Boomerang (TV channel)

Boomerang
Launched
  • December 8, 1992 (1992-12-08) (block)
  • April 1, 2000 (2000-04-01) (channel)
  • April 11, 2017 (2017-04-11) (internet subscription service)
Closed October 3, 2004 (2004-10-03) (block)
Network Cartoon Network (1992–2004)
Owned by Turner Broadcasting System
Picture format 480i (SDTV)
Slogan "It's all coming back to you"
(2000-2015)
Country United States
Language
  • English
  • Spanish (with SAP; a Spanish language simulcast of the channel is also available)
Broadcast area Nationwide
Headquarters
Sister channel(s)
Timeshift service Boomerang +1 (Europe only)
Website www.boomerang.com
Availability
Satellite
DirecTV
  • Channel 298
  • Channel 1298 (VOD)
Dish Network Channel 175
C-Band
Cable
Spectrum 102 (SD)
IPTV
AT&T U-verse
  • Channel 327
  • Channel 3053 (Spanish feed)
Verizon FiOS
  • Channel 258
Streaming media
Sling TV Internet Protocol television
DirecTV Now Internet Protocol television
PlayStation Vue Internet Protocol television
Hulu Live TV Internet Protocol television

Boomerang is an American pay television network as well as an streaming service that is owned by Turner Broadcasting System, a subsidiary of AT&T's WarnerMedia. It specializes in classic and contemporary animated programming owned by WarnerMedia, including Looney Tunes, Tom and Jerry, and Scooby-Doo.

Launched in 1992 globally and in 2000 for the United States, Boomerang originated as a programming block and spinoff of Cartoon Network. It eventually grew into its own separate channel and identity, and similarly shares the same brand and likeness as Cartoon Network. The network's schedule is more experimental than most children's networks, mixing in older and newer content, and also runs on a sustained model with little advertising outside of Turner services and short-form continuity mainly featuring cartoon shorts and featurettes.

As of February 2015, approximately 43.6 million households (37.5% of those with television) access the channel.[1]

History

Much of the programming that made up the core of Boomerang's lineup was originally part of TBS's Disaster Area, a block of children's programming that aired on that network from 1997 to 1999. Boomerang had originated from a programming block airing on Cartoon Network that debuted on December 8, 1992. It was aimed towards the generation of baby boomers and was similar to the Vault Disney nostalgia block that would debut five years later on the Disney Channel. It originally aired for four hours every weekend, but the block's start time had changed frequently. The Saturday block moved to Saturday afternoons, then back to the early morning, and the Sunday block moved to Sunday evenings. Eventually, Boomerang was shortened by an hour, reducing it from four hours to three each weekend. Turner Broadcasting System eventually converted Boomerang into a standalone cable channel that debuted on April 1, 2000.[2] The Cartoon Network Block continued to run under the new Boomerang channel branding until October 3, 2004

On February 4, 2014, as part of the company's 2014 upfronts, Turner Broadcasting announced that Boomerang would become advertising-supported, and seek additional international distribution.[3][4]

On January 19, 2015, the U.S. version of Boomerang was relaunched as part of a global rebranding effort and began to offer original programming for the first time; the relaunched channel has continued to emphasize its archival programming but with a greatly increased emphasis on the archive's most popular brands and an explicitly family-friendly approach, in the hopes that Boomerang can become a "second flagship" on par with the main Cartoon Network channel.[5]

Cable and satellite availability

Boomerang is carried on few cable and telco providers, along with both satellite services; tiering of the channel varies by service, with some services offering it as a basic service or as a higher-tier offering. Most providers do not carry the linear channel, instead only offering the network's video on demand service bundled with Cartoon Network. The network is offered exclusively in standard definition, with no current plans for a high definition simulcast (current-day programming meant for high definition presentation is carried in its original picture format, letterboxed).

Programming

Historically, Boomerang avoided overt channel drift and, despite adding newer content to its library, continued to air programming from the breadth of its archives. As of spring 2014, however, most of its archival programming was relegated to graveyard slots while the daytime schedule has increasingly been dominated by programming from the 1990s and later. This policy went through a partial reversal on April 3, 2017, with a bigger focus on shows from the 2010s, before older Cartoon Network shows, such as Dexter's Laboratory and Foster's Home For Imaginary Friends, which were dropped by Boomerang since April 3, 2017, returned to Boomerang's schedule on January 2, 2018. Tom and Jerry, Looney Tunes, and various series in the Scooby-Doo franchise, have more or less had permanent places on the schedule since the rebrand. The Flintstones and The Jetsons, two permanent shows on the schedule prior to the rebrand, returned in a late-night time slot in August 2018.

