Shocking Revelation: CW's Beloved Show's Final Season Stuns Fans with Unprecedented Ratings Dip

Following its acquisition by Nexstar, The CW has been facing challenges, and its troubles persist as Riverdale experiences a significant decline in ratings during its final season. Riverdale, along with several other shows, has not been renewed for the upcoming TV season. While it was expected due to its seven-season run and over 100 episodes, Riverdale has consistently been one of The CW's most popular shows, alongside The Flash, Supernatural, and Superman & Lois.

According to TVLine, the musical episode "Archie the Musical" in Riverdale's seventh season recorded its lowest audience figures ever, with a total of 152,000 viewers. On the other hand, Nancy Drew, also in its final season, garnered a much higher viewership of 400,000 for its latest episode.

The CW Network's Ongoing Struggles, Explained

Riverdale's ratings hitting an all-time low could indicate either a decline in interest or the show having reached its peak. However, this decline aligns with the ongoing decrease in ratings of The CW overall. In 2022, some of the network's flagship shows, like Walker, saw a significant drop in viewership, up to 30 percent compared to the previous year. The CW has long been acknowledged as a network with lower ratings, making profitability a challenge even before the decline.

As a result, Warner Bros. and Paramount Global decided to sell the network to Nexstar at a remarkably discounted price. Nexstar acquired 75 percent of The CW, becoming the largest shareholder and gaining the ability to reshape it dramatically. Unfortunately, this means that the familiar version of The CW is slowly fading away. The network is shifting its focus away from scripted series, aiming to acquire new shows and target a slightly older demographic. This change led to the cancellation of almost all scripted shows on The CW, with the exceptions of All American, All American: Homecoming, Superman & Lois, and Walker.

Even the shows that were renewed will be affected by cost-cutting measures at The CW. Superman & Lois, for example, lost seven cast members due to budget cuts for its upcoming season. This could lead to decreased interest as the network gradually ends its remaining series. However, Nexstar still holds aspirations to make The CW profitable by 2025. With Riverdale's recent disappointment, it remains uncertain whether Nexstar can truly rescue The CW.