The CW is extending its programming reach beyond broadcast this upfront season.
Recognizing that a large viewership base no longer consumes content through traditional linear channels, the CW Network on Wednesday announced new distribution partnerships for sports and original programming with ESPN and Roku, respectively.
The CW’s extensive live sports portfolio will be exclusively streamed on the ESPN app for ESPN Unlimited subscribers. Launching in the summer of 2026, subscribers will be able to watch live coverage of college football and men’s and women’s basketball from the ACC, Pac-12, and Mountain West conferences, the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series, WWE NXT, PBA Bowling, PBR Bull Riding, AVP volleyball, and the 2026 Arizona Bowl.
“Joining forces with ESPN is a monumental next step in the evolution of CW Sports,” said Brad Schwartz, president of The CW Network.
He went on to note that The CW offers more than 800 hours of premium live sports per year, and this agreement extends CW Sports’ reach, enabling them to capture audiences on broadcast and streaming.
“As we continue to evolve ESPN’s direct-to-consumer experience, collaborations like this allow us to better serve fans by making more of the sports they love available in one place,” Rosalyn Durant, EVP, ESPN programming & acquisitions, added.
Meanwhile, on the original programming front, the network’s scripted and unscripted catalog will be available through next-day streaming via a CW-branded hub on The Roku Channel.
Starting this fall, streaming viewers will have access to new series like Private Eyes West Coast, unscripted shows like Police 24/7, and CW original game shows Scrabble and Trivial Pursuit. In addition, new installments of WWE NXT will be made available to stream on The Roku Channel every Wednesday following its live Tuesday night broadcast on The CW.
Schwartz said, “Partnering with Roku supercharges the reach and accessibility of The CW’s premium entertainment content.”
The exec noted that The Roku Channel’s expansive audience, tied with The CW’s nationwide linear footprint, helps unlock additional scale for its content, audience, and advertisers.
In addition, over 800 hours of CW library content will also live on The CW hub on The Roku Channel, including Wild Cards, Penn & Teller: Fool Us, and previous collaborations between The CW and Roku, such as the comedy series Children Ruin Everything and Good Cop/Bad Cop.
“This partnership is all about connecting great storytelling with the millions of viewers who are looking for it,” said Lisa Holme, head of content, Roku Media.
