 Logo used since 2015 | |
| Country | United States |
|---|---|
| Broadcast area | Nationwide |
| Network | Cartoon Network (1992–2004) |
| Headquarters | |
| Programming | |
| Language(s) | |
| Picture format |
|
| Ownership | |
| Owner | Warner Bros. Discovery Networks |
| Parent | The Cartoon Network, Inc. |
| Sister channels | List
|
| History | |
| Launched |
|
| Closed | October 3, 2004 (block) |
| Former names | Boomerang from Cartoon Network (2000–2015) |
| Links | |
| Website |
www |
| Availability | |
| Streaming media | |
| Affiliated Streaming Service | Max |
| DirecTV Stream, Hulu + Live TV, Sling TV | |
Boomerang is an American cable television network and subscription video on-demand over-the-top streaming service owned by Warner Bros. Discovery U.S. Networks, a subsidiary of Warner Bros. Discovery. It primarily features animated programming from the Warner Bros. Animation library (including Warner Bros. Cartoons and Hanna-Barbera productions among others), as well as contemporary reboots of classic franchises.
Boomerang debuted in 1992 as a programming block on Cartoon Network, and was originally dedicated to classic animation. The block was eventually spun-off into its own separate network in 2000, and by the late 2000s, began airing more modern and contemporary programming, including reruns of Cartoon Network original series. A 2015 relaunch aimed to promote Boomerang as a "second flagship" brand alongside Cartoon Network, and saw the network produce its own original programming; with a focus on reboots of franchises such as Looney Tunes and Scooby-Doo. In 2017, as the cable network was losing coverage, Boomerang launched its own standalone SVOD app.
As of November 2023 [update], the Boomerang cable network is available to approximately 26,000,000 pay television households in the United States; down from its 2019 peak of 47,000,000 households. [1]
History
Background and early years
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The Turner Broadcasting System had built up an extensive catalogue of MGM and early Warner Brothers cartoons since the 1980s. The library made up much of the extensive children's programming on TBS and TNT, which was phased out after the creation of the Cartoon Network on October 1, 1992. Boomerang was created as a new home for these and similar programming, originating as a programming block on Cartoon Network on December 8, 1992. The block originally aired for four hours every weekend, but the block's start time had changed frequently.[ citation needed] The Saturday block moved to into the afternoon, then back to the early morning while the Sunday block moved to to the evenings.[ citation needed] Eventually, Boomerang was shortened by an hour, reducing it from four hours to three each weekend.[ citation needed]
With Cartoon Network downplaying its archival programming in favor of newer original series, Turner launched the Boomerang cable channel on April 1, 2000. [2] The Cartoon Network block continued to run under the new cable channel's branding until October 3, 2004.[ citation needed]
Relaunch
On February 4, 2014, as part of the 2014 upfronts, it was announced that Boomerang would become an advertising-supported network, and that there were plans to expand the brand globally. [3] [4] In October of that year, a global rebranding was unveiled. The new branding was first launched in Latin America in late September, before arriving in the United States on January 19, 2015. As part of the expansion, Boomerang would introduce original programming for the first time, which would place a particular focus on the most well-known franchises from the Warner archives with an explicitly family-friendly approach. Turner executives described the changes as being an effort to grow Boomerang into a "second flagship" on par with the Cartoon Network. [5] [6] [7]
On March 7, 2017, Boomerang announced the launch of its branded SVOD streaming service. [8] The service would feature 5000+ titles from Hanna-Barbera and Warner Bros, as well as exclusive original programming. [9] The SVOD launched on April 11, 2017, and was available for either for $4.99 per month or $39.99 annually. New episodes and content were planned to be added to the service on a weekly basis. [10]
On November 13, 2018, Boomerang launched a channel on the VRV streaming service. [11] That same year, the 3rd Annual Shorty Social Good Awards nominated Boomerang and the Captain Planet Foundation for Best in Entertainment. [12] [13]
Programming
As of June 2024, Boomerang's cable network currently airs a mix of classic cartoons and various re-imaginings of such franchises from the Warner Bros' animation archives [14], as well as reruns (and has simulcasted premieres and finales) of programming aired on Cartoon Network. It has also been used to burn off programs from Cartoon Network; much like similar spin-off networks, such as Nickelodeon's Nicktoons & TeenNick, and Disney Channel's Disney XD. As part of its 2015 relaunch, Boomerang previously produced its own original programs; such as Wabbit (later re-titled New Looney Tunes for its second season), Be Cool, Scooby-Doo!, and an animated adaptation of Bunnicula. [15]
Programming history
 |
Boomerang has historically avoided overt channel drift, despite adding newer content to its programming during the 2000s. By Spring 2014, however, most of the network's archival programming had been relegated to graveyard slots, while the daytime schedule became dominated by programming from the 1990s and later.
By April 2017, the cable channel's programming a greater focus on shows from the 2010s, before older Cartoon Network series returned to Boomerang's schedule from January 2018 to May 2019, and again in half-hour time slots in September 2020.[ citation needed] Tom and Jerry, Looney Tunes, The Smurfs, and various entries in the Scooby-Doo franchise have more or less had permanent places on the schedule since the rebrand, while previous network mainstays The Flintstones and The Jetsons returned in a late-night time slot in July 2018 before leaving again in November of that year.
