Boomerang is a Canadian English language discretionary specialty channel owned by Corus Entertainment. It is a licensed version of the U.S. channel of the same name, which primarily broadcasts 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. The channel also occasionally broadcasts reruns of Cartoon Network original series.
 Logo used since 2023 | |
| Country | Canada |
|---|---|
| Broadcast area | Nationwide |
| Headquarters | Toronto, Ontario |
| Programming | |
| Language(s) | English |
| Picture format | 1080i HDTV (downscaled to letterboxed 480i for the SDTV feed) |
| Ownership | |
| Owner | Corus Entertainment (branding licensed from Warner Bros. Discovery) |
| Parent | Teletoon Canada Inc. |
| Sister channels | Cartoon Network Adult Swim Télétoon |
| History | |
| Launched | July 4, 2012 |
| Replaced | Teletoon Retro |
| Former names | Cartoon Network (2012–2023) |
| Links | |
| Website | www |
The channel originally launched in 2012 as a Canadian version of Cartoon Network, serving as a sister channel to Teletoon. The service originally operated under a newly-issued category B license. In September 2015, sister network Teletoon Retro was discontinued, and Cartoon Network transitioned to broadcasting under the auspices of that channel's license instead, inheriting its wider carriage on providers such as Rogers Cable and Shaw.
Cartoon Network previously operated a Canadian version of Adult Swim until 2019, when it (and its Teletoon counterpart Teletoon at Night) was spun off as a sister channel.
In February 2023, Corus announced that the Cartoon Network branding would be moved to Teletoon on March 27, 2023, with the existing Cartoon Network channel relaunching as a Canadian version of Boomerang the same day.
History
editAs Cartoon Network (2012–2023)
editIn November 2011, the CRTC granted a category B license to Teletoon Canada, Inc. for a new specialty channel tentatively named "Teletoon Kapow!", which would be "devoted to programming from international markets, featuring the latest trends in non-violent action, adventure, superheroes, comedy and interactivity".[1]
In February 2012, Teletoon announced that it would launch a Canadian version of Cartoon Network. The channel would also feature a version of its late-night block Adult Swim. Ahead of the launch, Cartoon Network-branded blocks were added to Teletoon and the now-defunct Teletoon Retro as a preview for the new channel. Cartoon Network launched on July 4, 2012, using the Teletoon Kapow! license.[2][3][4]
On March 4, 2013, Corus Entertainment announced that it would acquire Astral Media's 50% ownership interest in Teletoon Canada Inc., as well as certain other properties, as part of Astral's pending acquisition by Bell Media (which had earlier been rejected by the CRTC in October 2012, but was restructured to allow the sale of certain Astral Media properties in order to allow the purchase to clear regulatory hurdles).[5]
Corus's purchase was cleared by the Competition Bureau two weeks later on March 18.[6] On December 20, 2013, the CRTC approved Corus's full ownership of Teletoon Canada[7][8] and it was purchased by Corus on January 1, 2014.[9] The channel continues to be owned by Teletoon Canada, now wholly owned by Corus Entertainment under its Corus Kids division.[10][11]
In August 2015, internal sources at Corus reported that Cartoon Network would be moved to the channel allotments of Teletoon Retro, which was being shut down on September 1, 2015. It was stated that this change would enable the channel to have expanded distribution, as Teletoon Retro was carried by more providers than Cartoon Network,[12] specifically Shaw Cable, Shaw Direct, and Rogers Cable.[13] At that time, Cartoon Network moved under the auspices of the license that was formerly used by Teletoon Retro; the original Teletoon Kapow! license was revoked by the CRTC on October 2, 2015.[14][15] This expanded the channel's carriage to five million households nationwide.[16]
On March 4, 2019, the primetime Adult Swim block was discontinued on the channel, due to the planned re-launch of Action as an Adult Swim-branded channel on April 1.[17]
Boomerang (2023–present)
editOn February 21, 2023, Corus announced that Teletoon would rebrand as Cartoon Network on March 27, 2023. The existing Cartoon Network channel concurrently relaunched as a Canadian version of its sister brand Boomerang, which focuses on established franchises from the Cartoon Network and Warner Bros. Animation libraries.[18][19]
Programming
editThe channel presently broadcasts animated programming from the Warner Bros. Animation and Cartoon Network Studios libraries, including classic cartoons and Boomerang's original programming. To comply with Canadian content rules, the channel's schedule also includes library programs sourced from its parent network and YTV. The network does not currently originate any original or first-run programs.
