At today’s CW upfront presentation, it was confirmed that One Tree Hill has been renewed but will be ending after nine seasons on the air. Bethany Joy Galeotti, Sophia Bush are signed on for the final season while James Lafferty is expected to return part-time.

The CW drama will return mid-season with a final set of 13 episodes. Plans are for a January debut but the night and time haven’t been set just yet. It’ll likely take over for a new or returning series that doesn’t receive a full season order.

Outgoing CW president Dawn Ostroff shared the news in New York with advertisers and noted that she was confident that new CW boss Mark Pedowitz would be able to coerce former stars Chad Murray and Hilarie Burton into returning.

Ostroff said, “Mark Pedowitz is going to talk with them… I don’t think anything has been done yet, but now that everybody knows that this is the final 13 episodes…” “That makes it more possible as far as cast members coming back,” Pedowitz added.

One Tree Hill was on the bubble once again this season but has the same season averages as 90210, which was given an early pick up. When it was looking like season eight might be the end, producers tried to lure Murray and Burton back for this season’s finale but couldn’t make the scheduling work.

Executive producer Mark Schwahn told TV Line. “Hilarie now has a child and a family, and she’s doing some nice work [as a series regular on USA’s White Collar]. Chad was working on a movie (The Haunting in Georgia) down in Louisiana, and there were dates we were trying to work around, but it’s tricky when you try to line up all those stars sometimes.” He noted, “Everybody had the best intentions but at the end of the day, it just didn’t work out.” Hopefully, with more advance notice, they’ll make it back before the end.

What do you think? Will you be sorry to see One Tree Hill go? Would you prefer a tenth season? Do you think Murray and Burton will return or did you like their swan song at the end of season six?

Image courtesy The CW.