In 2023, Boomerang began to reemphasize its archival programming, with Popeye the Sailor, Yogi Bear, Top Cat, Wacky Races, Jabberjaw, Jonny Quest, Wally Gator, Thundarr the Barbarian, and the aforementioned Flintstones and Jetsons permanently returning to the lineup. Classic series from Cartoon Network were also reduced to three shows (namely The Powerpuff Girls, Codename: Kids Next Door, and Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends), as the newly-launched Checkered Past block on Adult Swim has become the exclusive home for reruns of former rebrand-era mainstays such as Dexter's Laboratory, Ed, Edd n Eddy, Courage the Cowardly Dog, The Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy, Cow and Chicken, I Am Weasel, and Evil Con Carne.
Not all of the Warner Bros. animation library is exclusive to Boomerang. Series produced in collaboration with Steven Spielberg's Amblin Entertainment (including Tiny Toon Adventures and most of Animaniacs), as well as most works involving Batman and Superman (such as the DC Animated Universe), have been licensed to other networks. The Hub Network aired such programming from late 2012 before its relaunch as the Discovery Family Channel. Warner Bros.' collection of Christmas specials — including the latter half of the Rankin/Bass Productions library — has been licensed to AMC for their Best Christmas Ever block as of 2018; those specials previously aired on Freeform and its predecessors for nearly 20 years, as part of their 25 Days of Christmas lineup. In 2019, The Flintstones was licensed out to MeTV; [16] in 2021, that network introduced morning blocks featuring a mix of Warner Bros. and Paramount Global content (including Looney Tunes/ Merrie Melodies, Popeye, Betty Boop, and MGM theatrical shorts), [17] many of which still air on Boomerang. MeTV also acquired The Jetsons in that year. [18]
Boomerang itself occasionally licenses programming from other distributors, such as The Rocky and Bullwinkle Show (which aired from 2002-07 and later returned to the channel from 2011-13) and Garfield and Friends (which aired for a brief time period in 2006 before returning to the network between September 2019 and August 2021).[ citation needed]
Further shifts
| This section needs additional citations for
verification. (June 2024) |
- From January to December 2012, new episodes of the Italian animated series Puppy in My Pocket: Adventures in Pocketville aired on the channel.
- Wedgies, a series of animated interstitials that previously aired on Cartoon Network, were reintroduced in 2013.
- In December 2014, Boomerang added
Teen Titans Go! and
The Amazing World of Gumball to its lineup, alongside their airings on Cartoon Network; those shows left in April 2017.
- On May 2, 2022, Boomerang brought back reruns of Teen Titans Go! and The Amazing World of Gumball, and also added two additional modern Cartoon Network shows to their schedule: Craig of the Creek and Total Dramarama; [19] all four shows left on October 28.
- Throughout mid-2018, Boomerang added re-runs of modern Cartoon Network series to its lineup, including Regular Show, [20] Mighty Magiswords, [21] Adventure Time, and Steven Universe. [22]
Programming blocks
| This section needs additional citations for
verification. (June 2024) |
Because of the network's fluid schedule, programming blocks would air for a few months, then be removed from the schedule, only to be added again a few months later. By late 2014, due to the network's rebrand, almost all block programming were phased out.
Current
- Boomerang Theater – Boomerang's movie showcase block.
Former blocks and other special events
- Boomeraction – One of the first blocks to air on Boomerang, [23] its programming focused on action-adventure shows including Thundarr the Barbarian, Teen Titans, Samurai Jack, SWAT Kats: The Radical Squadron, The Pirates of Dark Water, Jonny Quest, The Secret Saturdays, Ben 10 (2005) and Ben 10: Omniverse. It was also one of the only Boomerang blocks to air across international feeds, including the United Kingdom, Latin America, and Australia versions of the network. The block was removed on January 16, 2015, due to the rebrand. All programming from the block left the schedule on January 4th (except Teen Titans Go! until January 16th).
- Boomerandom – This block aired each weekend from 8 to 10 p.m. Eastern Time from 2008 to 2010, and featured two hours of episodes of a single program. The selected programs were picked by the "Boomerandom drawing machine".
- The Boomerang Christmas Party – This block, which aired every December, features a collection of Hanna-Barbera Christmas specials (such as The Powerpuff Girls: Twas the Fight Before Christmas, Yogi's First Christmas, Christmas Comes to Pac-Land, Casper's First Christmas, The Jetsons' First Christmas and The Flintstones' Christmas).
- Boomerang Zoo – This one-hour block featured pre-1970 Hanna-Barbera/ Warner Bros. television shorts, culled mainly from the H–B talking animal series (such as Yogi Bear, Huckleberry Hound, Atom Ant, Magilla Gorilla, Snagglepuss, Wally Gator, and Pixie & Dixie and Mr. Jinks). It was the only block to air on both the American and European versions of the channel after the 2004 rebranding of Boomerang Europe. [24]
- Boomerock – This block, which aired in commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the premiere of The Flintstones in 2010, consisted of a marathon of the classic animated series.
- Boomeroyalty (originally named Character of the Month from 2003 to 2012) – This weekend mini- marathon of shows focuses on a particular character that changes every month, similar to the former Super Chunk block on sister network Cartoon Network. "Boomeroyalty" concluded on July 22, 2012.
- Captain Planet – In observance of Earth Day, Boomerang aired a marathon of the animated series (which was produced by Turner Program Services) every year from 2005 to 2014. Continuing the tradition in a digital format, the network's streaming service offered the series in its entirety for a limited time in spring 2018.
