Cartoon Network

Cartoon Network Fall 2010 Kristoffer Falcones, Anna Mackey, Brendan Mahoney,

History

Cartoon Network is a cable television channel created by Turner Broadcasting that is dedicated to showing animated programming. In 1986, before Cartoon Network was created, Ted Turner’s cable-conglomerate acquired the existing MGM film and television library. Two years later, cable channel Turner Network Television (TNT) gained an audience with this film library, and lead Turner to purchase the animation studio Hanna-Barbera Productions in 1991. This acquisition provided Turner with an even larger library, and in October of 1922, Cartoon Network was created as an outlet for Turner’s library of animation.

Initially, programming consisted of reruns of classic Warner Bros. cartoons along with some Hanna-Barbera time-fillers. In 1994, Cartoon Network created its two first original series: The Moxy Show and Space Ghost Coast to Coast. In 1995, The What-A-Cartoon! Show, a series of creator-driven short cartoons, premiered with the objective to steer away from repetitive programming and really expand the channel’s exclusive content. The show spun-off six highly successful original series: Dexter’s Laboratory, Johnny Bravo, Cow and Chicken, The Powerpuff Girls, Mike, Lu, & Og, and Courage the Cowardly Dog.

In 1996, Turner merged with Time Warner. This merger consolidated ownership of all the Warner Bros. cartoons. Time Warner changed the direction of Cartoon Network, focusing the studio exclusively on creating new material for the channel. Currently, nearly all of Cartoon Network’s classic cartoon programming has been relocated to its sister network Boomerang, creating even more space for new programming. In 2001, Adult Swim premiered as a “spin-off” programming block targeting adults. In 2005, Turner Broadcasting split Adult Swim from Cartoon Network so it could be treated as a separate channel for rating purposes. Though it is treated as a separate channel, it still shares channel space with Cartoon Network, with the designated hours of 10:00 PM to 6:00 AM EST. The introduction of Adult Swim really expanded Cartoon Network’s audience, as it began appealing not only to children, but to the 18+ demographic as well.

In February of 2007 Jim Samples, president of Cartoon Network for thirteen years, resigned because of the Boston bomb scare. Stuart Snyder was named successor, and under his leadership Cartoon Network underwent a number of changes, including in 2009 a new block of live-action reality shows promoted as CN Real.

Partnership

Boomerang

While Cartoon Network started as a channel to broadcast cartoons from the MGM and Hanna Barbera libraries, ass the channel matured and started to produce original content, however, these programs were shown less and less frequently.  To remedy this, Turner Broadcasting created Boomerang in April of 2000.  Boomerang, a sister channel of Cartoon Network, is a continuation of the channel's original mission and a home for classic cartoons like Tom and Jerry, The Jetsons, and The Flintstones.  

Signature Programming

CN Real

In 2009, Cartoon Network launched a sub-brand called CN Real, an umbrella term for its new, original live action programming, which includes both scripted and reality show programs aimed to appeal at the younger audience of Cartoon Network. Unnatural History and Tower Prep are two scripted, hour long dramas, while Destroy Build Destroy and Dude, What Would Happen are structured similarly to popular American reality shows, while CN Real's newest show, Hole in the Wall is based off the Japanese Game show Nōkabe.    

Adult Swim

Cartoon Network is an interesting cable channel in that it is essentially two different channels, depending on the time of day. At 10:00 pm, the network radically changes its programming.  This overnight block, called Adult Swim, is aimed at an older demographic.  Like Cartoon Network, almost all of the programs are cartoons, but purposefully avoid the mainstream.  Adult Swim has carved out a niche for itself in late night cable with cult cartoons like Aqua Teen Hunger Force, The Venture Bros, Space Ghost Coast to Coast (a parody of late night talk shows), and Robot Chicken.

Aqua Teen Hunger Force, one of Adult Swim's signature programs, gained significant press surrounding a guerrilla marketing campaign that was misconstrued as a bomb threat in Boston.  The campaign involved LED light up placards placed in metropolitan areas depicting one of the minor characters of ATHF giving the finger.