Dennis Miller Exits As CW President; Brad Schwartz Expected To Succeed Him – Update

EXCLUSIVE UPDATED : Dennis Miller has stepped down as President of the CW after two years. According to sources, he has shared the news with company staff. The CW President of Entertainment Brad Schwartz is expected to succeed him. A rep for Nexstar declined comment.

Departing CW Chief Dennis Miller Tells Staffers Network Overhaul Was At Times “Bumpy And Uncomfortable”, But “Only Path Forward”

The move brings together the business and programming oversight of the CW into one job the way it was before the network was acquired by Nexstar when it was run by CEO Mark Pedowitz.

Rumors about a potential Miller exit had been circulating for a couple of weeks. Nevertheless, his departure is surprising as Miller last year re-upped his contract to remain as CW President through 2027.

Miller had been at the helm of The CW since Nexstar Media Group bought majority control of the broadcast network in fall 2022 as the company has undergone a series of cuts, with sources indicating that more may be on the horizon amid a challenging ad market.

Miller’s exit comes on the heels of the departure earlier this month of Michael Strober, Nexstar Media Group’s EVP and Chief Revenue Office, also after two years. His position was eliminated.

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With a background in media and venture capital, Miller steered the CW through a bumpy transformation and financial overhaul. Nexstar has pledged to make the network profitable by 2025, in large part by ditching the high-end scripted dramas favored by previous joint venture partners Paramount and Warner Bros. Discovery (each of which still has 12.5% of the network).

As a result, the CW canceled all of the network’s pre-merger scripted dramas except for All American.

Under Schwartz, the CW has loaded up its schedule with modestly priced scripted co-productions, including the well rated Wild Cards and Sullivan’s Crossing, and unscripted programming. Additionally, the CW has gotten into live sports with deals to broadcast ACC football and basketball as well as LIV Golf. By 2025, plans call for the network to carry more than 400 hours of ad-friendly sports programming over 48 weekends each year.

Dade Hayes contributed to this report.

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