Cartoon Network (Indian TV channel)

The original Cartoon Network logo, used from 1 May 1995 to 2 October 2005. The logo is still in use as a trademark.

The channel first broadcast on 1 May 1995 as a dual-channel with Cartoon Network operating from 5:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. (later 9:00 p.m.) and Turner Classic Movies (formerly TNT) taking up the remainder of the daily schedule. On 1 July 2001, Cartoon Network (India) became a separate 24-hour channel.[3] In 2004, a separate feed of the channel dedicated to Pakistani and Bangladeshi viewers was started, which focuses on international Cartoon Network programming.[4]

It originally aired only Hanna-Barbera cartoons such as The Yogi Bear Show, Top Cat, The Flintstones, and Scooby-Doo. The channel quickly started to develop, airing for the first time MGM cartoons (Tom and Jerry, Droopy, and Spike and Tyke) in 1996, and (after Time Warner's purchase of Turner in 1996) Warner Bros shows (Looney Tunes, and several other Looney Tunes related cartoons) in 1997. In 1998, Cartoon Network started to air its first original shows Space Ghost Coast to Coast and The Moxy Show.

On January 4, 1999, the channel started to offer Hindi-dubbed versions of its shows, such as Scooby-Doo, Where Are You!, The Flintstones, The Jetsons, SWAT Kats: The Radical Squadron, The Mask: The Animated Series, The Addams Family, The Real Adventures of Jonny Quest, Captain Planet and certain other select programs.[5]

On 22 August 1999, the channel received a rebrand, introducing new bumpers, new shows and a new 'powerhouse' theme. The new shows for 1999 were its original shows Dexter's Laboratory, Cow & Chicken, I Am Weasel, Ed, Edd n' Eddy and Johnny Bravo. The following year, 2000, saw even more Cartoon Network originals being introduced, including The Powerpuff Girls, Mike, Lu & Og and Courage the Cowardly Dog.[6][7][8]

In February 2000, the channel decided to offer Tamil dubbed versions of their content.

DC animated universe series started premiering in 2000's starting with Batman: The Animated Series (2000) followed by The New Batman Adventures (2000), Batman Beyond (2001), Superman: The Animated Series (2001) and Justice League (2002).[9][10][11]

In 2001, Sheep in the Big City, Time Squad and Samurai Jack premiered in India .[12] On 1 July 2001, Cartoon Network became a 24-hour channel.[3] In 2001, Toonami block was introduced that primarily consists of Japanese anime and occasionally American action animation like Dragon Ball Z, Inazuma Eleven, Transformers: Robots in Disguise and Superman: The Animated Series.[13] A Night Shift block was introduced in November 2001 to target Teens and adults. The programming include Birdman and the Galaxy Trio, The Brak Show, Galtar and the Golden Lance, Harvey Birdman, Attorney at Law.[14]

In 2003, Tiny TV a preschool programming block was launched. This block was later shifted to sister channel Pogo TV.[15] Pokémon series was launched in 2003 which enjoyed success in India.[16][17] The channel also started acquiring local series and films in 2003 starting with The Adventures of Tenali Raman.[18] Other acquisitions include series like The Adventures of Chhota Birbal, Akbar and Birbal, Jungle Tales and television films like Vikram and Betaal.[19][20][21]

Cartoon Network's second logo, used in various forms and styles from 3 October 2005 to 30 September 2011

In 2005, the bumpers were replaced with 3D animations of the 'CN (Cartoon Network) City' that all the Cartoon Network toons lived in. Show-specific bumpers were replaced with 3D animations of a well-known scene from the particular show (e.g., a Dexter's Laboratory bumper would feature Dexter's house, a Powerpuff Girls bumper would feature most likely the PPG household, and so forth). The retro checkerboard logo was replaced with the new 'CN' city-style logo.

