Season 4 number of episodes and season premiere date revealed

I will say caution on this. Official announcements haven't been sent out yet. I am investigating right now to confirm. Its likely this is true but unofficial.

Interesting that none of the DC shows got 23 episodes, next year. Not even Flash and Arrow, which have always gotten 23. Also looks like Legends and Black Lightning have a 16 episode order. Probably so they an make room for Mid-Season premieres.

I thought for sure Supergirl would get 23. The reason I say that is because, according to my sources, the magic number of episodes, right now, for a show to obtain syndication, or a more lucrative streaming deal, is 88 episodes. A 23 episode season would have put Supergirl at 88 episodes by the end of next season. As of right now, the only CW show with 23 episodes is Riverdale.

That being said, if Supergirl maintains it's position of consistently being in the top 3-5 shows, then a season 5 is relatively sure, which will get it well past 88 end into it's 100th episode and beyond.

I'm curious if the 88 episode count is more lax than it used to be, due to streaming deals. Because it's hard to believe CW wouldn't order 1 more episode, for the season, to get that substantial profit boost.

The count used to be 100, but the rule has reduced and become more lax over the past decade or so.

I have a feeling they will renew Supergirl as long as Melissa renews her contract....which should be end of Season 7, and I would venture to say that Supergirl will end with Season 7.

I have a feeling they will renew Supergirl as long as Melissa renews her contract....which should be end of Season 6, and I would venture to say that Supergirl will end with Season 7.

I love the show, but I'd dare to say that's plenty long. Shows can run too long. Arrow's getting there. Smallville ran a few seasons too long. And if Melissa keeps up the great work on the show, as well as staying busy with films and Broadway during the summer hiatus, then her star will continue to rise, and she might get some bigger offers, at that point. She seems to be avoiding the "typecasting" pitfall that long running shows can lock you into, by continuing to do these different types projects that showcase her range during breaks from the show.

I was wondering if the reduction in 1 episode was due to the crossover. I know there is some Union legalities in the way of them selling the crisis crossover together in 1 bundle. I wonder if they found a loop hole in this by shooting 22 episodes, and then 1 part of the crossover mini series.

OR

It also could be to lessen the strain on the shows so shooting the crossover isnt a nightmarish for them to schedule.

So for the Fall, Supergirl, Flash, and Arrow get 22 episodes while Legends and Black Lightning get 16. I wonder if the ratings were down across the board on their recent seasons was the cause of it.

This is of course unconfirmed but believable and I have a theory regarding the reason for 22 verses the typical CW 23 episodes for Supergirl, Flash, and Arrow. It has to do with the mega crossover.

1) It looks like the Blu-Rays of each show will only contain their respective hour of Crisis on Earth-X.
2) The full Invasion crossover wasn't included in any shows Blu-Ray either.
3) Marc Guggenheim said union rules regarding credit prevent Crisis on Earth-X from being released as a movie. Crisis on Earth-X . I think that's also why all mega crossover episodes aren't included each shows Blu-Ray.

So here's my theory, in order to be able to release the next mega crossover as a movie while working within union rules the next mega crossover will not be produced as an episode of any show but a separate entity thus lowering the official episode count of each show by one. This will also ensure that the 100th episode of Flash doesn't fall in the mega crossover like Arrow's did for Invasion.

They are released on Amazon digital together....all 4. I bought it. But yes, when you buy it even that way they are separate with separate credits. When you buy the set it comes with the Inside the Crossover which is on the DVD's as well.

Interesting that none of the DC shows got 23 episodes, next year. Not even Flash and Arrow, which have always gotten 23. Also looks like Legends and Black Lightning have a 16 episode order. Probably so they an make room for Mid-Season premieres.

I thought for sure Supergirl would get 23. The reason I say that is because, according to my sources, the magic number of episodes, right now, for a show to obtain syndication, or a more lucrative streaming deal, is 88 episodes. A 23 episode season would have put Supergirl at 88 episodes by the end of next season. As of right now, the only CW show with 23 episodes is Riverdale.

That being said, if Supergirl maintains it's position of consistently being in the top 3-5 shows, then a season 5 is relatively sure, which will get it well past 88 end into it's 100th episode and beyond.

I'm curious if the 88 episode count is more lax than it used to be, due to streaming deals. Because it's hard to believe CW wouldn't order 1 more episode, for the season, to get that substantial profit boost.

The count used to be 100, but the rule has reduced and become more lax over the past decade or so.

There is no magic number anymore like their use to be, pretty much any number can get a syndication deal.....if people are willing to put out the bucks for it. People are saying that is why Scorpion was cancelled. Even though it had the number of episodes for syndication deals, no one was biting.

@Kelly

True. A couple years back, I remember CW making a deal with TNT for it's shows that go into syndication. Arrow was on the network for a bit, then was pushed to early morning hours, then seems to have pulled, altogether. I'm wondering if that will change once Flash and Supergirl get up there, in the number of episodes, so they can put together a "block" of DC TV every weekday.

Even that, isn't a big deal, though. Streaming seems to have become a much bigger factor, in place of syndication, over the past few years. And having a higher number of episodes still grants larger streaming deals.

@Kelly

True. A couple years back, I remember CW making a deal with TNT for it's shows that go into syndication. Arrow was on the network for a bit, then was pushed to early morning hours, then seems to have pulled, altogether. I'm wondering if that will change once Flash and Supergirl get up there, in the number of episodes, so they can put together a "block" of DC TV every weekday.

Even that, isn't a big deal, though. Streaming seems to have become a much bigger factor, in place of syndication, over the past few years. And having a higher number of episodes still grants larger streaming deals.

Well that and Hulu/Netflix deals....those are the biggies these days.