Cartoon Network

• 1. The 1986 Acquisition That Built A Channel

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  On the 9th of August 1986, Turner Broadcasting System acquired Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer/United Artists. The deal included a massive film and television library that would eventually become the foundation for a new network. Ted Turner kept much of the content created before May 1986 after selling back MGM just over two months later on October 18. This specific collection formed the core assets needed to launch a dedicated animation channel.

  In 1991, Turner purchased the library of animation studio Hanna-Barbera. Betty Cohen, then Senior Vice President of TNT, received the task of devising a network to house these programs. Her strategy involved creating a 24-hour single-genre cable channel focused entirely on animation. On the 18th of February 1992, Turner Broadcasting announced plans to launch Cartoon Network as an outlet for this vast animation library.

  The parent company officially founded itself one month later on the 12th of March 1992. The network launched exactly three weeks after its founding announcement on the 1st of October 1992. It became the first 24-hour cable channel with animation as its main theme. Betty Cohen was appointed as its first president to oversee the initial operations.

• 2. From Library Rotations To Original Hits

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  Cartoon Network's early days relied heavily on existing libraries from Warner Bros., Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, and Hanna-Barbera. These included Looney Tunes shorts, Tom and Jerry cartoons, and series like The Flintstones and Scooby-Doo. Most of these classic series were removed by 1999 and moved to Boomerang in 2000. This shift cleared space for new content created specifically for the network.

  In 1994, Hanna-Barbera's new division Cartoon Network Studios began production on What a Cartoon!. This show debuted in 1995 and offered original animated shorts that would spawn future hits. Dexter's Laboratory, Cow and Chicken, I Am Weasel, Johnny Bravo, and The Powerpuff Girls emerged from this era of experimentation. The name Cartoon Cartoons served as branding for these original series until it was discontinued in 2008.

  The network also produced shows through other studios including Ed, Edd n Eddy, Courage the Cowardly Dog, and Codename: Kids Next Door. By 2021, the Cartoon Cartoons name returned for a new animated shorts program. This evolution marked a transition from simply broadcasting old clips to creating entirely new intellectual properties.

• 3. Editing Out The Past For Modern Audiences

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  Cartoon Network broadcast most Warner Bros. animated shorts originally created between the 1920s and the 1960s during its early years. The network edited out scenes depicting discharge of gunfire, alcohol ingestion, cowboys and Indians gags, tobacco use, and politically incorrect humor. These edits applied to content dating back to the network's launch in 1992 until 2017 when many were removed entirely.

  Coal Black and de Sebben Dwarfs from 1943 remained omitted entirely due to its political incorrectness despite critical acclaim. The Scarlet Pumpernickel from 1950 and Feed the Kitty from 1952 had their finales heavily edited because of violence. Unedited versions stayed off both broadcasting and wide release on the video market throughout this period.

  Media attention focused on June 2001 over a decision concerning further omissions from broadcast. The network scheduled a 49-hour-long marathon annually known as June Bugs to air every Bugs Bunny short chronologically. They intended to include 12 controversial shorts for the 2001 airing that became part of the Censored Eleven list. These episodes used ethnic and national stereotypes but aired past midnight to ensure few children watched them.

• 4. The Shifting Ownership Landscape

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  Turner Broadcasting System merged with Time Warner which consolidated ownership of all Warner Bros. cartoons. This merger allowed the network to continue more original productions without relying solely on external libraries. The corporate structure evolved from Turner Entertainment Co through various parent companies including Warner Bros. Discovery.

  Time Warner Cable distributed Cartoon Network as part of its packages before spinning off in 2009. Time Inc., the magazine subsidiary, ensured favorable coverage until it spun off from Time Warner on the 9th of June 2014. AOL helped promote shows online by offering exclusive content and display advertising. These cross-promotional relationships benefited from the network's relation to corporate parent Time Warner.

  Warner Bros. Home Entertainment distributes VHS tapes, DVDs, and Blu-ray discs featuring shows. Rhino Entertainment distributed cassette tapes and CDs with related music until being spun off in 2004. DC Comics published a series featuring Powerpuff Girls indicating they could handle other characters. Warner Bros. released The Powerpuff Girls Movie in 2002 while Kevin Sandler noted potential for HBO or Cinemax broadcasts.

• 5. From Flash Games To Streaming Giants

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  In October 2000, Cartoon Orbit launched an online gaming network characterized by digital trading cards called cToons. This game ended on the 16th of October 2006 after six years of operation. FusionFall, a massive multiplayer game, ran from the 14th of January 2009 until the 29th of August 2013 when it shut down permanently.

  On the 8th of August 2024, CartoonNetwork.com closed down and redirected to the channel hub of Max streaming service. A spokesperson stated focus shifted to social media where consumers find meaningful growth potential. Gizmodo reported the shutdown removed archives of clips and free access to series including beloved flash games that had been erased over years of redesigns.

  Since inception, Cartoon Network set up various national and regional feeds across Canada, Mexico, Latin America, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Africa, and Asia-Pacific regions. By 2011, availability reached approximately 66 million pay television households in the United States before declining from its peak of 100 million households in 2011.

  Agreements with Kraft Foods led to widespread in-store advertising

• 6. Global Feeds And The Merchandise Empire

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  for products featuring characters like Dexter's Laboratory. Nestlé received licensing agreements resulting in Wonder Ball chocolate candy tie-ins beginning in 1953. New promotions started in 2004 with Ed, Edd n Eddy characters offering exclusive prizes on the Cartoon Orbit website.