It also started the anime series Beyblade on 3 June 2005,[22] which enjoyed a No.1 or No.2 position in the kids genre, along with Pokémon.[23][24]

The channel continued to air new episodes and seasons from Beyblade and Pokémon, and their movies, which continued to rank No.1 and No.2 in the kids' genre.[25] Half Ticket Express a preschool block was launched which aired series like Dragon Tales, Franklin and The Koala Brothers.[26] Another programming block 'Thoda Meow Thoda Bow featuring Tom And Jerry, Scooby-Doo and The Sylvester & Tweety Mysteries was launched on Children's Day.[27]

Camp Lazlo was launched on 12 February 2006.[28]

Cartoon Network launched an action series titled The Justirisers on the action block Toonami on 7 March 2007 and the singer Shankar Mahadevan sang its Title Track in Hindi.[29] The Series after airing all episodes was replaced by Sazer X on July 3 2007 in which Shaan sung the title track.[30] Boomerang programming block was launched in August 2007 which aired classic properties like Tom & Jerry, Scooby-Doo, Popeye[31] and Jackie Chan Adventures[32]

On 10 October 2007, Cartoon Network started the new series Ben 10,[33]

On 11 December 2009, Cartoon Network began to air the next series in the Ben 10 franchise, Ben 10: Alien Force.[34] It also aired new Ben 10 movies.[35][36]

Other notable series acquired by Cartoon Network India were The Adventures of Tintin[37] (2001), Spider-Man: The New Animated Series[38] (2003), Archie's Weird Mysteries[39] (2004),Jumanji[39] (2004), Transformers: Armada[39] (2004) and The Spectacular Spider-Man[40] (2009).

A variation of the network's current logo which resembles its original logo, used as of 1 October 2011.

Cartoon Network started the third series Ben 10 franchise, Ben 10: Ultimate Alien on 10 October 2010.[41] Cartoon Network launched Roll No 21 in November 2010, multiple season and TV movies were launched after the success of first season.[42][43] The new Beyblade series, Beyblade: Metal Fusion began to air in 2011.[44]

On 1 October 2011, Cartoon Network introduced its new branding and logo. Designed by Brand New School, it makes heavy use of the black and white checkerboard motif, as well as CMYK color variations and patterns.[45] The slogan "It's a Fun Thing!" was also introduced. However unlike the Pakistan[46] and Asian feeds, The Amazing World of Gumball premiered one year later as Gumball Ki Atrangi Duniya.[47]

CN shifted Pokémon to its sister channel Pogo in 2011, having aired till the eleventh season, but later brought it back on CN in 2014, starting from the fourteenth-season episode "Pokémon: Black and White".[48]

Oggy and the Cockroaches was started in India in July 2012.[49][50] In January 2015, Cartoon Network lost the rights of Season 1-4 to Nickelodeon but later acquired the rights of season 5 in December 2015.[51]

In 2013, Cartoon Network acquired the rights of Krrish franchise's animated film series Kid Krrish. The first movie Kid Krrish on 2 October 2013.[52] The film was followed by three additional movies Kid Krrish: Mission Bhutan (19 July 2014), Kid Krrish: Mystery in Mongolia (27 September 2014) and Kid Krrish: Shakalaka Africa (25 April 2015).[53][54]

CN started the fourth series Ben 10 franchise, Ben 10: Omniverse on 26 November 2012.[55]

In 2015, Cartoon Network launched three series in India, Uncle Grandpa and Beyblade: Shogun Steel on 26 April and Clarence on 1 June.[54][56]

Cartoon Network celebrated 20th Anniversary in November 2015. A programming block Happy Birthday Cartoon Network which aired ongoing series like Horrid Henry and Oggy and the Cockroaches as well as classic series like The Flintstones, The Grim Adventures of Billy and Mandy and Courage the Cowardly Dog.[57]

In December 2015, Cartoon Network aired two specials for the promotion of Hindi film Dilwale. The first special Kris Aur Sharukhan Khan Ki Dilwale Bollywood Class aired on 19 December while Oggy Ki Birthday Party aired on 25 December.[58]

