Cartoon Network - The Rise and Fall...And Rise Again

Summary

This video script delves into the history and evolution of Cartoon Network, starting from its inception in 1992 by Ted Turner. It discusses the acquisition of classic cartoons, the rise of original content like 'What a Cartoon!', and the channel's various rebrandings. The script also explores the network's perceived highs and lows, including the impact of the Time Warner merger and the introduction of live-action shows.

Takeaways

• 📺 The user started watching Cartoon Network, Nickelodeon, and Disney Channel over 20 years ago.
• 🔧 The user customized their TV to only show these three channels.
• 🕒 Cartoon Network launched on October 1, 1992, as the result of innovative deals and decisions by Ted Turner.
• 🎬 Ted Turner acquired a vast library of cartoons, including pre-1948 Looney Tunes, Tom and Jerry, Popeye, and Hanna-Barbera shows.
• 📉 Cartoon Network began with reruns from their acquired libraries and slowly started producing original content.
• ⭐ The user considers the 'cartoon cartoons' era with shows like Johnny Bravo, Cow and Chicken, Courage the Cowardly Dog, The Powerpuff Girls, and Dexter's Laboratory as the height of Cartoon Network.
• 🔄 Major changes in Cartoon Network's programming and branding occurred after 2000, including rebranding and the end of many original shows.
• 📉 The network faced a decline in popularity around 2009, partly due to the introduction of live-action shows under the CN Real block.
• 📈 A resurgence began in 2010 with new popular shows like Regular Show, Adventure Time, The Amazing World of Gumball, and Steven Universe.
• 🔮 The future of Cartoon Network is expected to be different as it continually reinvents itself, especially after the acquisition of Time Warner by AT&T.

Q & A

When did the user start watching Cartoon Network?

The user started watching Cartoon Network in the mid to late 90s.

What was Ted Turner's main motivation behind acquiring the rights to many classic cartoons?

Ted Turner's main motivation was likely to get the rights to MGM and UA movies to show on his other networks, with the cartoons coming as an added benefit.

What significant action did Ted Turner take in 1992 related to cartoons?

In 1992, Ted Turner launched Cartoon Network, the world's first 24-hour channel dedicated to cartoons.

What are some of the iconic shows that emerged from the 'What a Cartoon' series?

Iconic shows that emerged from the 'What a Cartoon' series include Johnny Bravo, Cow and Chicken, Courage the Cowardly Dog, The Powerpuff Girls, and Dexter's Laboratory.

What role did Tom Kenny play in The Powerpuff Girls, and why is it notable?

Tom Kenny was the narrator in The Powerpuff Girls, known for saying 'The city of Townsville,' and he is also the voice of SpongeBob SquarePants.

What was Cartoon Cartoon Fridays, and why was it significant?

Cartoon Cartoon Fridays was a night where different cartoon characters would host an evening of cartoons, contributing to a significant increase in Cartoon Network's popularity.

What happened to the classic cartoons that were originally the focus of Cartoon Network?

The classic cartoons were eventually moved to a new network called Boomerang in 2000, which aired these older cartoons 24 hours a day.

What was the purpose of Adult Swim, and how did the user react to it as a child?

Adult Swim was introduced to air more mature content on Sunday nights, and the user disliked it as a child because it meant the end of cartoons for the day and bedtime.

What major changes occurred around 2010 that led to Cartoon Network's revival?

In 2010, Cartoon Network cancelled CNReal, introduced a new logo, and launched well-received shows like Regular Show, Adventure Time, The Amazing World of Gumball, Steven Universe, and Teen Titans Go.

How did the 2000 merger between Time Warner and AOL impact Cartoon Network?

The 2000 merger between Time Warner and AOL was a disaster that led to various changes in Cartoon Network, including the resignation of Betty Cohen, the president who had overseen the introduction of many legendary shows.

What criticism did Cartoon Network face when they introduced live-action shows under CNReal?

Cartoon Network faced criticism for introducing live-action shows under CNReal because it contradicted the network's core identity of being a channel dedicated to cartoons, and the shows received poor reviews.