- Mother's Day – A recent marathon observance by Boomerang, on the holiday, the channel airs cartoons featuring mothers, such as Jane Jetson-focused episodes of The Jetsons, and Wilma Flintstone-focused episodes of The Flintstones.
- Pet of the Week – This block showcases 2 hours of a single animated program, where the title character is an animal, such as Courage the Cowardly Dog, The Garfield Show, and What's New, Scooby-Doo?. Currently, the block has been reduced to 1 hour of a single program.
- Scooberang – This continuous block featured every episode of each Scooby-Doo series (which were aired in chronological order), beginning with Scooby-Doo, Where Are You!. It also aired some feature-length Scooby-Doo films, including Scooby-Doo Meets the Boo Brothers and Scooby-Doo on Zombie Island. "Scooberang" no longer airs on Boomerang. However, various series iterations of the Scooby-Doo franchise air on the channel several times daily.
- Those Meddling Kids! – This 90-minute block featured series produced by Hanna-Barbera and/or Ruby-Spears, all of which follow the formula of a group of mystery-solving teenagers or young adults (such as Scooby-Doo, Josie and the Pussycats, Fangface, Clue Club and Speed Buggy).
- Halloween block – This block aired during the month of October, and included Halloween-themed programs such as Scooby-Doo, Casper, The Addams Family (in its live-action as well as animated incarnations), Beetlejuice, The Funky Phantom, Goober and the Ghost Chasers and The Munsters. This is notably the only time that Boomerang regularly aired any live-action programming, particularly as The Addams Family and The Munsters have aired on the channel each October since 2011. The Halloween programming replaced the annual Scooberang block in 2011 and aired again in 2012 and 2013; it was not brought back in 2014 when the channel began to change focus.
- Weeknights at 8:30 – Boomerang's primetime premiere block, which debuted in October 2015 and aired new episodes of Be Cool, Scooby-Doo!, The Garfield Show, Shaun the Sheep, DreamWorks Dragons, and Sonic Boom. Following the block's closure in 2016, each show featured (sans DreamWorks Dragons) continued to air.
- Scoobtober – For the whole of October 2020, this block aired every day from 1:00 to 10:00 p.m. Eastern Time and featured various installments of the Scooby-Doo franchise (including the network premiere of Scooby-Doo and Guess Who?). [25] Scooby-Doo films were also shown under the New Scooby Movies banner, every Sunday night at 8:00 p.m. ET. [26]
- Boomerang Family Feast – Airing during the Thanksgiving weekend of 2020, this four-day marathon featured hour-long blocks of Boomerang's classic cartoons, including several programs that haven't aired regularly on the channel in years (such as The Yogi Bear Show, The Magilla Gorilla Show, The Huckleberry Hound Show, Popeye the Sailor, Top Cat, The Jetsons, The Flintstones, Jonny Quest, and Josie and the Pussycats). [27] [28]
- A Very Merry Jerry – For the whole of December 2020, this block aired every day from 4:00 to 9:00 p.m. Eastern Time and featured various installments of the Tom and Jerry franchise, as well as a different holiday special from Boomerang's library airing at 7:00 p.m. nightly. The movie slot previously featured direct-to-video Tom and Jerry films only, though they were later broadcast as part of an all-day marathon on Christmas Day.
Other Services
| Service | Description |
|---|---|
| Boomerang HD | The cable network's high-definition feed is carried on a few pay television providers; tiering of the channel varies by service, with some operators offering it as either a basic-tier or higher-tier network.[
citation needed] Most providers do not carry the linear channel, instead offering the network's
video-on-demand service bundled with Cartoon Network.[
citation needed]
On March 4, 2019, the channel changed its default ratio to 16:9, with 4:3 content being aired stretched and the screen bug moving away from the 4:3 area (similar to what Cartoon Network did in May 2013).[ citation needed] As of January 2020, Boomerang began to be carried in high-definition on several online television services, along with some cable providers through their apps.[ citation needed] |
| Boomerang On Demand | Boomerang's
video-on-demand service was launched in 2005, and is available on select digital cable, satellite, and
IPTV providers.[
citation needed] The service offers select episodes of the channel's archived programming, along with select archived Cartoon Network original programs.[
citation needed]
In April 2013, Boomerang On Demand began to separate program content by "theme" (for example, in observance of Mother's Day, the service featured episodes of The Flintstones and Dexter's Laboratory focusing on Dexter's mom and Wilma Flintstone).[ citation needed] This method was scrapped in January 2015 as part of the network's rebrand.[ citation needed] |
Availability
The Boomerang streaming service is currently only available in the United States. [29]
Boomerang-branded networks and blocks have been launched globally. As part of the brand's 2015 relaunch, these branches were initially aligned as family co-viewing networks. [30] Beginning in 2023, several of these outlets were re-aligned under the preschool-oriented Cartoonito brand (which would have its own relaunch in 2021). [31]
See also
References
-
^
"U.S. cable network households (universe), 1990 – 2023". wrestlenomics.com. May 14, 2024. Retrieved May 15, 2024.
{{ cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status ( link) - ^ KING, SUSAN (April 1, 2000). "Hanna-Barbera Cartoons Return on New Boomerang". Los Angeles Times. ISSN 0458-3035. Archived from the original on May 11, 2011. Retrieved July 28, 2017.