During its time as Cartoon Network, the channel's programming was drawn from the library of its U.S. counterpart, in addition to library programs from sister network Teletoon. Generally, first-run airings of Cartoon Network's higher-profile programming remained on Teletoon, with this channel generally airing Cartoon Network programming in second-run form, or launching series expected to have a smaller overall audience outside the United States, or airing to merely fulfill contractual requirements.[citation needed]
From its original launch as Cartoon Network through April 2019, the channel also carried a domestic version of the U.S. channel's primetime and late-night block Adult Swim, which carried animated and live-action comedy programs targeting a teen and young adult audience; the block and its Teletoon counterpart Teletoon at Night were spun off into a dedicated Adult Swim channel in 2019.[20]
References
edit- ^ "Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2011-687". CRTC. November 4, 2011. Retrieved February 23, 2023.
- ^ CNW TELETOON Canada Inc. and Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. Bring Cartoon Network and Adult Swim to Canada in 2012 Archived October 21, 2014, at the Wayback Machine Teletoon Canada Inc. press release February 2, 2012
- ^ "Check it: Cartoon Network to launch in Canada - July 4, 2012". Archived from the original on October 21, 2014. Retrieved May 3, 2012.
- ^ Wilford, Denette (February 2, 2012). "Cartoon Network, Adult Swim Coming To Canada". Huffington Post. Retrieved February 3, 2012.
- ^ BCE to sell assets to Corus as part of Astral deal, The Globe and Mail (via Reuters and The Canadian Press), March 4, 2013.
- ^ "Competition Bureau clears Corus acquisition of Astral assets". The Globe and Mail. The Canadian Press. March 18, 2013. Retrieved July 5, 2013.
- ^ Vessing, Etan (December 20, 2013). "Corus/Teletoon Deal Approved by CRTC". Kidscreen. Brunico Communications. Retrieved December 21, 2013.
- ^ "Press Release - Corus Entertainment Receives CRTC Approval on TELETOON Canada Inc., Historia and Séries+ Acquisitions". Corusent.com. Archived from the original on September 23, 2015. Retrieved December 22, 2013.
- ^ "Press Release - Corus Entertainment Completes Purchase of Historia, Séries+ and TELETOON Canada Inc". Corusent.com. January 1, 2014. Archived from the original on January 8, 2014. Retrieved January 8, 2014.
- ^ "Ownership Chart 32b" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on October 6, 2012. Retrieved March 28, 2014.
- ^ Jeremy Dickson (February 10, 2014). "Corus unveils Teletoon integration plan". Kidscreen. Retrieved May 21, 2014.
- ^ O'Brien, Greg (August 11, 2015). "Corus to shutter Teletoon Retro in favour of Cartoon Network". CARTT. Retrieved August 11, 2015.
- ^ "Corus Entertainment's Cartoon Network Expands Distribution to Over 5 Million Subscribers" (Press release). Toronto: Corus Entertainment. September 3, 2015. Archived from the original on September 10, 2015. Retrieved September 12, 2015.
- ^ "Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2015-451". CRTC. October 2, 2015. Retrieved October 3, 2015.
- ^ "Corus ownership chart" (PDF). CRTC. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 6, 2012. Retrieved October 3, 2015.
- ^ "Corus' Cartoon Network Expands Distribution and Announces Fall Schedule" (Press release). Broadcaster Magazine. September 3, 2015. Archived from the original on September 23, 2015. Retrieved September 7, 2015.
- ^ "First Ever 24-Hour Adult Swim Channel Coming To Canada Next Month". ScreenRant. March 4, 2019. Retrieved March 7, 2019.
- ^ Kolm, Josh. "Corus rebrands its animation networks, taking Teletoon off linear TV". Media in Canada. Retrieved February 22, 2023.
- ^ Lang, Jamie (February 22, 2023). "After 25 Years, Canada's Teletoon Channel Is Ending. It Will Rebrand as Cartoon Network". Cartoon Brew. Retrieved February 22, 2023.
- ^ Pinto, Jordan. "Corus to launch Adult Swim channel in Canada". Retrieved February 23, 2023.