Outlines

00:00

📺 The Birth and Evolution of Cartoon Network

This paragraph delves into the origins and development of Cartoon Network, a channel that has been a staple in the childhood of many. The speaker fondly recalls their early years watching the channel, which was launched in 1992 by Ted Turner. Turner's innovative approach to television, exemplified by the creation of CNN and the acquisition of numerous cartoon libraries, laid the foundation for the channel. The speaker highlights Turner's strategic acquisitions, including Looney Tunes, Tom and Jerry, and Hanna-Barbera, which bolstered the channel's content. The paragraph also touches on the channel's initial programming strategy, leveraging Turner's other networks like TNT and TBS, and the gradual transition from reruns to original content, such as 'What a Cartoon!' which led to the creation of iconic shows like Johnny Bravo and Dexter's Laboratory.

05:01

🌟 Cartoon Network's Iconic Shows and Identity

The second paragraph focuses on the iconic shows that defined Cartoon Network and its identity. The speaker reminisces about the 'Cartoon Cartoons' era, which saw the creation of beloved series like The Powerpuff Girls and Dexter's Laboratory. The narrator, Tom Kenny, is highlighted for his role in The Powerpuff Girls, adding a surprising connection to SpongeBob SquarePants. The paragraph also discusses the network's peak popularity during 'Cartoon Cartoon Fridays,' which significantly boosted viewership. The speaker reflects on the network's shift from old cartoons to original content and the introduction of Boomerang and Adult Swim, which marked a new direction for the network. The paragraph concludes with a discussion on the perceived decline and renaissance of the network, attributing changes to major events like the Time Warner-AOL merger and rebranding efforts.

10:02

🚀 Cartoon Network's Revival and Future Prospects

In the final paragraph, the speaker discusses the revival of Cartoon Network in the 2010s, following a period of decline. The introduction of new shows like Regular Show, Adventure Time, and Steven Universe is credited with revitalizing the network's reputation and viewership. The speaker also mentions the network's continuous reinvention, noting the end of many shows and the acquisition of Time Warner by AT&T, which could lead to further changes. The paragraph concludes with a reflection on the network's history and an invitation for viewers to share their thoughts on Cartoon Network's evolution and their favorite eras.

Keywords

💡Cartoon Network

Cartoon Network is an American cable television channel that was launched in 1992, focusing on animated programming. It is central to the video's theme as the channel's history and evolution are discussed extensively. The script mentions its creation by Ted Turner and its role as a pioneer in 24-hour animation broadcasting.

💡Ted Turner

Ted Turner is a media mogul who played a significant role in shaping the cable television industry. He is the founder of CNN and TBS, and his innovative thinking led to the creation of Cartoon Network. In the script, Turner's acquisition of various cartoon libraries and his vision for a 24-hour cartoon channel are highlighted.

💡Looney Tunes

Looney Tunes is a series of classic animated cartoons featuring iconic characters like Bugs Bunny. The term is relevant to the video as it discusses the rights to these cartoons and their significance in the formation of Cartoon Network's programming. The script mentions the complex history of rights ownership leading to Turner's acquisition of the pre-1948 Looney Tunes cartoons.

💡Hanna-Barbera

Hanna-Barbera is an animation studio responsible for creating popular cartoons such as 'The Flintstones' and 'Scooby-Doo.' The studio was acquired by Turner's company in 1991, significantly expanding Cartoon Network's library. The script emphasizes the impact of this acquisition on the channel's content.

💡What a Cartoon!

What a Cartoon! was a showcase series by Cartoon Network that led to the creation of several iconic shows. It is a key concept in the video as it represents a turning point for the channel, moving from airing acquired content to producing original programming. The script describes it as a catalyst for shows like 'Johnny Bravo' and 'The Powerpuff Girls.'

💡Cartoon Cartoon Fridays

Cartoon Cartoon Fridays was a programming block on Cartoon Network that featured a night of original cartoons hosted by characters from the shows. It is a significant part of the video's narrative as it represents the peak of the channel's popularity and original content. The script describes it as a time when Cartoon Network found its identity and experienced significant growth.

💡Boomerang

Boomerang is a cable channel launched by Cartoon Network in 2000 to air classic cartoons, which were phased out from Cartoon Network's original programming. The term is relevant as it signifies a strategic shift in the channel's content focus, moving from older cartoons to newer, original content.

💡Adult Swim

Adult Swim is a late-night programming block on Cartoon Network that features adult-oriented animation and live-action shows. It is mentioned in the script as a significant development in the channel's diversification, but also as a source of personal childhood disappointment for the narrator when it signaled the end of the day's cartoon programming.

