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The CW Closes a Licensing Deal With Netflix, Complicating Its Love Triangle With Hulu

Time to hang out with Jane. Photo: CW

In a tale as old as the WB, our hero (the CW) has chosen the arrogant jock (Netflix) over the approachable nerd (Hulu). Today, Netflix confirmed that it has closed a new licensing deal with the network, in which full seasons of scripted CW series will appear on Netflix just eight days after their season finales. Because there always has to be heartbreak: The network has also ended its deal with Hulu, which allowed that site to stream CW episodes the day after they air on TV (in the future, episodes will still go up on the labyrinth of terrors that is CWTV.com). The deal explains why Jane the Virgin and Crazy Ex-Girlfriend popped up on Netflix over the weekend, and also promises Netflix users access to likes of The Flash and iZombie, and eventually, newer acquisitions like the network-bounding Supergirl and upcoming dark and sexy “Archie†reboot, Riverdale.

Netflix and the CW Close Licensing Deal