Country | United States |
---|---|
Broadcast area | Nationwide |
Headquarters | Atlanta, Georgia, U.S. |
Programming | |
Language(s) |
|
Picture format | 1080i (16:9) HDTV (downscaled to letterboxed 480i for the SDTV feed) |
Ownership | |
Owner | Warner Bros. Discovery Networks |
Parent | The Cartoon Network, Inc. |
Sister channels | |
History | |
Launched | October 1, 1992 |
Links | |
Website | www |
Cartoon Network (often abbreviated as CN) is an American cable television channel owned by the Warner Bros. Discovery Networks subsidiary of Warner Bros. Discovery. It is monitored through the holding group The Cartoon Network, Inc., which also monitors the broadcasting and production activities of Adult Swim, Cartoonito, Boomerang (TV network) and Discovery Family.
Founded by Ted Turner (who appointed Betty Cohen as the first president of the network),[1] the channel was launched on October 1, 1992, and primarily broadcasts animated television series, mostly children's programming, ranging from action to animated comedy. It currently operates from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. ET/PT on weekdays, 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. ET/PT on Saturdays and from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. ET/PT on Sundays. Cartoon Network primarily targets children 6–14, while its early morning Cartoonito block is aimed at preschoolers and kindergarteners aged 2–6,[2] and its overnight daypart block Adult Swim targets older teenagers and young adults, 18–34 (the latter is treated as a separate entity for promotional purposes and as a separate channel by Nielsen for ratings purposes).[3]
As of March 2021, Cartoon Network is available to approximately 94 million paid television households in the United States.[4]
History
On August 9, 1986, Turner Broadcasting System acquired Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer/United Artists. On October 18, Turner forcibly sold back MGM. However, Turner kept much of the film and television library made before May 1986 (including some of the UA library) and formed Turner Entertainment Co.[5] On October 8, 1988, its cable channel Turner Network Television was launched and gained an audience with its extensive film library.[6] In 1991, Turner also purchased the library of animation studio Hanna-Barbera.[7][8] Ted Turner selected Betty Cohen (then-Senior Vice President of TNT) to devise a network to house these programs.[1] On February 18, 1992, Turner Broadcasting announced its plans to launch Cartoon Network as an outlet for an animation library.[9] On October 1, 1992, the network officially launched as the first 24-hour single-genre cable channel with animation as its main theme. The continuity announcers would call it "The Cartoon Network," until 1995, when it was simply dubbed Cartoon Network as it is today.
In 1994, Hanna-Barbera's new division Cartoon Network Studios was founded and started production on What a Cartoon! This show debuted in 1995, offering original animated shorts. In 1996, Cartoon Network aired two programs: Big Bag, a live-action/puppet show produced by Children's Television Workshop, and Small World an anthology TV series. Turner Broadcasting System merged with Time Warner,[10] which consolidated/reverted ownership of all the Warner Bros. cartoons. The network could then continue more original productions.
Programming
Cartoon Network's current original programming includes such shows as The Amazing World of Gumball, Craig of the Creek, Victor and Valentino, Mao Mao: Heroes of Pure Heart, and Looney Tunes Cartoons. The network's original programming is produced at Cartoon Network Studios, while other shows have either been co-produced with or acquired from other studios, including the affiliated Warner Bros. Animation. In the past, Cartoon Network has also produced and aired live-action and animated hybrid programming.
Over the years, Cartoon Network has aired various Looney Tunes, Merrie Melodies, Tom and Jerry and Droopy shorts in constant rotation, dating back to the network's launch in 1992 until 2017. In its early days, Cartoon Network benefited from having access to a large collection of animated programming, including the libraries of Warner Bros. (Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies), Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (Tom and Jerry), and Hanna-Barbera (The Flintstones, Scooby-Doo, Snorks). Turner's ownership of Hanna-Barbera gave the network access to an established animation studio, something its rivals didn't have.[11] Most of these series were removed by 1999 and moved to Boomerang in 2000.