💡Rebranding

Rebranding refers to the process of changing the logo, name, or image of a brand. In the context of the video, Cartoon Network underwent several rebranding efforts, which are discussed as potential factors in the channel's perceived fluctuations in popularity. The script mentions the change in logo and the cessation of the 'Cartoon Cartoon' branding as examples.

💡CN Real

CN Real was a programming block introduced by Cartoon Network featuring live-action reality shows. It is discussed in the script as a controversial move that did not resonate well with the channel's audience, potentially contributing to a decline in viewership and a shift away from the channel's core identity as a home for animation.

💡Renaissance

In the context of the video, 'renaissance' refers to the period of renewed success and creativity for Cartoon Network around 2010. The term is used to describe the channel's recovery from a perceived decline, marked by the introduction of new, well-received shows like 'Adventure Time' and 'Regular Show.'

Highlights

The speaker reminisces about their childhood, watching Cartoon Network, Nickelodeon, and Disney Channel almost exclusively, even programming their TV to skip all other channels.

Cartoon Network launched on October 1, 1992, as the first 24-hour network dedicated solely to cartoons, showcasing Ted Turner's vision and his extensive cartoon library.

Ted Turner, a significant figure in shaping cable television, acquired a vast collection of cartoons through various deals, including MGM's library and Hanna-Barbera, leading to the creation of Cartoon Network.

Cartoon Network initially relied on classic cartoons like Looney Tunes, Tom and Jerry, and Scooby-Doo, but soon started producing original content, marking a significant shift in its strategy.

The 'What a Cartoon!' show was pivotal in developing Cartoon Network's identity, leading to iconic shows like Dexter's Laboratory, Johnny Bravo, Cow and Chicken, and The Powerpuff Girls.

The narrator of The Powerpuff Girls, known for the iconic line "The city of Townsville...," is voiced by Tom Kenny, who also voices SpongeBob SquarePants and the Mayor in the same show.

Cartoon Cartoon Fridays became a beloved segment, where characters from Cartoon Network hosted a night of cartoons, significantly boosting the network's popularity and helping define its brand.

In 2000, Cartoon Network launched Boomerang, a channel dedicated to airing classic cartoons 24/7, similar to Cartoon Network's original concept.

Adult Swim debuted in 2001, targeting older audiences with mature-themed content, marking a significant programming shift that initially frustrated younger viewers like the speaker.

Betty Cohen, the founding president of Cartoon Network, left in 2001 after establishing the network's identity, leading to changes under new leadership by Jim Samples.

By the mid-2000s, Cartoon Network began to decline as original Cartoon Cartoon series ended and the network experimented with branding changes and live-action programming, which were poorly received.

CN Real, a 2009 programming block of live-action shows, was a low point for Cartoon Network, as it contradicted the channel's cartoon-focused identity.

The network experienced a revival around 2010 with new animated series like Adventure Time, Regular Show, The Amazing World of Gumball, and Steven Universe, revitalizing its brand and popularity.

Cartoon Network has a history of reinventing itself every decade, adapting to new audience preferences and trends, with significant changes occurring after AT&T acquired Time Warner.

The speaker fondly recalls a commercial featuring Fred Flintstone searching for a parking spot, demonstrating Cartoon Network's memorable advertising that resonated with viewers.

Transcripts

[Music]

i

am excited to talk about cartoon network

because this is something that i started

watching over 20 years ago

when i was younger i would watch

nickelodeon cartoon network

disney channel and that was it i am not

exaggerating when i say that either the

tv in my room

actually had this weird setting where

you could program it to skip channels

when hitting the channel up and channel

down buttons

i imagine it was intended to skip the

ones that had a bad signal or were in a

different language or something

but i used it to eliminate every channel

except those three

for years i don't think a day went by

where i didn't watch at least an

hour or two of cartoon network so yeah

i'm excited to talk about this

i started watching i guess in the mid to

late 90s but the channel does go back to

1992.