- ^ Theilman, Sam (February 4, 2014). "Adult Swim Adds a Prime-Time Hour Edgy net will start at 8 p.m. instead of 9". AdWeek. Retrieved February 4, 2014.
- ^ "Turner expanding Cartoon Network, Adult Swim, Boomerang offerings - SaportaReport". SaportaReport. February 4, 2014. Archived from the original on March 29, 2014. Retrieved July 28, 2017.
- ^ Littleton, Cynthia (October 14, 2014). "Turner Sets Global Relaunch of Boomerang to Focus on Family Viewing". Variety. Retrieved October 14, 2014.
- ^ Andreeva, Nellie (October 14, 2014). "Turner Broadcasting's Boomerang Toon Channel Getting Revamp, Relaunch". Deadline. Retrieved September 11, 2019.
- ^ "Turner Relaunches Family-Focused Boomerang". The Hollywood Reporter. October 14, 2014. Retrieved September 11, 2019.
- ^ Spangler, Todd (March 7, 2017). "Turner, Warner Bros. to Launch Boomerang Cartoon Streaming-Subscription Service for $5 Monthly". Variety. Archived from the original on November 14, 2017. Retrieved November 10, 2017.
- ^ Spangler, Todd (March 7, 2017). "Turner, Warner Bros. to Launch Boomerang Cartoon Streaming-Subscription Service for $5 Monthly". Variety. Archived from the original on November 14, 2017. Retrieved July 28, 2017.
- ^ Spangler, Todd (March 7, 2017). "Turner, Warner Bros. to Launch Boomerang Cartoon Streaming-Subscription Service for $5 Monthly". Variety. Archived from the original on November 14, 2017. Retrieved November 10, 2017.
- ^ About Jude Terror (November 13, 2018). "Classic Cartoons Come to VRV Streaming Service on New Boomerang Channel". Bleedingcool.com. Retrieved March 5, 2019.
- ^ "3rd Annual Shorty Social Good Awards Finalists". shortyawards.com.
- ^ "The Power Is Yours! Stream to Save the Planet - The Shorty Awards". shortyawards.com.
- ^ Boomerang - TV Listings Guide; On TV Tonight, retrieved June 1, 2024
- ^ Petski, Denise (June 29, 2015). "Turner Broadcasting & Warner Bros Ink Global Multi-Series Deal For Boomerang". Deadline. Retrieved July 28, 2017.
- ^ Malone, Michael (August 12, 2019). "MeTV grabs The Flintstones". Broadcasting & Cable. Retrieved August 12, 2019.
- ^ "Advertise on WBBZ-TV, Your Hometown MeTV Station - WBBZ-TV". January 4, 2022.
- ^ MeTV Staff (February 6, 2021). "The Jetsons are coming to MeTV this February!". Retrieved March 20, 2021.
- ^ "Boomerang TV Schedule (BOOM) - Movies, Shows, and Sports on Boomerang | Flixed". Archived from the original on April 27, 2022.
- ^ "TV Schedule for Boomerang HD - TV Passport". May 25, 2018. Archived from the original on May 25, 2018.
- ^ "TV Schedule for Boomerang HD - TV Passport". May 26, 2018. Archived from the original on May 26, 2018.
- ^ "TV Schedule for Boomerang HD - TV Passport". May 25, 2018. Archived from the original on May 25, 2018.
- ^ "Boomerang Schedule, December 2002 (Archive)". Cartoon Network. Archived from the original on December 1, 2002.
- ^ "Wally Gator Open (Boomerang Zoo Europe)". YouTube.[ dead YouTube link]
- ^ "Boomerang USA - Scooby-Doo - Scoobtober! Promo (Starting October 1, 2020)". YouTube. September 24, 2020. Archived from the original on December 22, 2021.
- ^ "Boomerang US - New Scooby Movies Everyday Promo (Scoobtober)". YouTube. September 29, 2020. Archived from the original on December 22, 2021.
- ^ "Boomerang US - Boomerang Family Feast Marathon Promo (Starts November 26th)". YouTube. November 19, 2020. Archived from the original on December 22, 2021.
- ^ "TV Schedule for Boomerang | TV Passport". November 21, 2020. Archived from the original on November 21, 2020. Retrieved November 27, 2020.
- ^ "When is Boomerang coming to other countries?". Boomerang Support. Retrieved July 28, 2017.
- ^ "Turner Rebrands Boomerang Globally". Turner. Retrieved July 28, 2017.
- ^ "WarnerMedia Kids & Family to Debut Cartoonito, New Preschool Programming Block Based on Humancentric Learning to Launch this Fall on Cartoon Network and HBO Max" (Press release). WarnerMedia. February 17, 2021. Archived from the original on November 23, 2021. Retrieved February 25, 2021.
