Is DC Entertainment dropping the ball by placing their TV universe on the CW?

[Bruce Malone]

Marvel did the smart thing here by pushing its show on Netflix to get more freedom. We wish DC would do a similar thing and place one of its shows on HBO since the network is owned by Warner Bros., but instead viewers are being treated to this mini Cinematic Universe on The CW.

Warner Bros. is already making waves to bring another DC related show to the network, and we can be certain that the characters will all come with emotional baggage that never ends.

http://www.techtimes.com/articles/4...-what-arrow-should-have-been-blame-the-cw.htm

I'd suggest reading the full article.

In terms of DC's connected TV universe do you think they may have bet on the wrong network by seemingly putting all their shows on the CW and the limitations you get from being on that network?

I'm not even a big MCU fan but I was blown away by Daredevil and I'm excited for their other connected TV properties to come. I think a DC show on HBO or another network that would allow more mature content lee-way would be great.

 

[hellblazer103]

as long as constantine doesn't end up on the CW ( a proper hellblazer adaptation belongs on hbo , amc, or netflix anyway ) , i'm cool wid it. but yes, CW is the wrong network, because it's ****.

 

[dude stannis]

I don't think they expected Arrow to take off like it did. I wonder if there's rights issue precluding the CW guys, Constantine (More the Spectre by association) and Supergirl from appearing on a JSA mini series done by HBO?

 

[Micromind]

HBO gives a damn about DC comics based shows, there are more chances of watching a DC comics based show on a Disney channel than watching it on HBO.

 

[metaphysician]

I don't think they dropped the ball at all. At the time they were starting this out, Netflix certainly wasn't what it is today. Their options were "CW" or "one of the other networks" basically, and CW actually had experience doing genre shows on the cheap. If they hadn't gone CW, they probably wouldn't have gone at all. Now, yes, there are more options, but there is also an established fanbase on the CW. Trying to relocate it would involve losing out on that established base.

 

[SuperFerret]

The only real issue with the shows being on the CW is the insistence on soap opera cliches. I personally don't see what being on HBO would really offer, except for maybe a higher budget.

 

[famicommander]

They're 3/3 both ratings-wise and critically on the CW. Flash, Arrow, and iZombie are the three highest rated shows on the network right now.

CW is co-owned by Warner, DC's parent company. This is advantageous because CW is much less likely to interfere creatively or with poor scheduling. And it means there is a lower threshold for success; another network would have to pay Warner to air a DC show and they wouldn't get to keep any additional funds from streaming, paid downloads, merchandise, DVD sales, international sales, syndication, etc.

Look at Constantine. Poor promotion, terrible timeslot, network censorship, and in all likelihood a cancelation.

Or Gotham. It's a ratings success so Fox ordered more episodes than the show runners planned for, and as a result the show has suffered creatively.

 

[Primal Slayer]

They should just expand the universe to different networks that they own. All of Marvels series are in the same universe, but not everything has to cross over.

 

[smallville fan]

No. The CW worked brilliantly for them with Smallville and it works for Arrow and Flash.

 

[dude stannis]

The only real issue with the shows being on the CW is the insistence on soap opera cliches. I personally don't see what being on HBO would really offer, except for maybe a higher budget.

That's the point. Networks wouldn't be able to handle a big team up mini series.

 

[dnno1]

http://www.techtimes.com/articles/4...-what-arrow-should-have-been-blame-the-cw.htm

I'd suggest reading the full article.

In terms of DC's connected TV universe do you think they may have bet on the wrong network by seemingly putting all their shows on the CW and the limitations you get from being on that network?

I'm not even a big MCU fan but I was blown away by Daredevil and I'm excited for their other connected TV properties to come. I think a DC show on HBO or another network that would allow more mature content lee-way would be great.

I don't know if airing your show on Netflix just for the sake of making your show edgier is a smart business model. If you put a show on Netflix, who pays for the show? On network television, its the sponsors, who can be charged more if your ratings are high. That also gives producers an incentive to make a good show (i.e one that gets good ratings in your target market). If you have no reliable measure and no way to increase your profit margin (it seems that a show like Daredevil is at the whim of Netflix), then you are just making a show to be on the air just for the sake of it. Furthermore, I didn't get Netflix just to watch Daredevil. It's going to take more than one original series to make someone want to pay an extra $8 a month for Netflix. At least with shows like Arrow ore AoSHIELD, somebody else is payong for it.

 

[CaptainWagner]

They should just expand the universe to different networks that they own. All of Marvels series are in the same universe, but not everything has to cross over.

That's exactly what I'm hoping will happen with Supergirl and Titans. But with the lousy management decisions that are already screwing with the CW shows, I doubt it's going to happen.

 

[SuperFerret]

That's the point. Networks wouldn't be able to handle a big team up mini series.

So?

 

[Snow Queen]

That's exactly what I'm hoping will happen with Supergirl and Titans. But with the lousy management decisions that are already screwing with the CW shows, I doubt it's going to happen.

