OH | 43 |
| Colorado Springs, CO | 21.2 or 57 |
| Columbus, OH | 53 |
| Dallas, TX | 33 |
| Denver, CO | 2 |
| Detroit, MI | 50 |
| El Paso, TX | 7 |
| Fort Lauderdale, FL | 39 |
| Ft. Worth, TX | 33 |
| Fresno, CA | 59 |
| Houston, TX | 39 |
| Indianapolis, IN | 8 |
| Jacksonville, FL | 17 |
| Las Vegas, NV | 33 |
| Los Angeles, CA | 5 |
| Louisville, KY | 58 |
| Memphis, TN | 30 |
| Miami, FL | 39 |
| Milwaukee, WI | 18 |
| Minneapolis, MN | 23 |
| New York, NY | 11 |
| Oklahoma City, OK | 34 |
| Orlando, FL | 18 |
| Philadelphia, PA | 57 |
| Phoenix, AZ | 61 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | 19 |
| Portland, OR | 32 |
| Sacramento, CA | 31 |
| St. Louis, MO | 11 |
| St. Paul, MN | 23 |
| Salt Lake City, UT | 30 |
| San Antonio, TX | 4 |
| San Diego, CA | 8 |
| San Francisco, CA | 44 |
| San Jose, CA | 44 |
| Seattle, WA | 11 |
| Tampa, FL | 44 |
| Tucson, AZ | 58 |
| Washington, DC | 50 |
The History of The CW
©Andrey_Popov/Shutterstock.com
As is the case with so many iconic channels, The CW began as a joint venture between two television titans: Paramount and Warner Bros. United Paramount Network (UPN) and Warner Bros. Network (The WB) came together in 2006. At the time, the two networks were both struggling to keep up with the bigger, more popular, basic cable networks. While they couldn’t compete individually, the two hoped they might be better together.
Paramount and Warner Bros. decided on a new name for their joint effort: The CW. The “C” stood for CBS, while the “W” stood for Warner Bros. UPN brought Star Trek reruns and WWE SmackDown to the table, while The WB brought cult favorite original series such as Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Dawson’s Creek. Alas, even with shows such as Gilmore Girls, Gossip Girl, Veronica Mars, The Vampire Diaries, and Supernatural, The CW struggled to find a competitive edge in its early years.
It wasn’t until the 2010s that The CW found its most successful niche: DC superhero shows. Smallville came first in 2006. Before long, The CW had hit shows based on Arrow, The Flash, Supergirl, Legends of Tomorrow, and more. The network also found great success with gritty dramas based on juvenile properties such as Archie Comics, Nancy Drew, and the like. However, many CW shows have ended recently — leaving the network’s future murky.
The CW Ownership
| Network | Percent Stake |
|---|---|
| Nexstar Media Group | 75% |
| CBS Entertainment Group | 12.5% |
| Warner Bros. Entertainment | 12.5% |
The CW Programming
Riverdale
is one of The CW’s biggest cult classics.©The CW Network, LLC – License
With so many cable networks changing their programming lineup as a result of the ongoing strikes and decreased live viewership, it makes sense that The CW’s primetime lineup is undergoing significant changes. Even so, the channel still has a dependable selection of dramas, unscripted series, sports programming, and syndicated shows. Let’s review some of the most popular titles in The CW library today.
Dramas
Above all else, The CW is known best for its dramas. This is how it has always been, and likely how it will always be on the network. Its current lineup has gotten away from all the superhero shows that defined it for much of the 2010s, with only Superman & Lois remaining.
Instead, The CW has shifted back to its melodramatic roots with a batch of gritty teen dramas. This includes Nancy Drew and Riverdale — both in their final seasons — as well as All American and its spinoff Homecoming.
Unscripted
The CW has built up quite an unscripted library in recent years. The network acquired FBoy Island from HBO and plans to produce future seasons and spinoffs for The CW. Additionally, it has acquired a series of reality programs from Canadian broadcasters (such as Great Chocolate Showdown.)
The network also has its own unscripted productions in the lineup — namely Fight to Survive and Recipe for Disaster, among others. These shows might not be as popular or have quite the following its dramas have, but the programs remain a part of The CW’s primetime schedule.
Sports
In the last several years, The CW has emphasized sports programming. NASCAR races will air on the channel starting in 2025, and LIV Golf and ACC Football games began playing on the channel in 2023.
Syndicated
The CW depends on syndication to stay afloat. It’s true of the network’s scripted and unscripted programming alike. With the strikes still ongoing and new original shows looking uncertain, it’s this syndicated content that will power The CW’s fall schedule.
One of the biggest is The Chosen, a popular Bible-based drama that has broken viewership records in its own right. Additionally, The CW is airing Canadian dramas Family Law and Moonshine during its 2023 summer/fall lineup. Viewers will likely see more syndicated programming this fall.
