following the second season, the american version moved to the cw, the new network formed when both the wb and upn ceased operations in september 2006. the two-hour season premiere for the third season aired wednesday, january 3, 2007 at 8:00 p.m. est on the cw. the fourth season premiered on september 18, making "batg" the first series to premiere for the cw for the 2007-08 television season. "beauty and the geek" was renewed for a fifth season, which premiered on march 12, 2008.