External links
| Channels (U.S.) | |
|---|---|
| Programs & blocks (U.S.) | |
| International channels |
|
| Boomerang |
|
| Cartoonito |
|
| Studios | |
| Streaming | |
| Albums | |
| Defunct | |
| See also |
|
| Notes | |
- Boomerang (TV network)
- 1992 establishments in Georgia (U.S. state)
- Children's television networks in the United States
- Cartoon Network
- Warner Bros. Discovery networks
- Classic television networks
- Nostalgia television in the United States
- Television channels and stations established in 2000
- Television networks in the United States
- English-language television stations in the United States
- Companies based in Atlanta
- Companies based in Los Angeles
|
Logo used since 2015 | |
| Country | United States |
|---|---|
| Broadcast area | Nationwide |
| Network | Cartoon Network (1992–2004) |
| Headquarters | |
| Programming | |
| Language(s) | |
| Picture format |
|
| Ownership | |
| Owner | Warner Bros. Discovery Networks |
| Parent | The Cartoon Network, Inc. |
| Sister channels | List
|
| History | |
| Launched |
|
| Closed | October 3, 2004 (block) |
| Former names | Boomerang from Cartoon Network (2000–2015) |
| Links | |
| Website |
www |
| Availability | |
| Streaming media | |
| Affiliated Streaming Service | Max |
| DirecTV Stream, Hulu + Live TV, Sling TV | |
Boomerang is an American cable television network and subscription video on-demand over-the-top streaming service owned by Warner Bros. Discovery U.S. Networks, a subsidiary of Warner Bros. Discovery. It primarily features animated programming from the Warner Bros. Animation library (including Warner Bros. Cartoons and Hanna-Barbera productions among others), as well as contemporary reboots of classic franchises.
Boomerang debuted in 1992 as a programming block on Cartoon Network, and was originally dedicated to classic animation. The block was eventually spun-off into its own separate network in 2000, and by the late 2000s, began airing more modern and contemporary programming, including reruns of Cartoon Network original series. A 2015 relaunch aimed to promote Boomerang as a "second flagship" brand alongside Cartoon Network, and saw the network produce its own original programming; with a focus on reboots of franchises such as Looney Tunes and Scooby-Doo. In 2017, as the cable network was losing coverage, Boomerang launched its own standalone SVOD app.
As of November 2023 [update], the Boomerang cable network is available to approximately 26,000,000 pay television households in the United States; down from its 2019 peak of 47,000,000 households. [1]
History
Background and early years
The Turner Broadcasting System had built up an extensive catalogue of MGM and early Warner Brothers cartoons since the 1980s. The library made up much of the extensive children's programming on TBS and TNT, which was phased out after the creation of the Cartoon Network on October 1, 1992. Boomerang was created as a new home for these and similar programming, originating as a programming block on Cartoon Network on December 8, 1992. The block originally aired for four hours every weekend, but the block's start time had changed frequently.[ citation needed] The Saturday block moved to into the afternoon, then back to the early morning while the Sunday block moved to to the evenings.[ citation needed] Eventually, Boomerang was shortened by an hour, reducing it from four hours to three each weekend.[ citation needed]
With Cartoon Network downplaying its archival programming in favor of newer original series, Turner launched the Boomerang cable channel on April 1, 2000. [2] The Cartoon Network block continued to run under the new cable channel's branding until October 3, 2004.[ citation needed]
Relaunch
On February 4, 2014, as part of the 2014 upfronts, it was announced that Boomerang would become an advertising-supported network, and that there were plans to expand the brand globally. [3] [4] In October of that year, a global rebranding was unveiled. The new branding was first launched in Latin America in late September, before arriving in the United States on January 19, 2015. As part of the expansion, Boomerang would introduce original programming for the first time, which would place a particular focus on the most well-known franchises from the Warner archives with an explicitly family-friendly approach. Turner executives described the changes as being an effort to grow Boomerang into a "second flagship" on par with the Cartoon Network. [5] [6] [7]
On March 7, 2017, Boomerang announced the launch of its branded SVOD streaming service. [8] The service would feature 5000+ titles from Hanna-Barbera and Warner Bros, as well as exclusive original programming. [9] The SVOD launched on April 11, 2017, and was available for either for $4.99 per month or $39.99 annually. New episodes and content were planned to be added to the service on a weekly basis. [10]
On November 13, 2018, Boomerang launched a channel on the VRV streaming service. [11] That same year, the 3rd Annual Shorty Social Good Awards nominated Boomerang and the Captain Planet Foundation for Best in Entertainment. [12] [13]
Programming
As of June 2024, Boomerang's cable network currently airs a mix of classic cartoons and various re-imaginings of such franchises from the Warner Bros' animation archives [14], as well as reruns (and has simulcasted premieres and finales) of programming aired on Cartoon Network. It has also been used to burn off programs from Cartoon Network; much like similar spin-off networks, such as Nickelodeon's Nicktoons & TeenNick, and Disney Channel's Disney XD. As part of its 2015 relaunch, Boomerang previously produced its own original programs; such as Wabbit (later re-titled New Looney Tunes for its second season), Be Cool, Scooby-Doo!, and an animated adaptation of Bunnicula. [15]
Programming history
|
Boomerang has historically avoided overt channel drift, despite adding newer content to its programming during the 2000s. By Spring 2014, however, most of the network's archival programming had been relegated to graveyard slots, while the daytime schedule became dominated by programming from the 1990s and later.
By April 2017, the cable channel's programming a greater focus on shows from the 2010s, before older Cartoon Network series returned to Boomerang's schedule from January 2018 to May 2019, and again in half-hour time slots in September 2020.[ citation needed] Tom and Jerry, Looney Tunes, The Smurfs, and various entries in the Scooby-Doo franchise have more or less had permanent places on the schedule since the rebrand, while previous network mainstays The Flintstones and The Jetsons returned in a late-night time slot in July 2018 before leaving again in November of that year.
