Cartoon Network facts for kids
Logo used since May 29, 2010
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| Country | United States |
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| Broadcast area | Nationwide |
| Headquarters | Atlanta, Georgia, U.S. |
| Programming | |
| Language(s) | English Spanish (with SAP, a Spanish language simulcast of the channel is also available) |
| Picture format | |
| Ownership | |
| Owner | Warner Bros. Discovery Networks |
| Parent | The Cartoon Network, Inc. |
| Sister channels |
List
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| History | |
| Launched | October 1, 1992 |
| Founder | Betty Cohen |
| Availability (channel space shared with nighttime programming block Adult Swim and preschool programming block Cartoonito) |
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| Streaming media | |
| YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV, Sling TV | |
Cartoon Network, often called CN, is a popular American TV channel. It is owned by Warner Bros. Discovery. Cartoon Network is part of a larger group that also includes channels like Boomerang, Cartoonito, and Adult Swim. The channel's main office is in Atlanta, Georgia.
Betty Cohen started Cartoon Network. It first aired on October 1, 1992. The channel mainly shows animated TV series. These shows are mostly for kids, ranging from action-packed adventures to funny cartoons.
Cartoon Network usually broadcasts from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. Eastern Time. It is mainly for kids aged 6 to 12. There are also special blocks: Cartoonito is for younger kids (preschoolers), and Adult Swim is for older teens and young adults.
You can also watch Cartoon Network in Spanish. Some TV providers offer a separate Spanish channel. Others let you choose Spanish audio using the SAP option. As of March 2021, about 94 million homes in the United States could watch Cartoon Network.
Contents
History of Cartoon Network
Cartoon Network has a rich history of bringing cartoons to your screen. It all started with a big collection of animated shows.
How Cartoon Network Started
In 1986, a company called Turner Broadcasting System bought Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM). Turner kept many of MGM's old movies and TV shows. This collection included many classic cartoons.
Later, in 1991, Turner also bought the famous animation studio Hanna-Barbera. This studio created shows like The Flintstones and Scooby-Doo. Ted Turner then asked Betty Cohen to create a new TV channel. This channel would be a home for all these cartoons.
On February 18, 1992, Turner Broadcasting announced its plan for Cartoon Network. The channel officially launched on October 1, 1992. It was the first TV channel to show cartoons 24 hours a day!
Growth and New Shows
In 1994, Cartoon Network Studios was created. This new studio started making original cartoons for the network. One of its first shows was What a Cartoon!, which debuted in 1995. This show featured many new animated shorts.
In 1996, Turner Broadcasting System joined with Time Warner. This merger brought all the Warner Bros. cartoons back together. It also allowed Cartoon Network to make even more original shows.
Popular Cartoon Network Shows
Cartoon Network is known for its amazing animated shows. Many of these are made by Cartoon Network Studios. Other shows are made with different studios or bought from them.
Original Cartoon Network Series
Many of Cartoon Network's first original shows came from its own studio, Cartoon Network Studios. Some of these early hits include:
For a while, these original shows were called Cartoon Cartoons. This name was used until about 2003 and then stopped in 2008. However, the name was brought back in 2021 for new animated shorts. Some popular original shows like Ed, Edd n Eddy and Courage the Cowardly Dog were made by other studios.
Classic Cartoons and Libraries
For many years, Cartoon Network showed classic cartoons. These included Looney Tunes, Merrie Melodies, Tom and Jerry, and Droopy. These classic shorts aired from the channel's launch in 1992 until 2017.
The channel had access to a huge collection of cartoons. This included shows from Warner Bros., MGM, Hanna-Barbera, and even characters from DC Comics. Most of these classic series moved to the Boomerang channel by 2000.
Special Programming Blocks
Cartoon Network has had many special programming blocks over the years:
- Cartoon Cartoon Fridays (1999-2003): This block showed new episodes of Cartoon Network's original series. It was later renamed "Fridays."
- Toonami (1997-2008): This block focused on action and anime shows. It was for older kids and teens. Toonami was brought back in 2012 on Adult Swim.
- CN Real (2009): This block featured live-action reality shows for young viewers.
- DC Nation (2011): This block showed series based on DC Comics characters.
In September 2021, Cartoon Network added two new blocks:
- Cartoonito: This block is for preschool-aged children.
- ACME Night: This Sunday-evening block shows family movies and other special programs. It moved to Adult Swim in September 2023.
Editing Classic Cartoons
Over the years, Cartoon Network has shown many classic Warner Bros. animated shorts. These cartoons were made between the 1920s and 1960s. The network sometimes edited out certain scenes. These edits were made to remove parts that might be too intense or not suitable for modern audiences.
For example, some scenes with violence or old-fashioned humor were removed. The network aimed to make sure the content was appropriate for all viewers.
Other Cartoon Network Brands
Cartoon Network is part of a bigger family of channels and services.
Cartoonito
Cartoonito is a brand for preschool programming. It started in other countries in 2006. In February 2021, Cartoonito came to the U.S. It launched as a block on Cartoon Network and also on HBO Max. The Cartoon Network block started on September 13, 2021.
Adult Swim
Adult Swim is a programming block on Cartoon Network for older audiences. Its shows are for mature viewers, unlike the daytime Cartoon Network shows for kids. Because of this, Nielsen (a company that measures TV viewership) counts Adult Swim as a separate channel.
Adult Swim shows both animated and live-action programs. These include original shows, reruns of animated comedies, and anime series. They are usually shown with few or no edits for content. As of September 2023, Adult Swim airs daily from 5:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. Eastern Time.
