Dennis Miller is stepping away from his role as CW network president after two years in the position.
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Miller has been running the Nexstar-owned network since appointed by Nexstar CEO Perry Sook in fall 2022 alongside new CW president of entertainment Brad Schwartz, an alum of Paramount Global. Prior to his appointment, Miller was a member of Nexstar’s board of directors.
Schwartz will take over Miller’s title and responsibilities in the broadcaster’s top slot upon his exit on Oct. 31. Miller will serve in an advisory role through the end of the year.
The change is an abrupt one: Last August, Miller signed a contract to extend his term as president at the CW through 2027.
In his short tenure running the CW after Nexstar’s acquisition of the broadcaster from Warner Bros. Discovery and Paramount, Miller secured the rights to LIV Golf in January 2023 then locked in deals to air WWE’s “NXT” and NASCAR’s Xfinity beginning this fall and bring ACC basketball and football to the CW every Saturday, as well as agreements for Pac-12 football and “Inside the NFL.” All of this expansion into live sports strengthened the broadcast network’s ad sales under Miller, with more than 15 new sports advertisers and partners, including Verizon, Subaru and Walmart for ACC football.
“I’ve had a front row seat during a remarkable 11-year run with Nexstar and enjoyed navigating this period of significant transformation for the network,” Miller said. “With some of the highest ratings The CW has seen in years and long-term contracts with an array of premium live sports in place, the future of The CW looks very promising.”
Sook said: “We were fortunate when Dennis agreed to move from Nexstar’s Board to lead the transformation of The CW. During his tenure, he installed a new leadership team at The CW, and they have broadened the appeal of its programming and enhanced the value of its affiliations for both Nexstar and our partners. With The CW now well positioned for continued success, we’re pleased to let Dennis move on to new challenges. We are grateful for his guidance on Nexstar’s Board and at the helm of The CW, and we wish him the very best.”
Miller’s exit comes on the heels of Nexstar announcing the elimination of its chief revenue officer position , noting in an Oct. 4 filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission that it would favor “a more streamlined organizational structure.” He is expected to leave Nexstar on October 30. The two management cuts combined hint that Nexstar is entering cost-cutting mode ahead of reporting its third-quarter earnings this fall.
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In an email to employees Wednesday, which was obtained by Variety , Nexstar’s networks president Sean Compton wrote: “The past two years at The CW have been amazing—with your help, we’ve successfully transformed the network into a new destination for live sports and broadened our entertainment programming to appeal to a wider audience. Dennis and Brad have been at the center of this change, and as Dennis moves on to new challenges we’re fortunate to have Brad here to continue guiding the network. I’m confident that under Brad’s leadership, The CW won’t miss a beat. With the great team he’s helped to assemble and the new programming starting to resonate with viewers, The CW is poised for even more success. Thank you for your hard work, dedication, and everything you’ve done to help us reach this point.”
See Miller’s memo to staff announcing his departure below.
It has been exactly two busy and energizing years since I segued from the Nexstar Board to help put The CW on the best trajectory for success in today’s broadcast business. I promised Perry I would bring in a topflight team in all the key positions, broaden the network’s program offerings, add premium sports and establish a clear path to profitability. Together, we are now on course to achieving those ambitious goals. As the network continues to gain momentum, I feel now is the perfect time to hand the reins over to my longtime colleague and friend Brad Schwartz and the stellar team we have assembled.
We’ve come quite a distance. We went from zero to 500 hours of sports on The CW with partnerships ranging from ACC football and basketball to NFL films, to WWE NXT wrestling, NASCAR, LIV Golf and Pac 12. We’ve experienced record ratings growth in the past few weeks with live sports, primetime wrestling and our new game shows “Scrabble” and “Trivial Pursuit.” By making all these strategic moves, we have significantly enhanced value for our affiliates.
You have all been a meaningful part of an important transformation for The CW. While change at times, can be bumpy and uncomfortable, it’s the only path forward in today’s media environment. I’m lucky to have gotten to know so many of you along the way and will miss the regular interaction, debates, discussions, and ultimate camaraderie we built together. After serving eight years on the Board of Nexstar and two years overseeing The CW, I believe you are now in an enviable position to continue building an incredibly valuable fifth broadcast network. A network of which you can all be quite proud. And while this time I may be watching from the sidelines or from a box seat, I’ll be rooting for your success every day.
Respectfully,
Dennis
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