it was the end result of some

unconventional deals and innovative

thinking

all involving ted turner and if you're

not familiar with ted turner

he was a big part of shaping the cable

television industry into what it is

today

the channel tnt stands for turner

network television the channel tbs

stands for turner broadcasting system

well in 1980 he started cnn at the first

network dedicated to 24-hour news

coverage

it was a pioneering new idea that helped

prove the sustainability of a non-stop

single focused channel so in 1992 he set

out to try it again but this time

instead of a news network it would be a

cartoon network the reason he chose to

focus on cartoons is because over the

past few years he had acquired the

rights to a tremendous amount of them

the owners of all these classic cartoons

kept buying and selling them so it gets

a little

tricky to follow but they were slowly

consolidating together

see in 1956 warner brothers sold the

rights to all of their looney tunes

cartoons that were created before

1948 you know all of the ones featuring

bugs bunny and the gang and then two

years later

united artists bought that company then

in 1981

mgm bought united artists with that deal

mgm now owned all of the pre-1948 looney

tunes which were added to their existing

library of mgm

cartoons it gets trickier because five

years later

ted turner purchased all of mgm the

studio and the archives

then a few months later sold it right

back but

held on to the archives his main

motivation behind

all of this in the first place was

likely to get the rights of all the mgm

and ua movies that he could show on his

other networks but the cartoons came

with

it then in 1991 he added to that already

strong collection when his company

bought

hannah barbera for 320 million dollars

so the result of all these deals was ted

turner possessing the rights to an

unheard of library of cartoons it

included

all of the looney tunes made before 1948

tom and jerry

popeye made his way into there with

hannah barbera he added the flintstones

the jetsons scooby-doo

among many others see there was another

cartoon library we got

the united the uh warner brothers 350

cartoons

can you imagine owning so many cartoons

that you actually forgot that you owned

all of the early looney tunes

my gosh the collection was estimated to

be approaching 9 000

hours and as if that wasn't enough in

1996

turner broadcasting itself was bought by

time warner who was still the owner of

the post

1948 warner cartoons meaning that

full cartoon library was brought

together for the first time in about 40

years

but going back to 1992 ted turner owned

all of these cartoons and created the

perfect outlet for them

on october 1st when he launched the

cartoon network

i really like this the first thing that

they showed was droopy a character that

they had acquired from the mgm library

welcoming us to the network and guiding

us around

welcome to the world's first and only

cartoon network

it was then followed by an old bugs

bunny cartoon that they had acquired

from the warner brothers library and

is it hard to see why they were

successful in addition to the collection

of cartoons creative structuring in the

innovative 24 hour format

the cartoon network was also propelled

forward using ted turner's

other channels specifically tnt they

would get grouped together into the

cable packages people would buy the two

are commonly marketed together and they

would even

overlap the channels by sometimes

literally switching tnt

into the cartoon network in the

beginning the programming that they

showed was

all unoriginal from these previous

libraries but after only a few years

they started producing original content

i would consider it a slower start with

the moxie show followed by space ghost

coast to coast

i mean taking a former hannah barbera

superhero and having him host a

fictional late night talk show is an

original idea that you have to respect

but it wasn't a huge

investment and didn't have a huge impact

on the channel overall

easily the show that was most

responsible for transforming cartoon

network into the channel that we all

know

was what a cartoon it was a series of

shorts made by different creators that

led to the creation of some of cartoon

network's most

iconic shows oddly enough they even

aired an early much

cleaner predecessor of family guy but

what i'm talking about here

is johnny bravo cowan chicken courage

the cowardly dog the powerpuff girls and

my personal favorite dexter's laboratory

you know while i'm talking about these

cartoons here's something that i just

learned that blew my mind in the show

the powerpuff

girls you know that narrator the city of

townsville

that is tom kenny the voice of spongebob

and a ton of other things

including the mayor on the powerpuff

girls that

was surprising but back to the network

for me the height of the network will

forever be cartoon cartoon fridays that

was the night double d or

johnny bravo or one of the other cartoon

cartoons as they were called would host

a night of cartoons

i know i'm saying cartoon a lot right

now but this cartoon cartoons era was

when the network

jumped in popularity growing by as much

as 30 percent a year now seen by over 80

million people

and more importantly it's where they

found their identity

this is when cartoon network became

something more than just a place to show

old cartoons it became something

original so somewhat ironically as the

cartoon cartoons were becoming the new

focus of the channel

they started phasing out their older

cartoons that they'd spent so much money

to obtain and had been the original

motivation to start the network in the

year 2000

they started a new network called

boomerang where they would air all of

these classic cartoons

24 hours a day essentially making it