The Powerpuff Girls reboot series premiered on 9 April 2016 in India and other Asian Pacific countries while the Ben 10 reboot premiered on 8 October 2016.[59][60]

Other notable television series launched in 2010s were Horrid Henry (9 April 2012), The Tom and Jerry Show (21 April 2014), Teen Titans Go! (23 March 2015) and Mighty Magiswords (6 May 2017).[61][62][63][64]

In March 2020, WarnerMedia Entertainment Networks Asia Pacific announced revamping of Cartoon Network by adding more local productions starting with acquisition of Bandbudh Aur Budbak.[1] All Cartoon Network original shows were removed and are now shown only on Cartoon Network HD+.

Cartoon Network HD+'s Logo, Since April 15, 2018

Cartoon Network HD+ (called CN HD+ in commercials) launched on 15 April 2018. The channel was launched in India and was eventually launched on popular operators in neighbouring countries.

The channel contains shows from Cartoon Network Studios and select acquired content. Many Cartoon Network originals are shown exclusively on this channel and unavailable on the SD channel.[65]

Zee TV launched a Cartoon Network programming block in 2002. The block featured programs like Scooby-Doo, The Mask: Animated Series, The Powerpuff Girls, Dexter's Laboratory, Pinky and the Brain, Samurai Jack, The Real Adventures of Jonny Quest, The Flintstones, The Jetsons, Tom and Jerry Kids, Superman: The Animated Series, Captain Planet, Ed, Edd N Eddy, The Road Runner Show, Courage the Cowardly Dog, Sheep in the Big City, Mike, Lu & Og, Sylvester and Tweety Mysteries and Batman: The Animated Series. It aired programs twice in a day.[66]

In 2006 DD National introduced a Cartoon Network block named "Cartoon Network ki Duniya" which aired programs like Codename: Kids Next Door, M.A.D. (from sister channel Pogo) and Galli Galli Sim Sim.[67][68]

In 2016, Turner India signed a distribution deal with Viacom 18's OTT app Voot. Through this strategic tie-up Voot can stream Turner's properties from Cartoon Network and Pogo TV like The Powerpuff Girls, Ben 10, Dexter's Laboratory, Roll No. 21, Samurai Jack, Johnny Bravo and M.A.D in their Kids section.[69]

In 2017, Turner International India signed a deal with Amazon Prime Video India. Through this deal Amazon can stream Cartoon Network shows like Ben 10 (2005 TV series), Ben 10: Alien Force, Ben 10: Ultimate Alien, Ben 10: Omniverse, Johnny Bravo, The Powerpuff Girls, Kumbh Karan, Roll No 21 and Dexter's Laboratory in their Kids and Family section.[70]

Cartoon Network Hindi's logo, used since 1 April 2016.

Cartoon Network Hindi is a Hindi language television channel available in the Middle East and North Africa, aimed at Indian expatriates in the region. This version is operated by TBS Europe (which also handles the channels in the region), unlike the South Asian version which is a part of TBS Asia Pacific. Launched on 1 April 2016, the channel is exclusively available on BeIN Network satellite television platform.[71]

In 2014, Cartoon Network partnered with Tata Sky to launch an active service called CN+. The service is available every day for about one to two hours. It airs select episodes from hit programmes such as Ben 10 (and related series), Beyblade: Metal Fusion (and related series), Cartoon Network Original Shows like The Amazing World of Gumball, League of Super Evil, Tom and Jerry (and related series), Ed, Edd 'n' Eddy, and movies from Ben 10, Pokémon among others.[72]

On 26 February 2015, Turner India launched a new channel based on its former block, Toonami. It featured shows such as Batman, Superman, Justice League, Transformers, and Dragon Ball Z.[73] On July 1, the channel transformed into a replica of Boomerang and aired shows such as The Jetsons, The Flintstones and Yogi Bear. The channel ceased operations at the end of May 15, 2018.[74]