Original series
Much of Cartoon Network's original programming originates from the network's in-house studio, Cartoon Network Studios. Beginning as a division of Hanna-Barbera, this studio would produce some of the network's earliest original series, including Dexter's Laboratory, Cow and Chicken, I Am Weasel, Johnny Bravo, and The Powerpuff Girls. Cartoon Cartoons was once the branding for Cartoon Network's original animated television series, but it was seldom used by the network by 2003. The name was eventually discontinued in 2008. Additionally several of the Cartoon Network's original series have been produced by studios other than the network's own in-house studio. Notable examples of this being Ed, Edd n Eddy, Courage the Cowardly Dog, and Codename: Kids Next Door. The name was resurrected by the network in 2021, for a new animated shorts program.[12][13]
Programming blocks
By the early 2000s, Cartoon Network had established programming blocks aimed at different age demographics. The shows broadcast during the early morning had preschoolers called Tickle-U as their target audience and mostly had prosocial behavior as a theme. The Toonami programming block, featured later in the day, mostly included anime shows and its target audience was tweens and teenagers. Prime time shows mostly included classic cartoons, featured as part of The Tex Avery Show, The Chuck Jones Show and The Bob Clampett Show. These programming blocks would all eventually be discounted by the turn of the new decade in the 2010s.
After being absent on the network since the discontinuation of Tickle-U in 2007, preschool programming made a comeback on Cartoon Network on September 13, 2021 with Cartoonito. Six days later on September 19, Cartoon Network officially debuted ACME Night, a Sunday evening block focused on airing both animated and live-action films for families to watch together.[14]
Editing of Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies shorts
Cartoon Network has, during its history, broadcast most of the Warner Bros. animated shorts originally created between the 1920s and the 1960s, but the network edited out scenes depicting discharge of gunfire, alcohol ingestion, cowboys and Indians gags, tobacco, and politically incorrect humor. The unedited versions were kept from both broadcasting and wide release on the video market. Coal Black and de Sebben Dwarfs (1943), a politically incorrect but critically well-regarded short, was notably omitted entirely, while The Scarlet Pumpernickel (1950) and Feed the Kitty (1952), both well-regarded, had their finales heavily edited due to violence.[15]
There was media attention in June 2001 over a network decision concerning further omissions from broadcasting. Cartoon Network formerly scheduled a 49-hour-long marathon annually known as June Bugs, promising to broadcast every Bugs Bunny animated short in chronological order. The network originally intended to include 12 shorts for its 2001 airing of the marathon (one of them part of the Censored Eleven list of Merrie Melodies and Looney Tunes cartoons effectively shelved from distribution) that had become controversial for using ethnic and national stereotypes, albeit broadcasting them past midnight to ensure few children were watching, with introductions concerning their historic value as representatives of another time. The network's corporate parent considered it likely that there would be complaints concerning racial insensitivity. This led to all 12 being omitted in their entirety. Laurie Goldberg, vice-president of public relations, defended the decision, stating, "We're the leader in animation, but we're also one of the top-rated general entertainment networks. There are certain responsibilities that come with that."[15]
Marketing
Cartoon Network shows with established fan followings, such as Dexter's Laboratory, allowed the network to pursue licensing agreements with companies interested in selling series-related merchandise. For example, agreements with Kraft Foods led to widespread in-store advertising for Cartoon Network-related products. The network also worked on cross-promotion campaigns with both Kraft and Tower Records. In product development and marketing, the network has benefited from its relation to corporate parent Warner Bros. Discovery, allowing for mutually beneficial relationships with various subsidiary companies.[16]