Not all of the Warner Media animation library is currently available to Boomerang. A portion of the library that includes the WB/Amblin Entertainment-produced animated series from the 1990s that were produced in collaboration with Steven Spielberg (including Tiny Toon Adventures and most of Animaniacs), and most properties involving Batman and Superman (including the DC Animated Universe), is put out for license to other networks; those properties most recently aired on the Hub Network from late 2012 until that network's demise in October 2014. Boomerang also occasionally licenses programming from other distributors, such as The Rocky and Bullwinkle Show, which rejoined the lineup for a short run in August and September 2013.

Although Boomerang's programming philosophy was originally intended to showcase classic cartoons, it started to add some newer shows in recent years. On January 1, 2012, the channel began airing new episodes of Puppy in My Pocket: Adventures in Pocketville, which ended in February 2013. On November 17 and 24, 2012, Boomerang aired new episodes of Ben 10: Omniverse, before their telecast on sister channel Cartoon Network. Boomerang reintroduced the "Wedgies" series of animated shorts (which air in-between shows) in 2013. Boomerang also began airing Teen Titans Go! and The Amazing World of Gumball on December 1, 2014, alongside their airings on Cartoon Network, and continued airing them until April 2, 2017. Numb Chucks was picked up by Boomerang for first-run broadcast in the United States on January 10, 2015, after initially having been announced for Cartoon Network, before being removed from the channel's schedule on July 12, 2015.[6] On June 28, 2015, it was announced that Boomerang would receive original programs such as New Looney Tunes, Be Cool, Scooby-Doo!, and an animated adaptation of Bunnicula.[7] On April 3, 2017, the network began airing new episodes of Grizzy and the Lemmings,[8] after it was originally pitched to Cartoon Network. Boomerang began airing re-runs of additional modern Cartoon Network series in mid-2018, with Regular Show beginning to air on May 28, 2018,[9] Mighty Magiswords beginning to air on May 29, 2018,[10] and Adventure Time and Steven Universe beginning to air on June 2, 2018.[11]

Some of the programs that no longer air on the Boomerang linear channel are available on the subscription over-the-top service bearing the Boomerang name.

Programming blocks

Because of Boomerang's fluid schedule, programming blocks will air for a few months, then be removed from the schedule, only to be added again a few months later.

Current

Former blocks

Other services

Boomerang On Demand

Boomerang On Demand is the channel's video-on-demand service, offering select episodes of the channel's archived programming, along with select archived Cartoon Network original programs. Launched in 2005, it is available on select digital cable, satellite and IPTV providers. 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 featuring the characters of Dexter's mom and Wilma Flintstone).

Mobile app/subscription service

On March 7, 2017, Boomerang announced that it would launch an app that will feature programming from the 5000+ titles from its sister companies Hanna-Barbera and Warner Bros, as well as exclusive original programming.[14] The app launched on April 11, 2017, and is available either for $4.99 per month or $39.99 annually. New episodes and content are planned to be added weekly.[15] Currently, the Boomerang App is only available for subscription in the United States.[16]

International

Boomerang, originally established as a cable channel in the United States, has expanded worldwide. Each of these networks will be aligned globally in 2015 under one unified branding to reflect a family co-viewing network.[17]

Australia

An Australian version of Boomerang was launched in March 2004 as part of the launch of Foxtel's digital service, with a lineup very similar to that of the U.K. version. It began as a four-hour block of programs in 2001, when the Australian version of Cartoon Network began broadcasting on a 24-hour schedule. It previously used the logo and break format of the flagship American service. However, in November 2007, the channel revamped both its logo and promotions as well as its website, boomerangtvshow.com. However, it uses the same bumpers for as the U.S. channel. On 1 December 2012, the channel introduced a new on-air look with the same logo and appearance as the European channels. On 3 November 2014, the channel changed its logo to the current logo.[18]

Africa/HQ

Boomerang HQ (pan-European feed) was launched on 5 June 2005, originally broadcasting in Eastern Europe, the Benelux, Portugal, the Middle East and Africa (in English), Poland (in Polish), Greece and Cyprus (in Greek) and Hungary (only selected shows in Hungarian); it featured mainly former Cartoon Network and Hanna-Barbera programs. The feed also had subtitles in Dutch for Benelux viewers.

In 2008, Boomerang HQ added an Arabic audio track for select shows in the Middle East and North Africa.

In October 2010, the channel started to broadcast select shows in Romanian. On 12 October 2011, the Central and Eastern Europe feed (Poland, Hungary and Romania) was separated from the HQ feed; as a result, the CEE feed now maintains its own schedule, as well as featuring promos and bumpers in Hungarian, Romanian, Polish and English, as well as the preschool-targeted block Cartoonito, which was added to both feeds around the same time.