In 2023, Boomerang began to reemphasize its archival programming, with Popeye the Sailor, Yogi Bear, Top Cat, Wacky Races, Jabberjaw, Jonny Quest, Wally Gator, Thundarr the Barbarian, and the aforementioned Flintstones and Jetsons permanently returning to the lineup. Classic series from Cartoon Network were also reduced to three shows (namely The Powerpuff Girls, Codename: Kids Next Door, and Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends), as the newly-launched Checkered Past block on Adult Swim has become the exclusive home for reruns of former rebrand-era mainstays such as Dexter's Laboratory, Ed, Edd n Eddy, Courage the Cowardly Dog, The Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy, Cow and Chicken, I Am Weasel, and Evil Con Carne.
Not all of the Warner Bros. animation library is exclusive to Boomerang. Series produced in collaboration with Steven Spielberg's Amblin Entertainment (including Tiny Toon Adventures and most of Animaniacs), as well as most works involving Batman and Superman (such as the DC Animated Universe), have been licensed to other networks. The Hub Network aired such programming from late 2012 before its relaunch as the Discovery Family Channel. Warner Bros.' collection of Christmas specials — including the latter half of the Rankin/Bass Productions library — has been licensed to AMC for their Best Christmas Ever block as of 2018; those specials previously aired on Freeform and its predecessors for nearly 20 years, as part of their 25 Days of Christmas lineup. In 2019, The Flintstones was licensed out to MeTV; [16] in 2021, that network introduced morning blocks featuring a mix of Warner Bros. and Paramount Global content (including Looney Tunes/ Merrie Melodies, Popeye, Betty Boop, and MGM theatrical shorts), [17] many of which still air on Boomerang. MeTV also acquired The Jetsons in that year. [18]
Boomerang itself occasionally licenses programming from other distributors, such as The Rocky and Bullwinkle Show (which aired from 2002-07 and later returned to the channel from 2011-13) and Garfield and Friends (which aired for a brief time period in 2006 before returning to the network between September 2019 and August 2021).[ citation needed]
Further shifts
| This section needs additional citations for
verification. (June 2024) |
- From January to December 2012, new episodes of the Italian animated series Puppy in My Pocket: Adventures in Pocketville aired on the channel.
- Wedgies, a series of animated interstitials that previously aired on Cartoon Network, were reintroduced in 2013.
- In December 2014, Boomerang added
Teen Titans Go! and
The Amazing World of Gumball to its lineup, alongside their airings on Cartoon Network; those shows left in April 2017.
- On May 2, 2022, Boomerang brought back reruns of Teen Titans Go! and The Amazing World of Gumball, and also added two additional modern Cartoon Network shows to their schedule: Craig of the Creek and Total Dramarama; [19] all four shows left on October 28.
- Throughout mid-2018, Boomerang added re-runs of modern Cartoon Network series to its lineup, including Regular Show, [20] Mighty Magiswords, [21] Adventure Time, and Steven Universe. [22]
Programming blocks
| This section needs additional citations for
verification. (June 2024) |
Because of the network's fluid schedule, programming blocks would air for a few months, then be removed from the schedule, only to be added again a few months later. By late 2014, due to the network's rebrand, almost all block programming were phased out.
Current
- Boomerang Theater – Boomerang's movie showcase block.
Former blocks and other special events
- Boomeraction – One of the first blocks to air on Boomerang, [23] its programming focused on action-adventure shows including Thundarr the Barbarian, Teen Titans, Samurai Jack, SWAT Kats: The Radical Squadron, The Pirates of Dark Water, Jonny Quest, The Secret Saturdays, Ben 10 (2005) and Ben 10: Omniverse. It was also one of the only Boomerang blocks to air across international feeds, including the United Kingdom, Latin America, and Australia versions of the network. The block was removed on January 16, 2015, due to the rebrand. All programming from the block left the schedule on January 4th (except Teen Titans Go! until January 16th).
- Boomerandom – This block aired each weekend from 8 to 10 p.m. Eastern Time from 2008 to 2010, and featured two hours of episodes of a single program. The selected programs were picked by the "Boomerandom drawing machine".
- The Boomerang Christmas Party – This block, which aired every December, features a collection of Hanna-Barbera Christmas specials (such as The Powerpuff Girls: Twas the Fight Before Christmas, Yogi's First Christmas, Christmas Comes to Pac-Land, Casper's First Christmas, The Jetsons' First Christmas and The Flintstones' Christmas).
- Boomerang Zoo – This one-hour block featured pre-1970 Hanna-Barbera/ Warner Bros. television shorts, culled mainly from the H–B talking animal series (such as Yogi Bear, Huckleberry Hound, Atom Ant, Magilla Gorilla, Snagglepuss, Wally Gator, and Pixie & Dixie and Mr. Jinks). It was the only block to air on both the American and European versions of the channel after the 2004 rebranding of Boomerang Europe. [24]
- Boomerock – This block, which aired in commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the premiere of The Flintstones in 2010, consisted of a marathon of the classic animated series.
- Boomeroyalty (originally named Character of the Month from 2003 to 2012) – This weekend mini- marathon of shows focuses on a particular character that changes every month, similar to the former Super Chunk block on sister network Cartoon Network. "Boomeroyalty" concluded on July 22, 2012.
- Captain Planet – In observance of Earth Day, Boomerang aired a marathon of the animated series (which was produced by Turner Program Services) every year from 2005 to 2014. Continuing the tradition in a digital format, the network's streaming service offered the series in its entirety for a limited time in spring 2018.
