As of August 8, 2024, visitors to Cartoon Network website are now automatically redirected to a landing page on Max. This landing page features a pop-up message saying fans to sign up for Max if they want to watch their favorite Cartoon Network shows.
The message also shows the option to create a Kids Profile on Max, which includes ratings restrictions and additional privacy protections.
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This redirection means that the full episodes, clips and games that were once freely accessible on the website are now behind a paywall, available only through a subscription to Max.
Cartoon Network spokesperson addressed that the decision was driven by a focus on areas where consumer engagement is highest.
The spokesperson pointed out that there is meaningful potential for growth on social media platforms and through the Max streaming service.
Cartoon Network’s presence on linear TV remains intact. The network will continue to broadcast 11 hours of programming daily from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The website has been a beloved destination for younger audiences and fans for years offering free access to full episodes, video clips and a variety of games based on popular shows like Adventure Time, Teen Titans GO!, Steven Universe and The Amazing World of Gumball.
While some international versions of the site remain active, it is uncertain how long these will continue to operate.
The closure of CartoonNetwork.com is seen as a cost-cutting measure with other recent actions taken by WBD.
The company reported a huge net loss of nearly $10 billion in its Q2 2024 earnings report, primarily due to a $9.1 billion write-down linked to the declining value of its cable TV networks.
Similar cost-cutting measures have been observed across the media industry. For example, Paramount Global undertook a similar initiative by removing an amount of content from Comedy Central’s website along with the full archives of MTV News and CMT.
For years the website was a go-to destination for fans of all ages. It provided free access to full episodes of popular shows such as Adventure Time, Steven Universe, Teen Titans GO!, The Amazing World of Gumball and We Bare Bears.
In addition to these episodes, the website also hosted a variety of web-based games, allowing fans to engage with their favorite characters in an interactive way.
This platform was more than just a streaming site, it was a digital playground that kept the Cartoon Network brand alive.
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The closure of the website comes as Warner Bros. Discovery increasingly shifts its focus to Max, its flagship streaming service.
Visitors to the Cartoon Network website are now greeted with a message directing them to Max, where they can stream their favorite shows albeit with a subscription.
The message addresses that users can create a Kids Profile on Max to access content in a safe and kid-friendly environment.
In India visitors to the Cartoon Network website are now redirected to the network’s official YouTube channel.
This channel showcases promos and clips from popular shows like Teen Titans Go, Ben 10, Powerpuff Girls and popular anime series such as My Hero Academia and Dragon Ball Z.
The closure of the Cartoon Network website follows Warner Bros. Discovery’s decision to shut down Boomerang, its streaming service dedicated to classic cartoons.
Boomerang’s content library, which includes beloved shows like Looney Tunes and The Flintstones will be transferred to Max by September 30, 2024.
In 2022, the company announced the merger of Warner Bros. Animation and Cartoon Network Studios. This merger showed the beginning of a more unified approach to content creation and distribution within the company.
While Max offers a vast library of content, the shutdown of the Cartoon Network website has resulted in the loss of some content that was previously available for free.
Many of the streaming options that were accessible on the Cartoon Network website are not yet available on Max.
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