Time Warner Cable, the former cable television subsidiary of the corporate parent (which was spun off from Time Warner in 2009), distributes Cartoon Network as part of its packages. Turner Broadcasting System, the subsidiary overseeing various Warner Bros. Discovery-owned networks, helped cross-promote Cartoon Network shows and at times arranged for swapping certain shows between the networks. For example, Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends, one of CN's original shows, was at times seen at Kids' WB (which was discontinued on May 24, 2008), while Xiaolin Showdown and ¡Mucha Lucha!, two of Kids' WB's original shows, were seen at Cartoon Network. In each case, the swap intended to cultivate a shared audience for the two networks. Time Inc., the former subsidiary overseeing the magazines of the corporate parent, ensured favorable coverage of Cartoon Network and advertising space across its publications. Printed advertisements for CN shows could appear in magazines such as Time, Entertainment Weekly and Sports Illustrated Kids until Time Inc. was spun off from WarnerMedia on June 9, 2014. AOL, a now-former sibling company to WarnerMedia covering Internet services, helped promote Cartoon Network shows online by offering exclusive content for certain animated series, online sweepstakes and display advertising for CN.[16]
Warner Bros. Home Entertainment, the home video subsidiary, distributes VHS tapes, DVDs and Blu-ray Discs featuring Cartoon Network shows. Select Warner Bros. Family Entertainment VHS releases came with bonus cartoons from Cartoon Network. Rhino Entertainment, the former record label subsidiary of the corporate parent (which was spun off from Warner Bros. Discovery in 2004), distributed cassette tapes and CDs with Cartoon Network-related music. These products were also available through the Warner Bros. Studio Store. DC Comics, the comic book subsidiary, published a series featuring the Powerpuff Girls, indicating it could handle other CN-related characters. Warner Bros., the film studio subsidiary, released The Powerpuff Girls Movie in 2002. Kevin Sandler considered it likely that this film would find its way to HBO or Cinemax, two television network subsidiaries which regularly broadcast feature films. Sandler also viewed book tie-ins through Warner Books as likely, since it was the only area of marketing not covered yet by 2001.[16]
Related brands and units
Programming blocks
Adult Swim
Adult Swim (often stylized as [adult swim] or [as]) is the adult-oriented programming brand of Cartoon Network. The programs featured on Adult Swim are geared toward a mature audience, in contrast to the all-ages, preteen daytime programming of Cartoon Network. As a result, Adult Swim is treated by Nielsen as a separate network in its ratings reports (similar to Nickelodeon's Nick at Nite block) and marketed as such because of its differing target demographics.[3] The network broadcasts both animated and live-action shows (including original programming, syndicated 20th Television shows, and Japanese anime) generally with minimal or no editing for content.
Adult Swim is usually broadcast from 9:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. ET/PT in the United States. Its start time was moved up an hour to 8 pm on March 31, 2014, though the 8 pm hour has been given back to Cartoon Network on numerous occasions. Such occasions include the premieres of Adventure Time: Stakes in 2015, the final season of Regular Show in 2016, new episodes from the sixth season of The Amazing World of Gumball in 2018, and the first ten episodes of Steven Universe Future in 2019.[17]
Toonami
Toonami (a portmanteau of "cartoon" and "tsunami", suggesting a "tidal wave" of animated cartoons) is a brand used for action-oriented programming blocks and television channels worldwide. The original program block launched on Cartoon Network in the United States on March 17, 1997, and primarily aired both American cartoons and Japanese anime. The block would end its original run on September 20, 2008, before it was later revived on May 26, 2012, as a relaunch of Adult Swim's Saturday night anime block. Toonami's current incarnation is similar to that of the "Midnight Run", a special version of the block that originally ran on Saturday nights and was the forerunner for Adult Swim. The block is best known for its branding and aesthetic, including its animated host, a robot named TOM, that was later voiced by Steven Blum.
