Boomerang (TV network) facts for kids
Logo used since 2015
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| Country | United States |
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| Broadcast area | Nationwide |
| Network | Cartoon Network (1992–2004) |
| Headquarters | |
| Programming | |
| Language(s) | |
| Picture format | |
| Ownership | |
| Owner | Warner Bros. Discovery Networks |
| Parent | The Cartoon Network, Inc. |
| Sister channels |
List
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| History | |
| Launched |
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| Closed | October 3, 2004 (block) |
| Former names | Boomerang from Cartoon Network (2000–2015) |
| Availability | |
| Streaming media | |
| DirecTV Stream, Hulu + Live TV, Sling TV | |
Boomerang is a TV channel in the United States. It is owned by Warner Bros. Discovery. The channel is a spin-off of Cartoon Network. It mainly shows classic cartoons from the Warner Bros. Animation library. This includes shows from Warner Bros. and Hanna-Barbera. Sometimes, it also airs newer versions of classic shows. You might also see reruns of old Cartoon Network shows on Boomerang.
Boomerang first started in 1992 as a special cartoon block on Cartoon Network. This block showed classic cartoons. Later, in 2000, it became its own TV channel. In the late 2000s, Boomerang began to show more modern cartoons. These included reruns of shows that had already aired on Cartoon Network.
In 2015, Boomerang had a big relaunch. The goal was to make it as important as Cartoon Network. Boomerang started making its own new shows. These new shows often featured reboots of popular cartoons. Examples include Looney Tunes and Scooby-Doo. In 2017, Boomerang also launched its own streaming service. This service lets you watch shows on demand.
As of September 2018, about 38 million homes in the United States could watch Boomerang.
Contents
How Boomerang Started
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In the 1980s, Turner Broadcasting System collected many old cartoons. These included cartoons from MGM and early Warner Brothers. These cartoons were shown a lot on TBS and TNT. But when Cartoon Network started on October 1, 1992, these older cartoons needed a new home.
So, Boomerang was created. It began as a special block of shows on Cartoon Network. This block first aired on December 8, 1992. It used to run for four hours every weekend. The times for the block changed often. Eventually, the Boomerang block became shorter, lasting three hours each weekend.
Cartoon Network started focusing more on new shows. Because of this, Turner Broadcasting System launched the Boomerang TV channel. This happened on April 1, 2000. The Boomerang block on Cartoon Network kept running until October 3, 2004.
Boomerang's Big Changes
On February 4, 2014, Turner Broadcasting announced big plans for Boomerang. They said Boomerang would start showing commercials. They also planned to make Boomerang a worldwide channel. In October 2014, Cartoon Network revealed a new look for Boomerang. This new look first came to Latin America in September. It arrived in the United States on January 19, 2015.
With the new look, Boomerang also started making its own original shows. The channel focused on popular cartoon characters. They wanted to make shows that families could watch together. Turner executives said they wanted Boomerang to be a "second main channel" like Cartoon Network.
In 2017, Boomerang launched its online streaming service. In 2018, Boomerang and Captain Planet Foundation were nominated for an award. In May 2020, HBO Max was launched. This streaming service also includes many shows from Boomerang.
What Shows Are On Boomerang?
Boomerang used to show cartoons from its entire collection. But by spring 2014, most of the really old cartoons were shown very late at night. During the day, the schedule was mostly shows from the 1990s or newer. This changed a bit in April 2017. The channel started focusing more on shows from the 2010s.
Older Cartoon Network shows returned to Boomerang from January 2018 to May 2019. They came back again in September 2020 for half-hour slots. Shows like Tom and Jerry, Looney Tunes, The Smurfs, and Scooby-Doo are almost always on the schedule.
In 2023, Boomerang brought back many classic cartoons. These included Popeye the Sailor, Yogi Bear, Top Cat, Wacky Races, The Flintstones, and The Jetsons. Some classic Cartoon Network shows were reduced to only three. These were The Powerpuff Girls, Codename: Kids Next Door, and Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends. This is because a new block called Checkered Past on Adult Swim now shows many older Cartoon Network reruns.
Not all Warner Bros. cartoons are only on Boomerang. Some shows, like Tiny Toon Adventures and Animaniacs, are also shown on other channels. Cartoons about Batman and Superman are also often licensed to other networks. Also, Warner Bros. Christmas specials are shown on AMC during their "Best Christmas Ever" block.
Boomerang sometimes shows programs from other companies. For example, The Rocky and Bullwinkle Show and Garfield and Friends have aired on Boomerang.
