The CW is on Dish Network channel 2 through 70, depending on where you live. It’s a local broadcast channel, so the number is tied to your city and local affiliate station — not a single fixed national number. Most Dish subscribers find it somewhere in the low channel range alongside other local networks like ABC, NBC, CBS, and FOX.
To find the exact number for your area, press the Guide button on your Dish remote and search “CW,” or use our local channels availability checker to confirm what’s in your market.
The CW Channel Number on Dish Network
There is no single channel number for The CW across all of Dish. The network operates through roughly 200 local affiliate stations across the U.S., and each one occupies a different spot in the guide depending on your market.
Why Your Channel Number Depends on Your Location
The CW is a broadcast network, not a cable channel. That means it airs through local TV stations licensed to specific cities and regions — called Designated Market Areas (DMAs). Each affiliate is assigned its own over-the-air frequency, and Dish mirrors that local channel number in its guide. Denver gets channel 2. Dallas gets channel 33. Atlanta gets channel 69. Same network, different numbers everywhere.
CW Channel Numbers by City on Dish (2026)
Here are the Dish channel numbers for The CW in major U.S. cities:
| City | Dish Channel |
|---|---|
| Atlanta, GA | 69 |
| Austin, TX | 54 |
| Baltimore, MD | 54 |
| Charlotte, NC | 18 |
| Chicago, IL | 26 |
| Cincinnati, OH | 12 |
| Cleveland, OH | 43 |
| Columbus, OH | 53 |
| Dallas/Fort Worth, TX | 33 |
| Denver, CO | 2 |
| Detroit, MI | 50 |
| Houston, TX | 39 |
| Indianapolis, IN | 8 |
| Los Angeles, CA | 5 |
| Miami/Fort Lauderdale, FL | 39 |
| New York, NY | 11 |
| Phoenix, AZ | 61 |
| Philadelphia, PA | 57 |
| Portland, OR | 32 |
| Sacramento, CA | 31 |
| San Antonio, TX | 35 |
| San Diego, CA | 69 |
| San Francisco, CA | 44 |
| Seattle, WA | 22 |
| St. Louis, MO | 11 |
| Tampa, FL | 38 |
| Washington, D.C. | 50 |
Don’t see your city? Check our local channels availability checker to get an exact result for your zip code.
Which Dish Packages Include The CW?
Does The CW Come With Every Package?
The CW is available on all main Dish packages — America’s Top 120, America’s Top 120+, America’s Top 200, and America’s Top 250 — but only when local channels are included. Local channels are not automatically part of every plan in every area. For a full breakdown of what’s in each tier, the complete Dish Network channels list covers every package in detail.
Current package pricing as of 2026:
| Package | Channels | Price/mo |
|---|---|---|
| America’s Top 120 | 190 | $89.99 |
| America’s Top 120+ | 190+ | $99.99 |
| America’s Top 200 | 240+ | $109.99 |
| America’s Top 250 | 290+ | $119.99 |
All prices require a 2-year contract and credit qualification.
What Is the Local Channels Add-On?
If your current Dish package doesn’t include local channels, you need the Local Channels Add-On to get The CW. This bundles your local ABC, NBC, CBS, FOX, and CW affiliates onto your subscription. Availability depends on your market. In some rural areas, Dish doesn’t carry local channels at all — in that case, a rooftop or indoor antenna is your best alternative.
To check if locals are available at your address, visit my.dish.com/upgrades/local or call Dish directly.
What’s on The CW Right Now in 2026?
Nexstar Media Group completed its acquisition of The CW in 2023 and repositioned the network away from teen dramas toward a broader mix of game shows, reality programming, and live sports.
Current and recent 2026 programming on The CW includes:
- Wild Cards (Season 3) — crime procedural drama
- Police 24/7 — real-life law enforcement documentary series
- Sullivan’s Crossing — family drama, ongoing
- All American — sports drama, ongoing
- Scrabble (Season 2) — game show
- Trivial Pursuit (Season 2) — game show
- Penn & Teller: Fool Us — long-running magic competition
- WWE NXT — weekly professional wrestling
- NASCAR Xfinity Series — live race coverage, multiple events throughout the year
The CW airs roughly 15 hours of primetime programming per week, plus 400+ hours of live sports annually. Not sure what to watch tonight? Use our what to watch tonight tool to find something on across all your channels and streaming apps.
How to Watch The CW Without a Dish Subscription
Free Antenna (Over-the-Air)
Because The CW is a broadcast network, you can receive it free with any standard TV antenna. No subscription, no monthly fee. Signal quality depends on your distance from the broadcast tower and any obstructions. Use our TV antenna signal estimator to check what broadcast channels you can pull in at your address before buying hardware.
If you’re looking to drop your satellite bill entirely, our cord-cutting savings calculator can show you how much you’d save by switching to an antenna plus a streaming service.
The CW App — Completely Free, No Login Required
The CW app is 100% free. No cable subscription. No login. No paywall. You can stream current and past CW episodes on demand through the app on iOS, Android, Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV, and Samsung Smart TVs. This is one of the few remaining broadcast network apps that does not require a pay-TV credential to access.
Go to cwtv.com or search “The CW” in your device’s app store to get it.
Live TV Streaming Services That Carry The CW
If you want live CW without satellite, these services carry it in most markets. If you’re also watching The CW on Spectrum, our guide to what channel is The CW on Spectrum covers those numbers city by city.
| Service | Starting Price/mo | CW Availability |
|---|---|---|
| DirecTV Stream | $64.99 | Most markets |
| Fubo | $82.99 | Most markets |
| Hulu + Live TV | $82.99 | Select markets |
| YouTube TV | $72.99 | Select markets |
Availability varies by market. Use our streaming service comparison tool to check which services carry The CW in your zip code and compare total monthly costs side by side before you subscribe.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is The CW free on Dish? The CW is included in your Dish package if you have local channels active. There is no extra per-channel fee. If your plan doesn’t include locals, you need the Local Channels Add-On, which may carry a small monthly fee depending on your package.
Can I watch The CW on Dish Anywhere? Yes. Dish Anywhere lets you stream live and recorded TV on your phone, tablet, or computer. If The CW is in your local channel lineup, you can watch it through the Dish Anywhere app when connected to the internet.
Why can’t I find The CW on my Dish guide? Three reasons this usually happens: your package doesn’t include local channels, The CW affiliate in your area is not carried by Dish, or the channel is listed under a sub-channel number (like 12.2 or 21.2) in your market. Search “CW” in the guide search bar instead of browsing manually — that will surface it regardless of number.
Does Dish carry The CW in rural areas? Not always. Local channel availability depends on market agreements. In some rural DMAs, Dish has no carriage deal with the local CW affiliate. In those cases, an outdoor antenna or the free CW app are the most reliable options. You can also check what other local channels are available through Dish using our local channels availability checker.
What happened to The Flash and Riverdale on The CW? Both shows ended. The Flash concluded in 2023 and Riverdale wrapped the same year. The CW’s programming has shifted significantly under Nexstar — fewer superhero and teen dramas, more game shows, reality TV, and live sports in 2025–2026.
What other channels can I find on Dish? Dish carries a wide range of local and cable networks. If you’re looking for other specific channels, our guides cover what channel is ABC on Dish Network, what channel is CBS on Dish Network, what channel is PBS on Dish Network, what channel is ESPN on Dish Network, and what channel is Nickelodeon on Dish Network — each with full city-by-city tables.