The Toonami brand was also used internationally for dedicated networks in the United Kingdom (replacing CNX), Asia (in December 2012), India (in February 2015), and France (in February 2016).[18]
Cartoonito
Cartoonito is a preschool block on Cartoon Network (and HBO Max), named after the international brand of the same name launched in 2006. The USA version launched on September 13, 2021, at 6:00 a.m.[19]
ACME Night
ACME Night is a brand dedicated to playing movies for families to watch together. It airs as a programming block on Cartoon Network on Sunday nights.[14]
Sister channels
Boomerang
Boomerang is a brand dedicated to classic and theatrical cartoons aimed towards children 7–13. It was originally a weekend programming block that aired on Cartoon Network from December 8, 1992, until October 3, 2004. On April 1, 2000, Boomerang received a new look and was spun off into its own cable channel.[20] In 2017, an online Boomerang video-on-demand service was launched, which includes classic series along with new episodes of original series like Scooby-Doo and Guess Who?, New Looney Tunes, and The Tom and Jerry Show.[21]
Services and programs
Service | Description |
---|---|
Cartoon Network HD | A high-definition feed of Cartoon Network is available on many cables and all satellite service providers. The high-definition feed was launched on October 15, 2007. Like all Warner Bros. Discovery networks, 4:3-sourced content is stretched on the high definition feed to fill the 16:9 aspect ratio. Starting September 26, 2009, all original shows were unstretched on the high definition feed in which were presented in their original 16:9 widescreen aspect ratio of 1.78:1. The network's HD content airs with letterboxing on the standard definition channel, and since May 13, 2013, the high definition feed is downscaled by the provider for the standard definition feed, resulting in all programming appearing in a 16:9 ratio with letterboxing. As of 2013, the HD logo utilizes the same logo as the SD version. Unlike the other Warner Bros. Discovery networks, standard definition advertising is also stretched into 16:9 mode. |
Cartoon Network on Demand | Cartoon Network on Demand is the network's video on demand service, which launched in 2002, and allows viewers to watch the latest episodes of their original series. |
Move It Movement | Move It Movement (formerly Get Animated until 2010) is a campaign of the channel, encouraging children to get active, more importantly in outdoor areas.[22] The program is designed "to provide support and encouragement in the ongoing battle against childhood obesity."[23] The Get Animated campaign was launched on February 28, 2005.[24] |
HBO Max | HBO Max (launched May 2020) is a subscription video-on-demand service of Warner Bros. Discovery.
HBO Max houses much of Cartoon Network's library. |
Production studios
Cartoon Network Studios
Cartoon Network Studios is a production studio located in the network's West Coast headquarters of Burbank, California, which serves as the network's first animation studio division to provide original programs for the network. While the studio makes original programs for the network, original Cartoon Network shows like The Moxy Show, Big Bag, Mike, Lu & Og, Ed, Edd n Eddy, Courage the Cowardly Dog, Sheep in the Big City, Codename: Kids Next Door, The Secret Saturdays, and Sunday Pants were all co-produced by the network itself without the studio.
Williams Street
Williams Street Productions is the adult production studio division that provides original program to the network's late-night program Adult Swim that is located in Atlanta, Georgia, along with the main headquarters of the network.
Hanna-Barbera Studios Europe
Hanna-Barbera Studios Europe (formerly known as Cartoon Network Development Studio Europe until 2017 and Cartoon Network Studios Europe until 2021) is the network's European production studio division that is located in London, England, which provides other original programs but from the United Kingdom.
Cartoon Network Productions
Cartoon Network Productions is the network's distribution arm. It distributes the shows, pilots, and movies through various international Cartoon Network channels (including the network's United States branch itself) since December 5, 1993.
CN LA Original Productions
Cartoon Network Latin America Original Productions (abbreviated as CN LA) is the network's Latin America production studio division that is located in Latin America, formed in 2019.
Founded | May 26, 2019 |
---|---|
Headquarters | Latin America |
Parent | Cartoon Network Latin America |
Media
Cartoon Network Games
Formerly | Cartoon Network Interactive (2000–14) |
---|---|
Type | Subsidiary |
Industry | Video games |
Founded | 2000 |
Parent | Cartoon Network |
Cartoon Network Games (formerly Cartoon Network Interactive) is the video game developer and publisher of video games based on Cartoon Network shows since 2000.
Cartoon Network Enterprises
Cartoon Network Enterprises is the network's global licensing and merchandising arm established in 2001. It distributes merchandises of various Cartoon Network brands such as The Powerpuff Girls, Ben 10, We Bare Bears, Steven Universe, and more.
Mobile app
Cartoon Network has a mobile app that provides the latest full episodes, a live stream from the East and West coast, games, and the network's schedule.
Video games
In 2011, Cartoon Network characters were featured in a four-player mascot brawler fighting game similar to Nintendo's Super Smash Bros. video game series called Cartoon Network: Punch Time Explosion for the Nintendo 3DS. The game was later released for the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and the Wii as Cartoon Network Punch Time Explosion XL. Several video games based on the cartoon series Ben 10 were released by Cartoon Network as well. The Cartoon Network website also features various browser games incorporating characters from various Cartoon Network franchises. One such game was FusionFall, a massive multiplayer game released on January 14, 2009, and shut down on August 29, 2013.