Newer Shows on Boomerang
Even though Boomerang is known for classic cartoons, it has added newer shows. Some of these were added before the big relaunch:
- From 2012, new episodes of Puppy in My Pocket: Adventures in Pocketville aired.
- Wedgies, short animated clips from Cartoon Network, came back in 2013.
- In December 2014, Boomerang added Teen Titans Go! and The Amazing World of Gumball. These shows also aired on Cartoon Network. They left Boomerang in April 2017.
- On May 2, 2022, Teen Titans Go! and The Amazing World of Gumball returned. Boomerang also added Craig of the Creek and Total Dramarama. All four shows left on October 28, 2022.
- On June 28, 2015, Boomerang announced new original shows. These included Wabbit (later called New Looney Tunes), Be Cool, Scooby-Doo!, and Bunnicula.
- In mid-2018, Boomerang added reruns of modern Cartoon Network shows. These included Regular Show, Mighty Magiswords, Adventure Time, and Steven Universe.
Boomerang has also been used to air shows that didn't do well on Cartoon Network. It also sometimes shows new episodes of Cartoon Network shows at the same time.
Special Show Blocks
Boomerang used to have many special show blocks. These blocks would air for a few months and then be removed. Most of them were phased out in late 2014 due to the channel's rebrand.
Current Block
- Boomerang Theater – This block shows movies.
Past Blocks
- Boomeraction – This block focused on action-adventure shows. It included shows like Thundarr the Barbarian and Samurai Jack. This block also aired on Boomerang channels in other countries. It was removed on June 1, 2014.
- Boomerandom – This block aired on weekends. It showed two hours of episodes from one cartoon. The shows were chosen by a "drawing machine."
- The Boomerang Christmas Party – This block aired every December. It showed Christmas specials from Hanna-Barbera.
- Boomerang Zoo – This block showed old Hanna-Barbera and Warner Bros. cartoons. It mainly featured talking animal shows.
- Boomerock – This block celebrated the 50th anniversary of The Flintstones. It showed many episodes of the classic cartoon.
- Boomeroyalty – This block focused on a different cartoon character each month. It was like a mini-marathon of their shows.
- Captain Planet – For Earth Day, Boomerang would show a marathon of this animated series.
- Mother's Day – On Mother's Day, the channel aired cartoons about moms. These included episodes of The Jetsons and The Flintstones.
- Pet of the Week – This block showed two hours of a cartoon where the main character was an animal. Examples include Courage the Cowardly Dog and What's New, Scooby-Doo?.
- Scooberang – This block showed every episode of all Scooby-Doo series in order. It also aired some Scooby-Doo movies.
- Those Meddling Kids! – This block featured shows about mystery-solving teenagers. Examples include Scooby-Doo and Josie and the Pussycats.
- Halloween block – This block aired in October. It included Halloween-themed shows like Scooby-Doo and The Addams Family. This was one of the only times Boomerang showed live-action programs.
- Weeknights at 8:30 – This block started in October 2015. It showed new episodes of shows like Be Cool, Scooby-Doo! and The Garfield Show.
- Scoobtober – In October 2020, this block aired every day. It featured many Scooby-Doo shows and movies.
- Boomerang Family Feast – This marathon aired during Thanksgiving weekend in 2020. It showed classic cartoons like The Yogi Bear Show and The Flintstones.
- A Very Merry Jerry – In December 2020, this block aired every day. It featured Tom and Jerry cartoons and holiday specials.
How to Watch Boomerang
Boomerang offers different ways to watch its shows.
| Service | What it is |
|---|---|
| Boomerang HD | You can watch Boomerang in HD quality. Some TV providers offer it. In March 2019, the channel started showing all content in a wider screen format (16:9). This is similar to what Cartoon Network did in 2013. |
| Boomerang On Demand | This service lets you watch certain episodes whenever you want. It has classic Boomerang shows and some Cartoon Network shows. It started in 2005. You can find it on many digital TV services. |
| Boomerang Mobile App/SOVD | Boomerang launched an app on April 11, 2017. This app has over 5000 titles from Hanna-Barbera and Warner Bros. It also has special shows only for the app. You can subscribe for a monthly or yearly fee. The app is currently only available in the United States. |
Boomerang Around the World
Boomerang started as a TV channel in the United States. But it has grown and is now available in many countries worldwide. In 2015, all the Boomerang channels around the world got a new, unified look. This was to show that they are all part of one family-friendly network.
See also
In Spanish: Boomerang (canal de televisión) para niños
- Cartoon Network
- Cartoonito
- Discovery Family
- Tooncast
- Pogo
