Mark the date, cartoon fans. Cartoon Network Canada is launching July 4th.
Sort of.
I was under the impression that what was being talked about was a standalone Cartoon Network Canada Channel. This sounded exciting for viewers, who would be getting all kinds of great Cartoon Network programming, seven days a week, 24 hours a day. This sounded exciting for content producers: with Cartoon Network programming that was already running on Canadian channels being re-appropriated (somehow), this could conceivable open up blocks for original, Canadian-produced content. I assumed there were aspects I was missing out on, as a there are strict content rules that would preclude an American network just flat out broadcasting in Canada, and new original production would require larger amounts of production financing that I hadn’t heard any rumblings of at all.
What we’re actually getting is programming blocks on Teletoon proper, and Teletoon Retro, of Cartoon Network shows, being branded as Cartoon Network blocks. Basically, putting a bunch of CN shows, some of which are already running here, together, so they run back to back, and calling it CN Canada.
It’s a good idea, but hardly something I’d call Cartoon Network Canada. My first concern, as I read this, was that it meant they were going to be substituting existing programming blocks for CN shows, potentially taking coveted timeslots away from Canadian shows and making the job even harder for Canadians to make good cartoons. But it doesn’t even look like that. I’m not up in arms, and I’m not particularly excited either. It’s kind of a non-event. Not good news, not bad news, not even really news. I understand it took quite a bit of work on Teletoon’s behalf, working with CN, but it seems to have been more about reorganizing existing programming to cash in on the CN and adult swim brands. Again, a good idea. But hardly a launch.
Here’s the press release:
Cartoon Network and [adult swim] programming blocks will debut on TELETOON, TELETOON Retro and TELETOON at Night this spring
(Toronto, ON, May 3, 2012) – TELETOON Canada Inc. is pleased to announce that the Canadian launch date for Cartoon Network and Adult Swim has been set for July 4, 2012. In advance of the big day – and to whet the appetites of eager Canadian viewers – TELETOON will begin broadcasting a weekly Cartoon Network programming block on the main network as of Saturday, May 5. To further support the launch, on Friday, June 1, a weekly block of fan-favourite Adult Swim shows will premiere on TELETOON at Night. And finally, TELETOON Retro delves deeper into the Cartoon Network programming library to broadcast a block of classic Cartoon Network shows every week beginning on Saturday, June 2.
Cartoon Network Nested Blocks
TELETOON: Premieres Saturday, May 5
The Amazing World of Gumball: Saturdays at 11:30 a.m. ET/PT
Regular Show: Saturdays at 12 p.m. ET/PT
Dexter’s Laboratory: Saturdays at 12:30 p.m. ET/PT
TELETOON Retro: Premieres, Saturday, June 2
Dexter’s Laboratory (Classic Episodes): Saturdays at 7 p.m. ET
Powerpuff Girls: Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. ET
Codename: Kids Next Door: Saturdays at 8 p.m. ET
The Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy: Saturdays at 8:30 p.m. ET
[adult swim] Nested Block/TELETOON at Night: Premieres Friday, June 1
The Venture Bros.: Fridays at 10 p.m. ET/PT
Squidbillies: Fridays at 10:30 p.m. ET/PT
Harvey Birdman, Attorney at Law: Fridays at 10:45 p.m. ET/PT
Aqua Teen Hunger Force: Fridays at 11 p.m. ET/PT
Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job!: Fridays at 11:30 p.m. ET/PT
The excitement continues online, with websites for Cartoon Network and Adult Swim – each featuring video clips, games, extra content and programming information – launching simultaneously with the network.
Available in both English and French, TELETOON Canada Inc. brings kids, youth and adults the best in animated and animation-related entertainment with five nationwide specialty television channels – TELETOON, TÉLÉTOON, TELETOON Retro, TÉLÉTOON Rétro and Cartoon Network (Canada). Select programming is available through On Demand, Mobile TV, iTunes and teletoon.com. Through its English and French networks, TELETOON reaches more than 7.5 million Canadian homes and TELETOON Retro is in more than 8 million homes. Founded in 1997, TELETOON is a proud supporter of the Canadian animation industry, investing over $245 million in homegrown content to date. TELETOON Canada Inc. is owned by Astral (50{f2e86ea6af82e2bb048871abf045622abf0ed27fb513932dc1ee8c05a54cbefd}) and Corus Entertainment (50{f2e86ea6af82e2bb048871abf045622abf0ed27fb513932dc1ee8c05a54cbefd}). For more information, please visit www.teletoon.com. TELETOON: It’s Unreal!
I am excited to see the regular show and gumball on tv, but why not just make a version of cartoon network available for the Canadian consumer? We always get things so much later, it justifies watching stuff online…if we aren’t blocked by our geography.
This is all I have to say:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6jqVzoNaAxg
Until we solve those problems, any discussion about Canadian vs. American vs. anywhere content is pointless.
I’m not surprised by the nested blocks. ABC Spark was launched in a similar fashion earlier this year, with ABC Spark shows airing on YTV, W Network, and CMT.
What irks me most about CN Canada on Teletoon is that [adult swim] list. G4 Canada has its [adult swim]-derived block, ADd, back on air. The most recent shows on it are Eagleheart and NTSF:SD:SUV::. ADd is essentially in wall-to-wall rerun mode, at this point.
If Teletoon has rights to the newest [as] shows, wouldn’t it make more sense to debut them in the nested blocks? Harvey Birdman?! How are reruns supposed to whet one’s appetite for [adult swim]?…wait, I’m requesting logic from a press release that differentiates between Dexter’s Laboratory and Dexter’s Laboratory (Classic), despite the show not being in production since 2003.