Your avatar is the best thing to come out of Arrow this season.

 

[flickchick85]

I (and many others) have been saying it for ages, but I think DD has finally offered proof - yes, these shows could be much better than they are if they'd been produced through a premium cable/streaming outlet instead of a broadcast network. But that shouldn't be news to anyone, as it's pretty much one of the basic laws of TV, lol. I hope HBO will take a shot on one sometime soon.

 

[Snow Queen]

I (and many others) have been saying it for ages, but I think DD has finally offered proof - yes, these shows could be much better than they are if they'd been produced through a premium cable/streaming outlet instead of a broadcast network. But that shouldn't be news to anyone, as it's pretty much one of the basic laws of TV, lol. I hope HBO will take a shot on one sometime soon.

I won't be shocked if WB dips into it with HBO, I mean they do own them after all.

 

[Bruce Malone]

I don't know if airing your show on Netflix just for the sake of making your show edgier is a smart business model. If you put a show on Netflix, who pays for the show? On network television, its the sponsors, who can be charged more if your ratings are high. That also gives producers an incentive to make a good show (i.e one that gets good ratings in your target market). If you have no reliable measure and no way to increase your profit margin (it seems that a show like Daredevil is at the whim of Netflix), then you are just making a show to be on the air just for the sake of it. Furthermore, I didn't get Netflix just to watch Daredevil. It's going to take more than one original series to make someone want to pay an extra $8 a month for Netflix. At least with shows like Arrow ore AoSHIELD, somebody else is payong for it.

I think you have things backwards. Ad revenue and ratings doesn't encourage anyone to make the best show out there but one that simply can attract the broadest denominator. Quality is regardless.

Netflix like HBO is a brand that thrives on critical perception as opposed to ratings. Netflix doesn't even release its ratings but you can tell Daredevil like a lot of the other Netflix originals is quite popular by due to all the word of mouth and press it gets.

Few people would sign up for Netflix or HBO for just 1 show but if it's part of their reputation to produce great quality shows in general then yeah that will attract people.

 

[Cain]

They're 3/3 both ratings-wise and critically on the CW. Flash, Arrow, and iZombie are the three highest rated shows on the network right now.

This.

If DC Entertainment's 3 TV shows basically have the network in a chokehold how exactly did they drop the ball?

 

[Bruce Malone]

This.

If DC Entertainment's 3 TV shows basically have the network in a chokehold how exactly did they drop the ball?

Look at my point above.

Commercial and critical success are different things.

CW has found success with DC properties in a way where they hit their targeted ad demos, which is generally younger more female skewing often.

With platforms like Netflix creators aren't at the whims of appeasing ad driven network demos, they can just put out what they think is best.

I'm not hating on the CW shows but the article I posted makes some interesting points.

 

[Cain]

OK you answered your own question. They hit the targeted ad demos. That's where the money is with TV and DC Entertainment/WB TV are in the TV business with these properties.

 

[Jonwo]

Marvel have Agents of SHIELD and Agent Carter on ABC and I imagine they'll likely be another Marvel series on ABC so it's not like all the Marvel shows have gone to Netflix.

Given how successful Arrow, Flash and Gotham have been and with DC TV shows in the pipeline, WBTV likely are happy with how the DC shows are doing but I wouldn't be surprised if we see a DC TV series set in the same world as the films further down the line on Netflix, Amazon Prime or even basic cable like TNT.

 

[Lead Cenobite]

Putting the DC TV-verse on HBO wouldn't do me any good since I don't have it. And it's not like there are a lot of DC characters that need the R-rated treatment to begin with.

 

[DocHolliday]

Putting the DC TV-verse on HBO wouldn't do me any good since I don't have it. And it's not like there are a lot of DC characters that need the R-rated treatment to begin with.

Nailed it. What DC character needs the rated R treatment? Hell, Dark Knight is the most respected superhero film of all-time and it's a PG13 flick.

My issue is WB/DC lending out their quality Vertigo properties to terrible networks that end up butchering them. We saw this with Constantine. Gonna happen with Lucifer too. Preacher is going to be getting the ultra bland/safe AMC treatment.

 

[KRYPTON INC.]

The Ultra Bland safe treatment AMC gave to Mad Men, Breaking Bad and the Walking Dead? Yeah... That would be a shame if Preacher ended up like those series nobody ever cared about.

 

[DA_Champion]

Marvel have Agents of SHIELD and Agent Carter on ABC and I imagine they'll likely be another Marvel series on ABC so it's not like all the Marvel shows have gone to Netflix.

Given how successful Arrow, Flash and Gotham have been and with DC TV shows in the pipeline, WBTV likely are happy with how the DC shows are doing but I wouldn't be surprised if we see a DC TV series set in the same world as the films further down the line on Netflix, Amazon Prime or even basic cable like TNT.

Has Gotham been successful? I've only heard on the internet that it's an awful show.