Boomerang (UK & Ireland)

Boomerang
Launched 27 May 2000 (2000-05-27)
Owned by Turner Broadcasting System Europe Ltd
Parent: WarnerMedia
Ultimate Parent: AT&T
Picture format 576i (16:9) (SDTV)
1080i for HDTV feed
Audience share 0.13%
0.04% (+1) (April 2017 (2017-04), BARB)
Country United Kingdom
Ireland
Language English
Headquarters London, United Kingdom
Sister channel(s) Cartoon Network
Cartoonito
Turner Classic Movies
TruTV
Timeshift service Boomerang +1
Website www.Boomerangtv.co.uk
Availability
Satellite
Sky Channel 603 (SD/HD)
Channel 618 (+1)
Channel 641 (SD)
Cable
Virgin Media
(UK)		 Channel 730
Channel 731 (+1)
Virgin Media Ireland Channel 603
WightFibre Channel 105
Channel 57 (+1)
IPTV
TalkTalk Plus TV Channel 487
BT Channel 487
Plusnet Channel 487
Eir Vision Channel 604
Streaming media
Sky Go Watch live
(UK and Ireland only)
Now TV Watch live (UK only)
TVPlayer Watch live (UK only) (TVPlayer Plus subscription required)
Virgin TV Anywhere Watch live (UK only)
Virgin TV Anywhere Ireland Watch live (Ireland only)

Boomerang is a television channel broadcast in the United Kingdom and in the Republic of Ireland launched on 27 May 2000. It is broadcast 24 hours on the Sky, Virgin Media, BT TV, TalkTalk Plus TV, Virgin Media Ireland and TVPlayer (When subscribed to TVPlayer Plus). It mostly features classic cartoons such as Tom and Jerry and Scooby-Doo.

It is a subscription digital based television channel, which features cartoons, mostly from the Hanna-Barbera and Warner Bros. Animation libraries, which include many Hanna-Barbera and Warner Bros. Animation titles.

History

Origins

Boomerang was originally started in 8 December 1992 as a programming block on Cartoon Network USA. It originally aired for four hours every weekend. The programming block followed a unique programming format—every week, cartoons produced during a certain year (and cartoons produced during years prior to that year) would be showcased. For example, if Boomerang was showcasing the year 1969, the viewer would more than likely see an episode of Scooby-Doo, Where Are You! or Dastardly and Muttley in Their Flying Machines. US Boomerang channel was launched in April 2000.[1]

UK launch

Boomerang launched on 27 May 2000,[2] airing between 06:00-00:00, on Sky Digital and certain cable systems. Cartoon Network at the time had a tight schedule and so the channel was created by Turner Broadcasting to broadcast classic cartoons from the Hanna-Barbera, MGM and Warner Bros archive programme library, as well as freeing its sister network of many classics in the schedule.[3] It targeted at babyboomers and their children.[4] In May 2001 the channel became the second highest rated kids' channel (amongst 4-9 year olds), with over 1.3m kids tuning in. It was beaten only by sister channel Cartoon Network. In July that year the channel was launched on UK cable operator Telewest network, thus increasing viewers. James Greville, head of Cartoon Network UK at the time, said, "The channel launched barely a year ago and yet it's already beaten established kids' channels in terms of ratings and share".[5] By November the channel was launched on NTL platform.[6] Boomerang increased its library of old cartoons by acquiring rights to other animated shows such as Danger Mouse, Snoopy, The Pink Panther and Garfield.[7] By the end of 2003 the channel started to move away from its original purpose, and moved to broadcast more recent programming.

A timeshift channel known as Boomerang +1 was launched on 6 March 2006.

Boomerang rebranded with the new international graphics package developed by UK based graphic design agency Art&Graft on 16 February 2015.[8][9]

The channel switched to 16:9 Widescreen on 1 June 2015.

An HD feed known as Boomerang HD was launched on 24 June 2015.[10]

On 3 September 2018, the channel was rebranded and gained a new look.[11]

Live action programming

Between 23 July 2007 to 1 August 2009, the channel started airing live action programming, starting with Fraggle Rock (also on Cartoonito on the same day).[12] The series was a co-production between Jim Henson Television And HiT Entertainment (Jim Henson Television's International distributing arm). The show marks a major investment for Turner in live action at a time when many broadcasters are reviewing their commitment to children's programming (with Pupeeters From America).

Other live action series included Life with Derek,[13] popular sitcom The Latest Buzz and the spy show My Spy Family.

Programming

Logos

References

  1. ↑ King, Susan (1 April 2000). "Hanna-Barbera Cartoons Return on New Boomerang". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 16 June 2013.
  2. ↑ "Digest". Marketing Week. 2000-11-06. Retrieved 2013-06-16.
  3. ↑ Archived 22 July 2012 at the Wayback Machine.
  4. ↑ "Dedicated Kids Channel For Hanna-Barbera Classics". Broadcast. 2000-04-07. Retrieved 2013-06-16.
  5. ↑ "Boomerang increases its UK penetration". C21Media. 2001-09-07. Retrieved 2013-06-16.
  6. ↑ "NTL adds 15 channels". Broadcast. 2001-10-26. Retrieved 2013-06-16.
  7. ↑ "Garfield joins Cartoon Network". Broadcast. 2003-03-20. Retrieved 2013-06-16.
  8. ↑ "Boomerang Global Rebrand". Art&Graft. Retrieved 31 July 2015.
  9. ↑ "Boomerang UK Rebranded Today (16/02/2015)". RegularCapital.com. Retrieved 31 July 2015.
  10. ↑ "Boomerang UK HD Officially Launched Today (24/06/2015)". RegularCapital.com. Retrieved 25 June 2015.
  11. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YWYybUdYrM4
  12. ↑ Oatts, Joanne (22 June 2007). "Boomerang gets its own 'Spy' Family". Digital Spy. Retrieved 16 June 2013.
  13. ↑ "Boomerang Expands its Life with Derek". Thinkbox. 2008-06-04. Archived from the original on 18 April 2013. Retrieved 16 June 2013.
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