‘Sad day for history.’
The Cartoon Network website, which had been online since 1998, has been removed from the internet.
Previously a portal with a content-heavy homepage for shows like Powerpuff Girls, Adventure Time and Steven Universe, visitors are to CartoonNetwork.com are now being redirected to Max, Warner Bros. Discovery’s flagship streaming service.
“Looking for episodes of your favorite Cartoon Network shows? Check out what’s available to stream on Max (subscription required),” a pop-up message says on the new Max landing page. “Sign up for Max, where you can also create a Kids Profile with ratings restrictions and additional privacy protections to keep it fun and kid-friendly! Cable subscribers, continue to enjoy your favorite CN programming on your TV and connected apps as well!”
The portal appears to have been a victim of the ongoing streaming war among online portals, and its closure is likely a cost-cutting measure meant to entice viewers to pay for Max. In a similar series of moves, Paramount Global removed a huge trove of content from Comedy Central’s site and pulled the full archive of MTV News and CMT from the internet just earlier this summer.
However, several other Warner Bros. Discovery cable channels have remained unaffected, by this change, including TNT, TBS, HGTV, Discovery, and Adult Swim.
According to a Cartoon Network spokesperson: “We are focusing on the Cartoon Network shows and social media where we find consumers are the most engaged and there is a meaningful potential for growth.” They also confirmed that the network will keep providing 11 hours of television content every day, from 6 am to 5 pm.
The shutdown of Cartoon Network’s site seems to have occurred on August 8th, according to a report in Variety. This has occurred around a month after false online rumors that Cartoon Network was “dead“.
The news of Cartoon Network’s closure was met with shock across the internet, leading to a flood of emotional reactions:
this era of Cartoon Network is unmatched pic.twitter.com/F1QTE2cC9E
— ☔ (@Whotfismick) February 11, 2024
Cartoon Network Website officially shuts down after 26 years 💔💔💔#CartoonNetwork #ripcartoonnetwork pic.twitter.com/A9vkbwwAFF
— Let’s Talk Stuff (@letstalkstuff__) August 9, 2024
