‘It has been a game changer’
The WWE development program, NXT, has been broadcast on the CW since October 2024 and the broadcaster can no longer be excited with the results.
“It was an absolute exchanger for the CW, and I think it was a game change for WWE,” Brad Schwartz, president of the CW, in an interview with Variety. “This last quarter that just ended was the highest rated NXT Kwartaal in five years. It is 19% after year more.”
NXT moved to the CW of USA Network, where it was a mainstay together with other WWE programming of 2019-2024. With the switch to CW, it is the first time that NXT has been broadcast on an employment network.
Schwartz spoke with Variety Prior to the Nexstar in advance presentation to advertisers in New York. He was very high in the positive working relationship between the CW and WWE, and went so far that he played a video of his phone from NXT Creative Head Shawn Michaels who praised the network during a recent panel in Wrestlemania Weekend in Las Vegas.
Schwartz also said that WWE and CW ‘Constant’ are discussing new ways to expand their relationship, including extra WWE programming on the network. CW has already moved to involve NXT talent in other programming in their slate, including Tony d’Angelo that appears on the procedural “Wild Cards” and Trick Williams appears on “All American”.
“In adults 18 to 49 and 25 to 54 we are regularly Fox on Tuesday evening. It is unheard of,” said Schwartz. “So it’s absolutely crushing for us. It is one of the big reasons why our network as a whole has risen 40% season in the season … In addition to animation on Fox, [NXT] Has the highest concentration of 18-49 and 25-54 on all broadcasts. “
