History of Cartoon Network in Timeline
Cartoon Network (CN) is an American cable channel owned by Warner Bros. Discovery, headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia. Part of The Cartoon Network, Inc., it shares operational management with sister channels Boomerang, Cartoonito, Discovery Family, Adult Swim, and Toonami.
1943: "Coal Black and de Sebben Dwarfs" Omitted
Cartoon Network omitted "Coal Black and de Sebben Dwarfs" (1943) from its broadcasts, a decision likely influenced by the short's use of politically incorrect humor.
1950: "The Scarlet Pumpernickel" Edited
"The Scarlet Pumpernickel" (1950) underwent heavy editing for its broadcast on Cartoon Network, primarily due to scenes of violence.
1952: "Feed the Kitty" Edited
Similar to "The Scarlet Pumpernickel," "Feed the Kitty" (1952) also faced edits for its Cartoon Network broadcast due to concerns about violence.
May 1986: Turner Sells Back MGM, Retains Library
Turner Broadcasting System sold back MGM in May 1986 but strategically retained a significant portion of the film and television library created before that date.
August 9, 1986: Turner Broadcasting System Acquires MGM/UA
On August 9, 1986, Turner Broadcasting System made a significant move by acquiring Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer/United Artists (MGM/UA).
October 8, 1988: Turner Network Television Launch
On October 8, 1988, Turner Network Television (TNT) was launched, capitalizing on the extensive film library acquired through the MGM/UA purchase.
1991: Turner Acquires Hanna-Barbera Library
In 1991, Turner further expanded its animation holdings by purchasing the library of the renowned animation studio Hanna-Barbera.
February 18, 1992: Cartoon Network Announcement
Turner Broadcasting announced its plans to launch Cartoon Network on February 18, 1992, envisioning it as a dedicated channel for its vast animation library.
March 12, 1992: Cartoon Network Parent Company Founded
One month after the announcement of Cartoon Network, its namesake parent company was established on March 12, 1992.
October 1, 1992: Cartoon Network Launch
On October 1, 1992, Cartoon Network was launched by Betty Cohen, who was appointed by Ted Turner as the network's first president. The channel primarily focuses on animated television series, primarily children's programming, ranging from action to animated comedy.
December 8, 1992: Boomerang Programming Block Debuts
Boomerang, a programming block dedicated to classic cartoons, premiered on Cartoon Network on December 8, 1992.
1992: Classic Cartoon Rotation Begins
From its launch in 1992, Cartoon Network made classic cartoons a cornerstone of its programming, airing a continuous rotation of Looney Tunes, Merrie Melodies, Tom and Jerry, and Droopy shorts.
December 5, 1993: Cartoon Network Productions Established
Cartoon Network Productions was founded on December 5, 1993, serving as the global distribution arm for Cartoon Network shows, pilots, and movies.
1994: Cartoon Network Studios Founded
Hanna-Barbera's new division, Cartoon Network Studios, was founded in 1994 and began production on "What a Cartoon!," a show that would become a platform for original animated shorts.
1995: "What a Cartoon!" Premieres
"What a Cartoon!" debuted in 1995, introducing a new wave of original animated shorts to Cartoon Network's lineup.
January 9, 1996: CartoonNetwork.com Registered
Cartoon Network registered its official website, CartoonNetwork.com, on January 9, 1996.
1996: Preschool Programming Expansion
Cartoon Network expanded its programming in 1996 to include two preschool programs: "Big Bag," a live-action/puppet show with animated segments produced by Children's Television Workshop, and "Small World," which featured animated series from around the world aimed at preschoolers.
March 17, 1997: Toonami Launches on Cartoon Network
The Toonami programming block, known for its action-oriented cartoons and anime, first aired on Cartoon Network on March 17, 1997.
1997: Toonami Block Launch
The Toonami block, launched in 1997, catered to an older youth and teen audience with its focus on action-oriented series, including imported anime.
1997: Sam Register Joins CartoonNetwork.com
Sam Register joined CartoonNetwork.com as Senior Vice President and Creative Director in 1997.
July 27, 1998: CartoonNetwork.com Launched
Cartoon Network's official website, CartoonNetwork.com, was officially launched on July 27, 1998.
January 1999: "MGM Golden Age Collection" Showcased
In January 1999, CartoonNetwork.com's "Department of Cartoons" showcased the "MGM Golden Age Collection."
1999: Classic Cartoons Moved from Cartoon Network
By 1999, most of the classic cartoon series that had been a staple of Cartoon Network's schedule were removed from the channel.
1999: Cartoon Cartoon Fridays Launch
Cartoon Cartoon Fridays debuted in 1999 as Cartoon Network's flagship block, showcasing premieres of original animated series under the "Cartoon Cartoons" banner.
