The CW's Apple TV App Coming Next Week With No Cable Subscription Required

A few shows on The CW have begun tweeting out a confirmation that the network's Apple TV app will arrive sometime "next week," along with apps on Roku, Chromecast, Xbox, and Amazon Fire TV (via iDigitalTimes). The hint of an incoming Apple TV app was discovered last week, but an official Apple TV app for The CW -- and not just the clip-based "Seed" platform -- has been in the works for over three years. The Apple TV app will also support AirPlay.

the-cw-apple-tv

"Every show on The CW" will be available to watch on the app, which will also be free and require no login or cable subscription to access its content. Previously, The CW shows premiered on Hulu the day after they aired, but a new deal with Netflix will have entire seasons available to stream a few days after season finales air. That still left viewers without a cable subscription, who prefer to keep up with a show weekly, out to dry.

The new app should help alleviate that problem, since all of its biggest shows will be available to watch, including Supergirl, The Flash, Jane The Virgin, Arrow, Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, iZombie, Supernatural, DC's Legends of Tomorrow, The 100 and The Originals. Catching up on previous seasons won't be the focus of The CW's app, however, as it appears only the "latest episodes" will be showcased.

Users interested can opt in to be notified when the Apple TV app becomes available to download through a form on The CW's website.

Related Roundup: Apple TV
Tag: The CW
Buyer's Guide: Apple TV (Don't Buy)

Popular Stories

airpods pro 3 purple

New, Higher End AirPods Pro Coming This Year

Tuesday January 20, 2026 9:05 am PST by
Apple is planning to debut a high-end secondary version of AirPods Pro 3 this year, sitting in the lineup alongside the current model, reports suggest. Back in September 2025, supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo reported that Apple is planning to introduce a successor to the AirPods Pro 3 in 2026. This would be somewhat unusual since Apple normally waits around three years to make major...
smaller dynamic island iphone 18 pro Filip Vabrous%CC%8Cek

iPhone 18 Pro Leak: Smaller Dynamic Island, No Top-Left Camera Cutout

Tuesday January 20, 2026 2:34 am PST by
Over the last few months, rumors around the iPhone 18 Pro's front-panel design have been conflicted, with some supply-chain leaks pointing to under-display Face ID, reports suggesting a top-left hole-punch camera, and debate over whether the familiar Dynamic Island will shrink, shift, or disappear entirely. Today, Weibo-based leaker Instant Digital shared new details that appear to clarify the ...
Apple Logo Spotlight

Apple Expected to Unveil Five All-New Products This Year

Wednesday January 21, 2026 10:54 am PST by
In addition to updating many of its existing products, Apple is expected to unveil five all-new products this year, including a smart home hub, a Face ID doorbell, a MacBook with an A18 Pro chip, a foldable iPhone, and augmented reality glasses. Below, we have recapped rumored features for each product. Smart Home Hub Apple home hub (concept) Apple's long-rumored smart home hub should...
airtag prime day 2

Apple Developing AirTag-Sized AI Pin With Dual Cameras

Wednesday January 21, 2026 12:31 pm PST by
Apple is working on a small, wearable AI pin equipped with multiple cameras, a speaker, and microphones, reports The Information. If it actually launches, the AI pin will likely run the new Siri chatbot that Apple plans to unveil in iOS 27. The pin is said to be similar in size to an AirTag, with a thin, flat, circular disc shape. It has an aluminum and glass shell, and two cameras at the...
Liquid Glass App Store Feature

App Store and Apple TV Experiencing Outage

Tuesday January 20, 2026 4:36 pm PST by
Apple's App Store, iTunes Store, and Apple TV service are experiencing an outage at the current time, according to Apple's System Status page. Apple says that some users may be experiencing issues with the App Store and iTunes Store. Apple also says some users may be seeing intermittent issues with Apple TV. The Apple TV Channels feature is down too, and users may be unable to access some...

Top Rated Comments

CFreymarc Avatar
122 months ago
As the distribution contracts between studios and closed networks expire, we will see more and more of this happening.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
brendu Avatar
122 months ago
As a fan of the flash and arrow, this is welcome and overdue.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Rigby Avatar
122 months ago
Now see this is why networks are reluctant to do stuff like this. We complain that the networks only support cable subscription apps. One finally gives us without that, and we still complain.
I doubt that this is a reason for their reluctance. But anyway, why not do both and give us a choice? I guess most people are happy with free access, but personally I hate TV commercials with a vengeance and am happy to pay a bit more to get rid of them (e.g. I'm using the Hulu ad-free tier).
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Khaaaaaaaaaan Avatar
122 months ago
Well slap my a$$ and call me Charlie! I never thought I would see the day that an OTA network would actually do this! As a fan of The Flash and Arrow (and soon to be Supergirl) this is VERY welcomed news. As is the Netflix deal, too. Thanks for stepping up to the plate, CW! As for ads, I can always mute commercials like I do with live sports.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
2457282 Avatar
122 months ago
Awesome news for cable cutters. Let's hope the better networks follow CW.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
CEmajr Avatar
122 months ago
This is a great move and hopefully more networks follow. Right now the authentication thing kills the Apple TV experience even when you have login credentials. Some days when I'm watching shows on the History Channel App it forces me to "re-authenticate" between episodes. Similar terrible experience with the ESPN app asking me to re-authenticate twice per day to the point where I just stopped using it altogether and just did airplay from my iPad.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)