Toonami
Toonami is a brand for action-packed programming blocks. The name "Toonami" combines "cartoon" and "tsunami," meaning a "tidal wave" of cartoons. The first Toonami block launched on Cartoon Network in the U.S. on March 17, 1997. It showed both American cartoons and Japanese anime.
Toonami ended its first run in 2008. It was then brought back on May 26, 2012, as part of Adult Swim's Saturday night anime block. Toonami is famous for its unique style and its robot host, TOM. TOM is voiced by Steven Blum. The Toonami brand has also been used for channels in other countries, like the United Kingdom and India.
Boomerang
Boomerang is a brand that focuses on classic cartoons. It's for children and families. Boomerang started as a weekend programming block on Cartoon Network in 1992. On April 1, 2000, Boomerang became its own cable channel.
In 2017, an online Boomerang streaming service was launched. This service offers classic series and new episodes of shows like Scooby-Doo and Guess Who? and The Tom and Jerry Show.
Other Services and Products
Cartoon Network offers many ways to enjoy its content.
| Description | Service |
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Cartoon Network HD is the high-definition version of the channel. It launched on October 15, 2007. It broadcasts in 1080i high-definition. Since 2009, all original shows are shown in their original widescreen format. |
| Cartoon Network on Demand | Cartoon Network on Demand is a video on demand service. It lets you watch shows whenever you want through your cable or satellite provider. It started in 2002. |
| Move It Movement | Move It Movement is a campaign by the channel. It encourages kids to be active, especially outdoors. This program helps fight childhood obesity. It launched on February 28, 2005. |
| Max | Max is a streaming service from Warner Bros. Discovery. It launched in May 2023. Cartoon Network shows are a big part of the content available on Max. |
Production Studios
Cartoon Network has several studios that create its animated shows.
Cartoon Network Studios
Cartoon Network Studios is located in Burbank, California. It is the main studio that makes original shows for Cartoon Network. While this studio makes many shows, some early Cartoon Network shows were made by other companies. Since 2014, it also produces shows for Adult Swim.
Williams Street
Williams Street Productions is a studio in Atlanta, Georgia. It creates shows for the late-night block Adult Swim. Before Adult Swim, this studio produced Space Ghost: Coast to Coast for Cartoon Network.
Hanna-Barbera Studios Europe
Hanna-Barbera Studios Europe is Cartoon Network's European studio. It is located in London, England. This studio creates original programs from the United Kingdom. It was known by different names before 2021.
Games and Merchandise
Cartoon Network also creates video games and other products based on its shows.
Cartoon Network Games
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Formerly
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Cartoon Network Interactive (2000–2014) |
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| Subsidiary | |
| Industry | Video games |
| Founded | 2000 |
Cartoon Network Games makes and publishes video games. These games are based on popular Cartoon Network shows. The company started in 2000.
Cartoon Network Enterprises
Cartoon Network Enterprises handles all the licensing and merchandise. This means they help create toys, clothes, and other products based on Cartoon Network shows. It was started in 2001.
Mobile App
Cartoon Network has a mobile app. On the app, you can watch full episodes and live streams. It also has games and the channel's schedule.
Video Games
Many video games have been made featuring Cartoon Network characters. For example, Cartoon Network: Punch Time Explosion is a fighting game similar to Nintendo's Super Smash Bros.. It features many Cartoon Network characters.
Games based on the Ben 10 series have also been released. The Cartoon Network website also has many online games. One big online game was Cartoon Network Universe: FusionFall, which ran from 2009 to 2013.
Movies
Cartoon Network has produced several films. Most of these were made for TV. A few films from Cartoon Network have been released in movie theaters. These include The Powerpuff Girls Movie and Teen Titans Go! To the Movies.
Online Presence
Cartoon Network has a strong online presence. Its official website, CartoonNetwork.com, launched on July 27, 1998.
In its early days, the website featured "Web Premiere Toons." These were short cartoons made just for CartoonNetwork.com. The "Department of Cartoons" section offered behind-the-scenes content. This included storyboards, episode guides, and production notes.
In October 2000, CartoonNetwork.com became very popular. It had more unique visitors than its rival, Nickelodeon's website. In July 2007, visitors spent an average of 77 minutes on the site.
Marketing and Partnerships
Cartoon Network works with many companies to promote its shows.
Product Licensing
Popular Cartoon Network shows like Dexter's Laboratory led to many licensed products. For example, Kraft Foods partnered with Cartoon Network. This led to Cartoon Network characters appearing on food products.
The network also worked with companies like Tower Records for cross-promotion. Being part of Warner Bros. Discovery helps Cartoon Network. It allows for good partnerships with other related companies.
Cross-Promotion with Other Channels
Turner Broadcasting System helps promote Cartoon Network shows. Sometimes, shows would even swap between channels. For instance, Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends from Cartoon Network was sometimes shown on Kids' WB. This helped both channels reach a wider audience.
Other Media Products
Warner Bros. Home Entertainment distributes Cartoon Network shows on DVD and Blu-ray. Rhino Entertainment used to release music from Cartoon Network shows on CDs. DC Comics has published comic books featuring characters like the Powerpuff Girls.
Cartoon Network also partnered with food companies. Nestlé had a deal that put Cartoon Network characters on Wonder Ball chocolate candies. This started in 2003 and included online prizes.
Cartoon Network Around the World
Cartoon Network has expanded globally since it started. It has launched different versions of its channel in many countries. These include Canada, Mexico, Latin America, the United Kingdom, and parts of Asia.
See also
- Adult Swim
- Boomerang
- Cartoonito
- Discovery Family