April 1, 2000: Boomerang Becomes a Standalone Channel
On April 1, 2000, Boomerang was spun off into its own cable channel, offering classic cartoons 24/7.
October 2000: Cartoon Orbit Launched
Cartoon Network launched Cartoon Orbit, an online gaming network, in October 2000.
October 2000: CartoonNetwork.com Surpasses Nick.com in Unique Users
In October 2000, CartoonNetwork.com surpassed its rival Nickelodeon's website (Nick.com) in terms of unique users, with 2.12 million compared to Nick.com's 1.95 million.
2000: Cartoon Network Games Established
Cartoon Network Games, formerly known as Cartoon Network Interactive, was established in 2000 to develop and publish video games based on Cartoon Network shows.
2000: Classic Cartoons Moved to Boomerang
The classic cartoons removed from Cartoon Network found a new home on Boomerang in 2000, marking a shift in programming strategies.
June 2001: Controversy Surrounds June Bugs Marathon
Cartoon Network's decision to omit certain Bugs Bunny shorts from its annual June Bugs marathon sparked media attention and controversy in June 2001.
2001: Cartoon Network Enterprises Established
Cartoon Network Enterprises was established in 2001 to oversee the global licensing and merchandising of Cartoon Network brands.
2001: Controversial Shorts Considered for June Bugs
For the 2001 June Bugs marathon, Cartoon Network considered including 12 controversial shorts, some of which were part of the "Censored Eleven," a list of Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies cartoons effectively shelved from distribution due to their use of ethnic and national stereotypes. The network planned to air these shorts past midnight with introductions acknowledging their historical context.
2001: Sam Register Leaves CartoonNetwork.com
Sam Register stepped down from his role as Senior Vice President and Creative Director at CartoonNetwork.com in 2001.
2002: The Powerpuff Girls Movie Release
Warner Bros. released The Powerpuff Girls Movie in 2002, marking a significant expansion of the Cartoon Network brand into feature films.
2003: "Cartoon Cartoons" Branding Fades
While "Cartoon Cartoons" once served as the branding for Cartoon Network's original animated series, its usage dwindled by 2003.
2003: Cartoon Cartoon Fridays Renamed "Fridays"
As Cartoon Network phased out the "Cartoon Cartoons" branding, Cartoon Cartoon Fridays was renamed "Fridays" in 2003.
2003: Nestlé Wonder Ball Promotion Begins
Cartoon Network partnered with Nestlé in 2003 to launch a Wonder Ball chocolate candy tie-in featuring Cartoon Network characters and logos.
October 3, 2004: Boomerang Programming Block Ends
The Boomerang programming block on Cartoon Network concluded on October 3, 2004.
2004: Rhino Entertainment Spin-off
Rhino Entertainment, which had distributed Cartoon Network music cassettes and CDs, was spun off from Warner Bros. Discovery in 2004.
2004: Ed, Edd n Eddy Wonder Ball Promotion
In 2004, Cartoon Network continued its partnership with Nestlé for a new Wonder Ball promotion, this time featuring characters from Ed, Edd n Eddy and offering exclusive prizes.
2004: CartoonNetwork.com Sets User Engagement Record
In 2004, CartoonNetwork.com set a record with visitors spending an average of 71 minutes on the site.
October 16, 2006: Cartoon Orbit Game Ends
Cartoon Orbit, Cartoon Network's online gaming network, officially shut down on October 16, 2006.
2006: Cartoonito International Launch
Cartoonito, a preschool programming brand owned by Warner Bros., was first launched in 2006 for international markets.
July 2007: CartoonNetwork.com Sets New User Engagement Record
In July 2007, Nielsen ratings data revealed that visitors spent an average of 77 minutes on CartoonNetwork.com, surpassing the previous record of 71 minutes set in 2004.
2007: "Fridays" Block Ends
The "Fridays" block, formerly known as Cartoon Cartoon Fridays, came to an end in 2007.
May 24, 2008: Kids' WB Discontinuation
May 24, 2008, marked the end of Kids' WB, a programming block that had shared shows like Xiaolin Showdown and ¡Mucha Lucha! with Cartoon Network.
September 20, 2008: Original Toonami Block Ends
After a successful run, the original Toonami block on Cartoon Network ended on September 20, 2008.
2008: Toonami Block Ends
The original run of the Toonami block on Cartoon Network ended in 2008.
2008: "Cartoon Cartoons" Branding Discontinued
The "Cartoon Cartoons" branding was officially discontinued by Cartoon Network in 2008.
January 14, 2009: "FusionFall" Game Released
Cartoon Network released "FusionFall," a massive multiplayer online game, on January 14, 2009.
2009: Adult Swim Pushes Start Time to 10 p.m.
Adult Swim shifted its start time to 10 p.m. in 2009, marking an expansion into prime time.
2009: CN Real Block Introduced
CN Real, a block dedicated to live-action reality television series aimed at a youth audience, was introduced in 2009.