very similar to the original vision of

cartoon network

in 2001 they started adult swim which as

a 10 year old i would

absolutely hate every sunday night they

would air this thing

all kids out of the pool for adult swim

i am still conditioned to dislike that

sound because it meant that the cartoons

were done for the day and it was

essentially

time to go to bed i didn't watch them at

the time but they did air many

successful shows and later on even

played a big part in bringing back shows

like futurama and family guy

alright i want to talk about some

potential falls and rises but

it gets tricky because with a creative

network like this how do you possibly

quantify these fluctuations or even

prove that they exist

as far as i can tell even the viewers

are divided firsthand on this channel i

see comments talking about how they fell

how they fell and came back and just

some praising the network

it's hard to know what to make of it but

it appears that the general perception

is that they started to fall

soon after that cartoon cartoon era in

the mid-2000s

reached an all-time low toward the end

of that decade and started somewhat of a

renaissance around

2010. you may disagree with that but i

think that's how most people see it and

that timeline does make sense

when searching for reasons behind the

fall we should look at some major

changes around that time and

how about the 2000 merger between time

warner and aol

it was actually the biggest merger ever

in a complete disaster

so there's many ways that this could

have affected the network they changed

up hannah barbera productions for

example but the big one i'm looking at

here is the resignation of betty cohen

she was the president of cartoon network

going back to the beginning nine years

earlier and it was under her control

where all of these legendary shows were

introduced and the network

first found that identity in 2001 aol

offered her a job that i believe

involved creating content for teens on

their internet platform so she left

cartoon network

she was replaced by jim samples who did

make some changes

not necessarily bad changes but things

were different

that leads me to my next reason

rebranding

by 2004 they had stopped using the name

cartoon cartoon and changed their logo

for the first time ever

they kind of isolated the cn from the

checkerboard and put them together

it's hard to say if it was better or

worse but it was different and it was

followed by

a few other branding changes in the

upcoming years it was also during this

time when all of those original cartoon

series were coming to an

end i should say that they were replaced

with some hit shows created under the

new leadership the grim adventures of

billy and mandy codename kids next door

foster's home for imaginary friends gosh

the titles really got longer

again i'm not here to review the shows

and say what was good and what was bad

but they weren't

the originals and because of that i

imagine many of the people

including myself didn't make that

transition and respond to them in the

same way

or even if they did by 2009 all of those

shows were done as well along with ad

and eddie and that was what many

consider to be their lowest point

another reason for their decline is all

of this live action

stuff in 2009 they introduced c and real

it was a programming block filled with

all of these

live action reality shows their

competitors like nickelodeon and disney

channel had live action shows so i guess

that this was their attempt to tap into

that audience but it didn't go well

the shows received poor reviews and even

if the shows were decent enough

i don't think the audience would have

responded very well to them

when they decided to call the channel

cartoon network

i'd say that pretty much cut out any

potential for live action shows

it's an easy criticism to say that

cartoon network should stick to cartoons

so if you combine all of these reasons

we can see that by 2009 cartoon network

was looking much different

many would argue they were looking much

worse but i say that was their lowest

point because in 2010

they started making some major changes

they cancelled cnreal introduced yet

another logo and i'd say most

importantly they started introducing

some well-received shows

i'm talking about the regular show

premiering in 2010 adventure time

premiering that same year the amazing

world of gumball the following year in

steven universe and teen titans go

two years later they may have overdone

it with teen titans go but many would

agree that

that lineup was a considerable

improvement you know it really seems

that every time we enter into a new

decade

cartoon network starts reinventing

themselves

i say that now because most of those

shows have ended over the past few years

and

time warner was acquired by atnt over

that time which will likely lead to more

changes

so it's hard to say what cartoon network

will look like over the next decade but

i bet it will be different let me know

in the comments

what do you think about cartoon network

over the years as i said

those cartoon cartoon fridays were the

peak for me so what would you consider

to be their best era

maybe you were a fan of dude what would

happen back in 2009

i think you'd be in the minority but

it's possible you know i've had so much

fun talking about all of these old

cartoon network shows and if you watch

them back then like i did

i have to ask you this do you remember

this commercial

where fred is looking for a parking spot

i think that they must have showed this

thing excessively because i still have

that thing memorized

all right so any thoughts you have about

cartoon network or the cartoons

on the network leave them in the

comments i'd like to hear what you have

to say

can no leader go undated

thank you for watching