Online
Cartoon Network registered its official website, CartoonNetwork.com, on January 9, 1996. It officially launched on July 27, 1998.[25] Sam Register served as the site's Senior Vice President and Creative Director from 1997 to 2001.[26] In its early years, small studios partnered with the network to produce exclusive "Web Premiere Toons", short cartoons made specifically for CartoonNetwork.com.[27] More about animation was included in the "Department of Cartoons", which featured storyboards, episode guides, backgrounds, sound and video files, model sheets, production notes, and other information about shows on the network. In January 1999, the Department of Cartoons showcased the "MGM Golden Age Collection", most of which had not been published or even seen in more than 50 years.[28] Cartoon Network launched Cartoon Orbit, an online gaming network characterized by digital trading cards called "cToons", in October 2000.[29] The game officially ended on October 16, 2006.
In October 2000, CartoonNetwork.com outdid its rival Nickelodeon's website in terms of unique users, scoring 2.12 million compared to Nick.com's 1.95 million.[30] In July 2007, Nielsen ratings data showed visitors spent an average of 77 minutes on the site, surpassing the previous record of 71 minutes set in 2004, and the site ranked 26th in terms of time spent for all US domains.[31][32]
International channels
Since the inception of Cartoon Network and Boomerang, Turner has set up international feeds of both networks.[33][34]
See also
- Boomerang
- Cartoonito (brand)
- Tooncast
- List of international Cartoon Network channels
- List of programs broadcast by Cartoonito
- List of programs broadcast by Boomerang
- List of programs broadcast by Adult Swim
- List of programs broadcast by Toonami
- Discovery Family
- Nickelodeon
- Nicktoons
- TeenNick
- Disney XD
- Disney Channel
- Universal Kids
References
- ^ a b "Betty Cohen". SheMadeIt.com. The Paley Center for Media. Archived from the original on September 24, 2015. Retrieved October 17, 2015.
- ^ Milligan, Mercedes (August 16, 2021). "Cartoonito Pre-K Block Debuts Sept. 13 on HBO Max & Cartoon Network". Animation Magazine. Retrieved August 19, 2021.
- ^ a b "Adult Swim/CN Split Cements Strategy". ICv2. GCO. March 3, 2005. Archived from the original on November 7, 2012. Retrieved November 30, 2012.
- ^ ""Birdgirl" Takes Flight April 4 on Adult Swim". www.thefutoncritic.com. Archived from the original on January 24, 2022. Retrieved March 16, 2021.
- ^ Delugach, Al (March 4, 1986). "Way Cleared for Turner's MGM Deal". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on May 11, 2011. Retrieved August 30, 2010.
- ^ Hall, Jane (January 23, 1990). "Ted Turner's TNT Exploding Onto the Cable Scene". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on September 25, 2010. Retrieved August 30, 2010.
- ^ "TBS Buys Animator Hanna-Barbera Library for $320 Million". Los Angeles Times. October 29, 1991. Archived from the original on December 14, 2019. Retrieved December 14, 2019.
- ^ "Turner Buying Hanna-Barbera". The New York Times. October 30, 1991. Archived from the original on May 10, 2013. Retrieved June 13, 2012.
- ^ Carter, Bill (February 19, 1992). "THE MEDIA BUSINESS; Turner Broadcasting Plans To Start a Cartoon Channel". The New York Times. Archived from the original on October 1, 2013. Retrieved April 28, 2013.
- ^ Lander, Mark (September 23, 1995). "Turner To Merge Into Time Warner, A $7.5 Billion Deal". The New York Times. Archived from the original on May 13, 2011. Retrieved July 30, 2010.
- ^ Stabile, Harrison (2003), p. 98
- ^ de Wit, Alex Dudok (April 15, 2021). "Cartoon Network Studios Launches First Dedicated Shorts Program In Over A Decade". Cartoon Brew. Shorts. Archived from the original on April 15, 2021. Retrieved April 16, 2021.
- ^ Low, Elaine (April 15, 2021). "Cartoon Network Studios Debuts New Animated Shorts Program". Variety. News. Archived from the original on January 24, 2022. Retrieved April 16, 2021.
