[Above: The CW CEO Mark Pedowitz, with his network's stars, at the 2015 upfronts.]When Mark Pedowitz first joined The CW as head of the network in 2011, he told “Supernatural” star Jared Padalecki that he was a fan of the series (which was then in its sixth season) and had seen every episode. At first, Padalecki assumed that Pedowitz’s comments were the kind of niceties that an incoming network president is supposed to say to their series stars.“I didn't think...
Mark
Pedowitz
Chairman / CEO
The CW leader marked his 10th year at the helm by expanding the network to seven nights of primetime programming for the first time in its 15-year history. In May, also for the first time, the CW unveiled plans to add a two-hour program block on Saturdays. Pedowitz continues to lean hard on a franchise strategy of developing shows based on highly recognizable IP, much of it from the Warner Bros. / DC Comics vault (revivals of “Kung Fu,” “Superman & Lois”). Pedowitz refined the CW’s digital strategy from cashing big licensing checks from Netflix to ad-supported syndication via CW Online, Hulu and YouTube and licensing to HBO Max. Pedowitz also helped CW pull off a strong finish for “Supernatural,” the long-running drama franchise.