2009: Time Warner Cable Spin-off
In 2009, Time Warner Cable, which distributed Cartoon Network as part of its packages, was spun off from its parent company, Time Warner.
2010: Adult Swim Moves Start Time to 9 p.m.
Adult Swim further adjusted its start time to 9 p.m. in 2010, continuing its expansion into prime time.
2011: DC Nation Block Launch
Cartoon Network launched the DC Nation block in 2011, focusing on series adapted from DC Comics properties.
2011: Cartoon Network Peak Viewership
Cartoon Network reached its peak viewership in 2011, with 100,000,000 households subscribing to the channel.
2011: "Cartoon Network: Punch Time Explosion" Game Released
Cartoon Network released "Cartoon Network: Punch Time Explosion," a four-player mascot brawler fighting game, for the Nintendo 3DS in 2011.
May 26, 2012: Toonami Block Revived
After a hiatus, Toonami was revived on May 26, 2012, as a relaunch of Adult Swim's Saturday night anime block.
December 2012: Toonami Launches in Asia
The Toonami brand expanded internationally with the launch of a dedicated network in Asia in December 2012.
2012: Cartoon Network Development Studio Europe Renamed
Cartoon Network Development Studio Europe was renamed Cartoon Network Studios Europe in 2012.
2012: Toonami Block Relaunched
Toonami was relaunched in 2012 under the Adult Swim umbrella, marking a return of the popular block.
August 29, 2013: "FusionFall" Game Shut Down
The online game "FusionFall" was shut down on August 29, 2013.
March 2014: Adult Swim Shifts Start Time to 8 p.m.
In March 2014, Adult Swim moved its start time to 8 p.m. ET/PT, although the hour was occasionally given back to Cartoon Network for special programming.
June 9, 2014: Time Inc. Spin-off
On June 9, 2014, Time Inc., which had previously provided favorable coverage and advertising space to Cartoon Network across its publications, was spun off from WarnerMedia.
2014: Cartoon Network Studios Starts Producing for Adult Swim
Beginning in 2014, Cartoon Network Studios expanded its production slate to include shows for Adult Swim, marking a collaboration between the two entities.
February 2015: Toonami Launches in India
Toonami continued its international expansion with the launch of a dedicated network in India in February 2015.
2015: Cartoon Network Books Established
Cartoon Network Books was established in 2015 as the book licensor for various Cartoon Network franchises.
February 2016: Toonami Launches in France
Toonami launched a dedicated network in France in February 2016, further expanding its global presence.
2017: Classic Cartoon Rotation Ends
Cartoon Network's long-standing tradition of airing classic cartoons in constant rotation came to an end in 2017.
2017: Boomerang Launches On-Demand Service
In 2017, Boomerang launched an online video-on-demand service, providing access to classic cartoons and new episodes of original series.
May 26, 2019: Cartoon Network Latin America Original Productions Launched
Cartoon Network Latin America Original Productions (CN LA) was launched on May 26, 2019, as a production studio division for the network's Latin American station.
February 2021: Cartoonito US Launch Announced
The announcement of Cartoonito's US launch as a block on Cartoon Network and as a content brand on HBO Max took place in February 2021.
September 13, 2021: Cartoonito Launches in the US
On September 13, 2021, Cartoonito made its debut in the U.S. as a block on Cartoon Network and as a content brand on HBO Max.
September 2021: Cartoonito and ACME Night Launch
In September 2021, Cartoon Network expanded its programming with two new blocks: Cartoonito, targeting preschool viewers, and ACME Night, focused on family-friendly content.
2021: Cartoon Network Studios Europe Renamed to Hanna-Barbera Studios Europe
Cartoon Network Studios Europe underwent another name change in 2021, becoming Hanna-Barbera Studios Europe.
2021: "Cartoon Cartoons" Branding Revived
Cartoon Network revived the "Cartoon Cartoons" name in 2021 for a new program featuring animated shorts, signaling a return to its roots.
May 1, 2023: Adult Swim Expands into Prime Time
Due to a shift in Cartoon Network's viewership towards teenagers and young adults in the evening, Adult Swim's start time was moved to 7 p.m. ET/PT on weekdays and Saturdays on May 1, 2023.
September 3, 2023: ACME Night Moves to Adult Swim
ACME Night, a block introduced to broaden Cartoon Network's demographic reach, moved to Adult Swim on September 3, 2023, as Adult Swim shifted its daily sign-on time to 5 p.m. ET/PT.
September 2023: Adult Swim Extends Broadcast Hours
As of September 2023, Adult Swim extended its broadcast hours to run daily from 5:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. ET/PT.
November 2023: Cartoon Network Viewership Update
As of November 2023, Cartoon Network's viewership stands at approximately 66,000,000 pay television households in the United States.