- Mother's Day – A recent marathon observance by Boomerang, on the holiday, the channel airs cartoons featuring mothers, such as Jane Jetson-focused episodes of The Jetsons, and Wilma Flintstone-focused episodes of The Flintstones.
- Pet of the Week – This block showcases 2 hours of a single animated program, where the title character is an animal, such as Courage the Cowardly Dog, The Garfield Show, and What's New, Scooby-Doo?. Currently, the block has been reduced to 1 hour of a single program.
- Scooberang – This continuous block featured every episode of each Scooby-Doo series (which were aired in chronological order), beginning with Scooby-Doo, Where Are You!. It also aired some feature-length Scooby-Doo films, including Scooby-Doo Meets the Boo Brothers and Scooby-Doo on Zombie Island. "Scooberang" no longer airs on Boomerang. However, various series iterations of the Scooby-Doo franchise air on the channel several times daily.
- Those Meddling Kids! – This 90-minute block featured series produced by Hanna-Barbera and/or Ruby-Spears, all of which follow the formula of a group of mystery-solving teenagers or young adults (such as Scooby-Doo, Josie and the Pussycats, Fangface, Clue Club and Speed Buggy).
- Halloween block – This block aired during the month of October, and included Halloween-themed programs such as Scooby-Doo, Casper, The Addams Family (in its live-action as well as animated incarnations), Beetlejuice, The Funky Phantom, Goober and the Ghost Chasers and The Munsters. This is notably the only time that Boomerang regularly aired any live-action programming, particularly as The Addams Family and The Munsters have aired on the channel each October since 2011. The Halloween programming replaced the annual Scooberang block in 2011 and aired again in 2012 and 2013; it was not brought back in 2014 when the channel began to change focus.
- Weeknights at 8:30 – Boomerang's primetime premiere block, which debuted in October 2015 and aired new episodes of Be Cool, Scooby-Doo!, The Garfield Show, Shaun the Sheep, DreamWorks Dragons, and Sonic Boom. Following the block's closure in 2016, each show featured (sans DreamWorks Dragons) continued to air.
- Scoobtober – For the whole of October 2020, this block aired every day from 1:00 to 10:00 p.m. Eastern Time and featured various installments of the Scooby-Doo franchise (including the network premiere of Scooby-Doo and Guess Who?). [25] Scooby-Doo films were also shown under the New Scooby Movies banner, every Sunday night at 8:00 p.m. ET. [26]
- Boomerang Family Feast – Airing during the Thanksgiving weekend of 2020, this four-day marathon featured hour-long blocks of Boomerang's classic cartoons, including several programs that haven't aired regularly on the channel in years (such as The Yogi Bear Show, The Magilla Gorilla Show, The Huckleberry Hound Show, Popeye the Sailor, Top Cat, The Jetsons, The Flintstones, Jonny Quest, and Josie and the Pussycats). [27] [28]
- A Very Merry Jerry – For the whole of December 2020, this block aired every day from 4:00 to 9:00 p.m. Eastern Time and featured various installments of the Tom and Jerry franchise, as well as a different holiday special from Boomerang's library airing at 7:00 p.m. nightly. The movie slot previously featured direct-to-video Tom and Jerry films only, though they were later broadcast as part of an all-day marathon on Christmas Day.
Other Services
| Service | Description |
|---|---|
| Boomerang HD | The cable network's high-definition feed is carried on a few pay television providers; tiering of the channel varies by service, with some operators offering it as either a basic-tier or higher-tier network.[
citation needed] Most providers do not carry the linear channel, instead offering the network's
video-on-demand service bundled with Cartoon Network.[
citation needed]
On March 4, 2019, the channel changed its default ratio to 16:9, with 4:3 content being aired stretched and the screen bug moving away from the 4:3 area (similar to what Cartoon Network did in May 2013).[ citation needed] As of January 2020, Boomerang began to be carried in high-definition on several online television services, along with some cable providers through their apps.[ citation needed] |
| Boomerang On Demand | Boomerang's
video-on-demand service was launched in 2005, and is available on select digital cable, satellite, and
IPTV providers.[
citation needed] The service offers select episodes of the channel's archived programming, along with select archived Cartoon Network original programs.[
citation needed]
In April 2013, Boomerang On Demand began to separate program content by "theme" (for example, in observance of Mother's Day, the service featured episodes of The Flintstones and Dexter's Laboratory focusing on Dexter's mom and Wilma Flintstone).[ citation needed] This method was scrapped in January 2015 as part of the network's rebrand.[ citation needed] |
Availability
The Boomerang streaming service is currently only available in the United States. [29]
Boomerang-branded networks and blocks have been launched globally. As part of the brand's 2015 relaunch, these branches were initially aligned as family co-viewing networks. [30] Beginning in 2023, several of these outlets were re-aligned under the preschool-oriented Cartoonito brand (which would have its own relaunch in 2021). [31]
See also
References
-
^
"U.S. cable network households (universe), 1990 – 2023". wrestlenomics.com. May 14, 2024. Retrieved May 15, 2024.
{{ cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status ( link) - ^ KING, SUSAN (April 1, 2000). "Hanna-Barbera Cartoons Return on New Boomerang". Los Angeles Times. ISSN 0458-3035. Archived from the original on May 11, 2011. Retrieved July 28, 2017.
