Cartoon Network (British and Irish TV channel)
Cartoon Network is a 24-hour British children's television channel. The channel is owned and operated by WarnerMedia Entertainment Networks EMEA, a division of AT&T's WarnerMedia.
The channel primarily shows animated programming and was launched in Europe on 17 September 1993.
The first channel outside the US launched in 1993 based in the UK and targeting Europe with a particular focus on the UK market, whilst also serving Western Europe and Northern Europe.
In 1999, Cartoon Network further rationalized its European service All programmes on the pan-European version were dubbed in English, with different audio language channels when a translated programme is available, which were indicated as language symbols on Now/Next bumpers. Cartoon Network UK launched in 1999 serving as the English speaking channel across Europe, which is also used by Malta and Ireland. Cartoon Network launched a high definition version of the channel on 14 September 2011.
History
Pre-launch
On 1 October 1992, the original version of Cartoon Network was launched at CNN Center, Atlanta, U.S. The channel was created in response of Turner Entertainment acquiring MGM's Cartoon and Film library in 1986 and the acquisition of the Hanna-Barbera animation studio and cartoon library in 1991. As a result of Turner purchasing MGM's Cartoon and Film library, Warner Bros. pre-1948 content was also acquired, including early Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies shorts. At launch in the United States, Cartoon Network had an 8,500 hour cartoon library, and it became the first channel dedicated to cartoons. Six months after the launch, Cartoon Network expanded into foreign markets by launching a Latin American version of the channel dubbed in both Spanish, Portuguese and English. Cartoon Network's large animation library was in high demand in Western Europe and as a response to consumer demand, Astra 1C, the satellite on which Cartoon Network broadcast on, was launched on 12 May 1993 on board an Ariane 42L rocket from Kourou, French Guiana. Nine months later, Cartoon Network Europe was launched on 17 September 1993, broadcasting from London. It launched only less than 12 months after the original American version and only 16 days after its main children's television rival, Nickelodeon UK.Launch
The channel was originally twinned with movie channel TNT and ran from 5am until 7pm, with TNT taking over from 7pm to 5am. Sunday afternoons saw "Super Chunk", which showed back to back episodes of one show for two hours between 1pm and 3pm. Another feature was "The Longest Day", in which Cartoon Network ran for an extra four hours until 11pm on 21 June, every year beginning in 1994. This slot was dedicated to full-length cartoon movies. The first theme was the Checkerboard theme, which showed graphics from its US counterpart and lasted until 1999. The Checkerboard branding package was developed by Hatmaker Studios, now merged and part of its sister company - Corey, McPherson and Nash. Also unlike its rival Nickelodeon, which was part of Sky Multichannels, Cartoon Network was free-to-air across Europe.Introduction of 24 hour service
On 26 August 1996, Cartoon Network began running for an extra two hours until 9pm, and on 16 December 1996, it became a 24-hour channel, as did TNT on the Astra 1G satellite. However, a timesharing version of the channel called TNT & Cartoon Network continued to appear on some providers. Two years later on 19 December 1998, Cartoon Network launched as part of the Sky Digital satellite platform on the Astra 2A satellite. Also, in February 1997, Dutch cable provider A2000/KTA added the 24-hour Cartoon Network and TNT channels to its programming lineup.From 15 November 1998, Cartoon Network was part of ITV Digital's channel package, airing 24 hours a day until the service collapsed on 1 May 2002.
Separation from Pan-European version
On 15 October 1999, Cartoon Network UK officially stopped being a pan-European feed, this was when the shared transponder analogue feed on Astra 1C became scrambled with VideoCrypt and when the short-lived analogue UK and Ireland only version of TNT launched. Prior to this date, Cartoon Network Europe moved to Sirius II for serve Central Europe in August 1999 and Cartoon Network France and Spain launched at the same time on 23 August 1999, leaving the ex pan-European version on Astra 1C acting as a de facto free to air secondary/transitional European feed for countries preparing to switchover to their own newly launched local versions of Cartoon Network up until encryption on 15 October 1999. TNT changed its programming from classic movies to general entertainment as the movies were moved to TCM, TNT UK ceased to exist on 1 July 2000 and was replaced with an analogue version of TCM. During the late 90s and the early 2000s, Turner Entertainment Networks International started localising their channels to suit different audiences across different countries around Europe, Middle East and Africa.Post-pan European split
After the pan-European split, Cartoon Network revamped on 15 October 1999 with the launch of a unique and more intensive variant of the "Powerhouse" theme which had shapes and tiles with lines and footage of characters from various shows shown on Cartoon Network. This lasted until October 2002 and was used throughout Europe. The European version of Powerhouse was produced by now-defunct London based animation and design studio - AMGFX. A DJ theme was used during the AKA Cartoon Network programming block, bumpers include a live-action DJ scratching a record, which affects the playback of a cartoon clip.On 30 June 2001, the analogue feed on Astra 1C of Cartoon Network/TCM ceased broadcasting, this was when Sky ended its analogue services.
On 11 April 2005, ten months after it was introduced in the United States, the channel debuted a new logo and new idents.