However, the Netherlands (and the Flanders region in Belgium), Portugal, Arab world, Africa, Greece and Cyprus (including some operators in the Czech Republic) continued to carry Boomerang HQ.

The channel was available in Portugal until 31 December 2013, when it was removed due to the launch of the Portuguese feed of Cartoon Network.

On 1 November 2014, all TV operators in the Benelux and the Czech Republic began airing the CEE version of the channel instead, leaving Greece and Cyprus as the only European countries where the channel was broadcast; from that day onward, Boomerang in the Benelux has been broadcasting in Dutch. In the Benelux, however, this was only a temporary measure, since a fully localized version of the channel would be launched soon.

The channel rebranded on 14 January 2015.[19]

On 1 July 2016, the HQ/Africa feed was replaced with Boomerang MENA in the Middle East and North, with the MENA version available on beIN and various Gulf IPTV providers with an Arabic audio track for most programs with spoken dialogue. The MENA version has also replaced the Africa version on TV operators in Greece and Cyprus, and continues to broadcast in Greek. The MENA version has a separate schedule and programming lineup.

Central and Eastern Europe

Prior to the launch of Boomerang CEE, the HQ version was broadcast since 2005 in Hungarian and Polish.

In October 2010, the channel started to broadcast select shows in Romanian. On 12 October 2011, the Central and Eastern Europe feed (Poland, Hungary and Romania) was separated from the HQ feed; as a result, the former maintains its own schedule, as well as featuring promos and bumpers in Hungarian, Romanian, Polish and English, as well as the preschool-targeted block Cartoonito, which was added to both feeds around the same time.

In February 2012, the channel began accepting commercial advertising outside of Poland, whose feed also accepts traditional advertising. From March 2012, Boomerang got a new look. In July 2013, the channel started to air select shows in Russian, in preparation for a possible launch of a separate feed for Russia.[20]

In October 2013, a Russian subfeed was also added to the channel, thus making it now broadcast in five languages; Hungarian, Romanian, Polish, English and Russian. In January 2014, the Cartoonito brand name was gone from the both CEE and EMEA channels, thus making those shows identifiable as Boomerang shows and the Boomerang next bumpers were rebranded. Starting from July 2014, Russia banned commercials, making the Russian subfeed ad-free on all platforms.

On 1 November 2014, all TV operators in the Benelux and the Czech Republic began airing the CEE version of the channel instead, leaving Greece and Cyprus as the only European countries where the channel was broadcast; a Dutch track was then added to Boomerang CEE, making it now broadcast in six languages. In the Benelux however, this was only a temporary measure, since a fully localized version of the channel would be launched soon.

The channel adopted the 2015 look on 2 February 2015.[21][22]

France

The network rebranded on 3 January 2015.[23]

Germany

Boomerang launched in Germany in June 2006; it is available on Kabel Deutschland, Kabel BW, and Unity Media. The network adopted the new branding on 16 February 2015.[24]

Italy

The channel adopted a new look on 2 February 2015.[25]

Latin America and Brazil

Boomerang was launched in 2 July 2001, with a schedule comprising classic animated series. This lasted from 2001 until 2006, when it changed its target for a general audience started to air and mixed cartoons with live-action series and movies on its library. In 2008[26] all the remaining cartoons were removed from the schedule, changing the main focus of the channel to teen-oriented programming, which consisted of live-action shows, movies and music video clips. Nevertheless, on 1 April 2014, Boomerang suddenly changed again its teen-oriented programming to a cartoon-oriented one with newer animated series as well as older cartoons from Cartoon Network, with live-action series airing after midnight. On 28 September 2014, it got rebranded, becoming the first Boomerang network in the world to adopt the new look.[27][28]

Middle East and North Africa

Boomerang HQ was launched on 5 June 2005; in the Middle East and North Africa, it originally broadcast in English only, and was offered on Orbit and Showtime, and later OSN, the merger of the aforementioned companies which was created in 2009, until a licensing agreement between Turner Broadcasting System Europe and beIN Media Group in December 2015 removed the channel from OSN; the HQ feed, along with CN HQ, CNN International (which itself continues to be available as a free-to-air satellite channel), and the newly created TCM MENA feed was then added to beIN on 1 January 2016, and removed from OSN on 16 January 2016.

In 2008, Boomerang HQ added an Arabic audio track for select shows in the Middle East and North Africa.