- ^ a b Milligan, Mercedes (September 1, 2021). "WarnerMedia Kids & Family Launching 'ACME Night' Block Sept. 19". Animation Magazine. Retrieved September 20, 2021.
- ^ a b Stabile, Harrison (2003), p. 105-107
- ^ a b c Stabile, Harrison (2003), p. 101-102
- ^ Bishop, Rollin (November 20, 2019). "Steven Universe Future Releases First Official Trailer". ComicBook.com. Archived from the original on November 20, 2019. Retrieved November 20, 2019.
- ^ Wanvari, Anil (November 23, 2012). "Indian Television Dot Com — Toonami to launch in Hong Kong on 1 December". indiantelevision.com. Archived from the original on July 1, 2017. Retrieved July 21, 2018.
- ^ Goldberg, Lesley (February 17, 2021). "Cartoon Network, HBO Max Double Down on Preschool Fare". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on February 17, 2021. Retrieved February 18, 2021.
- ^ King, Susan (April 1, 2000). "Hanna-Barbera Cartoons Return on New Boomerang". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on November 28, 2010. Retrieved August 31, 2010.
- ^ Spangler, Todd (March 7, 2017). "Turner, Warner Bros. to Launch Boomerang Cartoon Streaming-Subscription Service for $5 Monthly". Variety. Archived from the original on November 14, 2017. Retrieved November 10, 2017.
- ^ "Move It Movement". Cartoon Network. Archived from the original on January 6, 2013. Retrieved December 27, 2012.
- ^ "Cartoon Network Launches Third Annual MOVE IT MOVEMENT TOUR". Turner Newsroom. Retrieved December 27, 2012.[permanent dead link]
- ^ Bynum, Aaron H. (February 16, 2005). "CN Upfront: Healthy Lifestyles Initiative". Animation Insider. Archived from the original on May 14, 2013. Retrieved January 22, 2013.
- ^ "The Toons Are Taking Over the Web with Launch of CartoonNetwork.com". Time Warner. July 27, 1998. Archived from the original on February 2, 2014. Retrieved June 5, 2013.
- ^ DeMott, Rick (November 27, 2007). "Register Inks Deal with Warners". Animation World Network. Archived from the original on January 24, 2022. Retrieved January 19, 2013.
- ^ Burr, Ty (April 9, 1999). "Now playing on a PC near you". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on May 22, 2013. Retrieved January 19, 2013.
- ^ "CartoonNetwork.com to Showcase Never-Before-Published Animation from MGM's Golden Age Beginning January 18". Business Wire. January 19, 1999. Archived from the original on February 1, 2014. Retrieved November 15, 2013.
- ^ "CartoonNetwork.com to Launch Cartoon Orbit". Time Warner. September 12, 2000. Archived from the original on February 2, 2014. Retrieved March 16, 2009.
- ^ Kempner, Matt (December 15, 2000). "Cartoon Network is Adding Punch to Its Online Presence". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. p. 8H.
- ^ Ball, Ryan (August 23, 2007). "CartoonNetwork.com Hits Visitor High". Animation Magazine. Archived from the original on October 23, 2012. Retrieved December 28, 2012.
- ^ DeMott, Rick (August 24, 2007). "CartoonNetwork.com Sets Sticky Record". Animation World Network. Archived from the original on January 24, 2022. Retrieved December 28, 2012.
- ^ Newcomb, Horace (2014). Encyclopedia of Television. Routledge. p. 469. ISBN 978-1135194727. Archived from the original on May 1, 2016. Retrieved October 3, 2015.
- ^ "Cartoon Network – International Sites". Turner Broadcasting System. Archived from the original on October 4, 2015. Retrieved October 3, 2015.
Bibliography
- Mittell, Jason (2004). Genre and Television: From Cop Shows to Cartoons in American Culture. Routledge. ISBN 978-0-415-96903-1.
- Stabile, Carol A.; Harrison, Mark (2003). Prime Time Animation:Television Animation and American culture. Routledge. ISBN 978-0-415-28326-7. Archived from the original on January 24, 2022. Retrieved October 15, 2020.