- ^ Theilman, Sam (February 4, 2014). "Adult Swim Adds a Prime-Time Hour Edgy net will start at 8 p.m. instead of 9". AdWeek. Retrieved February 4, 2014.
- ^ "Turner expanding Cartoon Network, Adult Swim, Boomerang offerings - SaportaReport". SaportaReport. February 4, 2014. Archived from the original on March 29, 2014. Retrieved July 28, 2017.
- ^ Littleton, Cynthia (October 14, 2014). "Turner Sets Global Relaunch of Boomerang to Focus on Family Viewing". Variety. Retrieved October 14, 2014.
- ^ Andreeva, Nellie (October 14, 2014). "Turner Broadcasting's Boomerang Toon Channel Getting Revamp, Relaunch". Deadline. Retrieved September 11, 2019.
- ^ "Turner Relaunches Family-Focused Boomerang". The Hollywood Reporter. October 14, 2014. Retrieved September 11, 2019.
- ^ Spangler, Todd (March 7, 2017). "Turner, Warner Bros. to Launch Boomerang Cartoon Streaming-Subscription Service for $5 Monthly". Variety. Archived from the original on November 14, 2017. Retrieved November 10, 2017.
- ^ Spangler, Todd (March 7, 2017). "Turner, Warner Bros. to Launch Boomerang Cartoon Streaming-Subscription Service for $5 Monthly". Variety. Archived from the original on November 14, 2017. Retrieved July 28, 2017.
- ^ Spangler, Todd (March 7, 2017). "Turner, Warner Bros. to Launch Boomerang Cartoon Streaming-Subscription Service for $5 Monthly". Variety. Archived from the original on November 14, 2017. Retrieved November 10, 2017.
- ^ About Jude Terror (November 13, 2018). "Classic Cartoons Come to VRV Streaming Service on New Boomerang Channel". Bleedingcool.com. Retrieved March 5, 2019.
- ^ "3rd Annual Shorty Social Good Awards Finalists". shortyawards.com.
- ^ "The Power Is Yours! Stream to Save the Planet - The Shorty Awards". shortyawards.com.
- ^ Boomerang - TV Listings Guide; On TV Tonight, retrieved June 1, 2024
- ^ Petski, Denise (June 29, 2015). "Turner Broadcasting & Warner Bros Ink Global Multi-Series Deal For Boomerang". Deadline. Retrieved July 28, 2017.
- ^ Malone, Michael (August 12, 2019). "MeTV grabs The Flintstones". Broadcasting & Cable. Retrieved August 12, 2019.
- ^ "Advertise on WBBZ-TV, Your Hometown MeTV Station - WBBZ-TV". January 4, 2022.
- ^ MeTV Staff (February 6, 2021). "The Jetsons are coming to MeTV this February!". Retrieved March 20, 2021.
- ^ "Boomerang TV Schedule (BOOM) - Movies, Shows, and Sports on Boomerang | Flixed". Archived from the original on April 27, 2022.
- ^ "TV Schedule for Boomerang HD - TV Passport". May 25, 2018. Archived from the original on May 25, 2018.
- ^ "TV Schedule for Boomerang HD - TV Passport". May 26, 2018. Archived from the original on May 26, 2018.
- ^ "TV Schedule for Boomerang HD - TV Passport". May 25, 2018. Archived from the original on May 25, 2018.
- ^ "Boomerang Schedule, December 2002 (Archive)". Cartoon Network. Archived from the original on December 1, 2002.
- ^ "Wally Gator Open (Boomerang Zoo Europe)". YouTube.[ dead YouTube link]
- ^ "Boomerang USA - Scooby-Doo - Scoobtober! Promo (Starting October 1, 2020)". YouTube. September 24, 2020. Archived from the original on December 22, 2021.
- ^ "Boomerang US - New Scooby Movies Everyday Promo (Scoobtober)". YouTube. September 29, 2020. Archived from the original on December 22, 2021.
- ^ "Boomerang US - Boomerang Family Feast Marathon Promo (Starts November 26th)". YouTube. November 19, 2020. Archived from the original on December 22, 2021.
- ^ "TV Schedule for Boomerang | TV Passport". November 21, 2020. Archived from the original on November 21, 2020. Retrieved November 27, 2020.
- ^ "When is Boomerang coming to other countries?". Boomerang Support. Retrieved July 28, 2017.
- ^ "Turner Rebrands Boomerang Globally". Turner. Retrieved July 28, 2017.
- ^ "WarnerMedia Kids & Family to Debut Cartoonito, New Preschool Programming Block Based on Humancentric Learning to Launch this Fall on Cartoon Network and HBO Max" (Press release). WarnerMedia. February 17, 2021. Archived from the original on November 23, 2021. Retrieved February 25, 2021.
External links
| Channels (U.S.) | |
|---|---|
| Programs & blocks (U.S.) | |
| International channels |
|
| Boomerang |
|
| Cartoonito |
|
| Studios | |
| Streaming | |
| Albums | |
| Defunct | |
| See also |
|
| Notes | |
- Boomerang (TV network)
- 1992 establishments in Georgia (U.S. state)
- Children's television networks in the United States
- Cartoon Network
- Warner Bros. Discovery networks
- Classic television networks
- Nostalgia television in the United States
- Television channels and stations established in 2000
- Television networks in the United States
- English-language television stations in the United States
- Companies based in Atlanta
- Companies based in Los Angeles