On 1 July 2016, Boomerang MENA was launched in the Middle East and North Africa region. Broadcasting in HD, the bilingual feed has promos, bumpers and shows in English and Arabic. Boomerang MENA is also offered in Greece and Cyprus as well, broadcasting its shows in Greek.

Netherlands and Flanders

Originally, in the Netherlands and Flanders, the HQ version of Boomerang was broadcast in English with Dutch subtitles, and was launched in 2005. In November 2014 however, the HQ version was replaced with the CEE version, broadcasting bilingually in English and Dutch. A Dutch feed and a new logo launched on 2 February 2015.[29]

Others

Since 2005, Boomerang is also available via digital cable and satellite in the Netherlands and Belgium. In the Middle East and North Africa, Boomerang H. In Sub-Saharan Africa, Boomerang is available on MultiChoice's DStv. The channel rebranded on 14 January 2015.[19]

Portugal

Boomerang is a Portuguese digital cable and satellite television channel launched on 21 April 2015[30] and owned by Turner Broadcasting System Europe. Currently, is only available in Angola and Mozambique and is expected to launch in Portugal soon.

Scandinavia

In late 2005, Turner Broadcasting announced its intention to launch several new channels in the Nordic region (to join its then-current channels Turner Classic Movies, Cartoon Network and CNN International). One of the planned new channels was Boomerang, for which Turner applied for a broadcast license to operate on Swedish digital terrestrial television in the fall of 2005.

Southeast Asia

The Southeast Asian version of Boomerang was launched on 1 September 2005. It began as a 90-minute block of programmes in 2001, when Cartoon Network Asia began broadcasting on a 24-hour schedule. It previously used the American logo and style of commercial breaks. It previously used the logo and break format of the flagship American service. However, in November 2007, the channel revamped both its logo and promotions. In December 2012, the channel was replaced by Toonami. Boomerang, however, returned to Asia on 1 January 2015,[31] replacing Cartoonito.

This channel is available in Hong Kong, the selected ASEAN member neighbour countries and Sri Lanka. The 24-hour channel in India was only available on Dish TV exclusively along with Turner Classic Movies until 2 March 2009. It is currently only available on IN Digital Cable from the Hinduja Group in Mumbai and the National Capital Region. In Pakistan, it ran as a two-hour block but was replaced with Pogo due to poor ratings. In Indonesia, it is available on Indovision, Aora TV, and TelkomVision.

South Korea

After the United States–Korea Free Trade Agreement went effective in 2012, it allowed Turner Broadcasting to directly manage Cartoon Network Korea starting from March 2015. On November 14, local version of Boomerang was also launched in Korea.[32] The programming mainly consists of modern Warner Bros./Hanna-Barbera series, but Korean children's animations are also prominently featured.

Spain

Boomerang launched a Spanish version of the channel in 2004. It was available on the Digital+ digital platform and on the Auna cable platform. It was introduced as a part of Cartoon Network's schedule on weekend afternoons.

The channel's programming strongly resembled that of the UK version. It relied heavily in older Warner Bros., MGM, and Hanna-Barbera cartoons, but it also included fairly recent programmes featuring older characters, like Baby Looney Tunes and Duck Dodgers. It also featured other classic cartoons, like the Japanese Heidi and the Spanish La vuelta al mundo de Willy Fog (Around the World with Willy Fog).

On 1 September 2011, it was replaced by Cartoonito, which itself ceased operations on 30 June 2013, along with the Spanish version of Cartoon Network.

Thailand

The Thailand version of Boomerang was launched on 14 August 2013.

Turkey

The Turkey version of Boomerang was launching on 23 April 2016, at D-Smart and Tivibu