Current events
On 24 May 2007, the network changed its branding to a similar look to ones used during 1999-2005, this branding was known as the Arrow Era. There were also alternate Arrow Era idents designed by the design studio, Stardust, which had a 3D style, rather than the 2D style used by the other Arrow Era idents. Cartoon Network UK & Ireland used both 2D and 3D Arrow Era idents, while other Cartoon Network channels that used the Arrow Era usually either used only one. This branding lasted until September 2010.In September 2010, Cartoon Network UK introduced its current branding and logo. Designed by Brand New School, it makes heavy use of a black and white checkerboard motif, as well as various CMYK color variations and patterns. This branding was used in the USA since 29 May 2010. The DOG was moved from the top right corner to the bottom right corner, like in America.
On 1 April 2014 Cartoon Network's DOG moved back to the top-right corner and a new Next banner using graphics from the Check It 3.0. branding package was introduced. Also on 1 April 2014 Cartoon Network Too was closed and was replaced with a reinstated one-hour timeshift service called Cartoon Network +1. Cartoon Network's Check It 3.0 was fully implemented on Cartoon Network UK on 21 July for the official start of the school summer holidays in the UK, Ninjago: Masters of Spinjitzu also premiered on the channel on the same day. On 17 November 2015, Cartoon Network UK launched their anti-bullying campaign in conjunction with Childline called Cartoon Network Buddy Network.
After nearly two years of the Laughternoons programming block was replaced with Mega Mondays on 14 April 2014, Laughternoons returned to Cartoon Network UK for a short period on 11 January 2016. Mega Mondays was the name of Cartoon Network UK's new episodes programming block for three years before being discontinued in July 2017. It was replaced with New Fridays on 30 March 2018.
On 26 October 2015, Cartoon Network UK launched their own localised version of the Cartoon Network Anything app, featuring short-form content such as mini-games and video-clips. On 27 February 2016, Cartoon Network UK used graphics from the Check It 4.0 branding package for the first time on a new episode promo for. On 22 July 2016, Cartoon Network UK fully rebranded using graphics from the Check It 4.0 branding package. On 14 April 2016, Cartoon Network UK signed a deal with satellite pay-TV provider Sky for exclusive on-demand boxset rights for a selection of its animated shows. In November 2016, Cartoon Network UK won two PromaxBDA UK awards for their Where's Ice King and Weetabix Weetabuddies television campaigns. On 21 July 2017, Cartoon Network UK fully rebranded using graphics from the Dimensional branding package.
Cartoon Network programs
Original scheduling
When Cartoon Network initially launched, its schedule was mainly made up of short cartoons from both Warner Bros. and other studios, such as WB's Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer's Tom and Jerry. A few years after, it started to broadcast its own programming such as The Powerpuff Girls and Dexter's Laboratory. Eventually, most of the channel's acquired programming was shifted to the sidelines, with the company's original animated series taking up the majority of the network's timeslots.Programming blocks
In September 2000, Toonami began broadcasting weekdays for two hours between 4pm until 6pm, and from 9pm until 11pm, as well as weekends from 10am until noon and 10pm until midnight. Dragonball Z had already been airing on Cartoon Network since March 2000, and had been attracting very good ratings, which may have contributed to the decision to launch Toonami in the UK. Its output consisted almost solely of Japanese anime such as the cult Dragonball Z, Tenchi Muyo, and Gundam Wing. The only non-Japanese shows for quite some time were the American-produced The Real Adventures of Jonny Quest and Batman Beyond. As time went on, Toonami started to shift away from Japanese anime and action programming, eventually morphing into the short-lived channel CN Too.In April 2004, began broadcasting weekdays and weekends with the UK dub.
Around the same time, there was almost completely new programming on the channel, and so Boomerang began in a late night slot; it ultimately branched off into its own channel after the block was discontinued.
From February 2012 all the way until July 2017, Cartoon Network shifted its major night of premieres to Monday evenings, under the names "Meaty Mondays", and as of April 2014 "Mega Mondays". Additionally, the block's name would change to "Mince Pie Mondays" every December, sporting a more festive look and airing Christmas specials to boot. In May 2014, a much smaller Friday variety block, titled "Funsize Fridays" was launched. This block only ran for around a year, and consisted of playing "a different show every fifteen minutes". The shows featured in the block were Adventure Time, The Amazing World of Gumball, Clarence, Johnny Test, Regular Show, Steven Universe, Teen Titans Go!, and Uncle Grandpa. Only one of these shows would air new episodes in this block, passing the baton to a different show monthly.
Eventually, both of these blocks were discontinued, and the UK channel was completely devoid of programming blocks for some time. However, on 30 March 2018, a brand new Friday night premiere block launched, under the simple name "New Fridays". The block aired on Friday nights from 4-9pm, and it was based upon the USA feed's "NEW NEW NEW NEW" block, carrying the same neon light branding from its international counterpart. Despite only lasting around 4 months, the block had a large variety of shows rotating in and out of premiere slots, including Adventure Time, The Amazing World of Gumball, Ben 10 , Clarence, Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs , Mighty Magiswords, , OK K.O.! Let's Be Heroes, The Powerpuff Girls , Regular Show, Steven Universe, Supernoobs, Teen Titans Go!, We Bare Bears, Uncle Grandpa, and Unikitty!. The Canadian import Wishfart also had its premiere and new episodes restricted to the block. On 20 July of the same year, the block was unceremoniously discontinued.