United Kingdom & Ireland

Boomerang launched in the Republic of Ireland and the United Kingdom on 27 May 2000. It broadcasts 24 hours a day on Sky, Virgin Media, TalkTalk TV and Chorus Digital. This version of the channel also features other animated series such as Mr. Bean and Gadget Boy. In late July 2007, Boomerang UK started carrying live-action programs, including those exclusive to the channel such as My Spy Family. The network rebranded on 16 February 2015.[33]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Seidman, Robert (February 22, 2015). "List of how many homes each cable network is in as of February 2015". TV by the Numbers. Zap2it. Retrieved February 24, 2015.
  2. ↑ KING, SUSAN (2000-04-01). "Hanna-Barbera Cartoons Return on New Boomerang". Los Angeles Times. ISSN 0458-3035. Retrieved 2017-07-28.
  3. ↑ 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.
  4. ↑ "Turner expanding Cartoon Network, Adult Swim, Boomerang offerings - SaportaReport". SaportaReport. 2014-02-04. Retrieved 2017-07-28.
  5. ↑ Littleton, Cynthia (October 14, 2014). "Turner Sets Global Relaunch of Boomerang to Focus on Family Viewing". Variety. Retrieved October 14, 2014.
  6. ↑ "TV Listings- Find Local TV Listings and Watch Full Episodes - Zap2it.com". tvschedule.zap2it.com.
  7. ↑ Petski, Denise (2015-06-29). "Turner Broadcasting & Warner Bros Ink Global Multi-Series Deal For Boomerang". Deadline. Retrieved 2017-07-28.
  8. ↑ "Turner Acquires Broadcasting Rights For Grizzy And The Lemmings For Boomerang Worldwide - RegularCapital". June 22, 2015.
  9. ↑ "TV Schedule for Boomerang HD - TV Passport". May 25, 2018.
  10. ↑ "TV Schedule for Boomerang HD - TV Passport". May 26, 2018.
  11. ↑ "TV Schedule for Boomerang HD - TV Passport". May 25, 2018.
  12. ↑ "Boomerang Schedule, December 2002 (Archive)". Cartoon Network. Archived from the original on December 1, 2002.
  13. ↑ "Wally Gator Open (Boomerang Zoo Europe)". YouTube.
  14. ↑ Spangler, Todd (2017-03-07). "Turner, Warner Bros. to Launch Boomerang Cartoon Streaming-Subscription Service for $5 Monthly". Variety. Retrieved 2017-07-28.
  15. ↑ Spangler, Todd (2017-03-07). "Turner, Warner Bros. to Launch Boomerang Cartoon Streaming-Subscription Service for $5 Monthly". Variety. Retrieved 2017-11-10.
  16. ↑ "When is Boomerang coming to other countries?". Boomerang Support. Retrieved 2017-07-28.
  17. ↑ "Turner Rebrands Boomerang Globally". Turner. Retrieved 2017-07-28.
  18. ↑ "TURNER REBRANDS BOOMERANG GLOBALLY". Turner Broadcasting System (Press release). Hong Kong. 14 October 2014. Retrieved 16 March 2015.
  19. 1 2 "Turner Broadcasting announces rebranding of Boomerang". Media Update. 15 January 2015. Retrieved 16 March 2015.
  20. ↑ Rndh1987 (July 30, 2013). "Boomerang Europe: Boomerang CEE starts broadcasting in Russian".
  21. ↑ "Boomerang przechodzi globalny rebranding". Astanet (in Polish). Retrieved 16 March 2015.
  22. ↑ "Turner relansează Boomerang începând cu 2 februarie (VIDEO)". Animation Magazine (in Romanian). 31 January 2015. Retrieved 16 March 2015.
  23. ↑ Boomerang (16 December 2014). Découvrez le nouveau Boomerang à partir du 3 janvier 2015! (in French). Retrieved 16 March 2015.
  24. ↑ "TOM UND JERRY, BUGS BUNNY & CO.: STARS UND DIE GRÖSSTEN CARTOON-HELDEN VON BOOMERANG UND CARTOON NETWORK IN MÜNCHE". Turner Deutschland (in German). Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 16 March 2015.
  25. ↑ "BOOMERANG, DAL 2 FEBBRAIO IL REBRANDING CON NUOVI IMMAGINE E CONTENUTI". Pubblicità (in Italian). 30 January 2015. Retrieved 16 March 2015.
  26. ↑ "Boomerang extingue os clássicos de seu sinal latino só agora?". ANMTV (in Portuguese). 30 May 2008. Retrieved 12 August 2016.
  27. ↑ Rosales, Johel (27 September 2014). "Recordatorio: Boomerang estrena especial para la llegada de su rebrand". ANMTV (in Spanish). Retrieved March 16, 2015.
  28. ↑ Sousa, Matheus (27 September 2014). "Boomerang lança sua nova identidade visual". ANMTV (in Portuguese). UOL. Retrieved 16 March 2015.
  29. ↑ "Nieuw logo voor Boomerang". Broadcast Magazine (in Dutch). 1 February 2015. Retrieved 16 March 2015.
  30. ↑ "The Latest on New Shows, Channel Launches and More | DStv | Boomerang chega à DStv!". dstv.com. Retrieved 28 April 2015.
  31. ↑ Franks, Nico (9 December 2014). "Turner throws Boomerang into Asia". C21Media. Retrieved 20 January 2015.
  32. ↑ "Boomerang Takes on Korea". Animation World Network. Retrieved 2018-03-11.
  33. ↑ Cartoon Network UK (15 January 2015). "Hi, yes, this is 16th February :)". Twitter. Retrieved 16 March 2015.
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