Cartoon Network has been a cherished part of many people's childhoods, with popular shows like "Scooby-Doo," "The Powerpuff Girls," and "Dexter's Laboratory" capturing the hearts of viewers for years. However, fans are now facing a significant change as Warner Bros Discovery, the parent company of Cartoon Network, has decided to shut down the official Cartoon Network website.
For many years, the Cartoon Network website served as a nostalgic hub where fans could watch their favorite cartoons for free, even if they did not have cable TV. The site offered full episodes, video clips, and a variety of free games featuring beloved characters from shows such as "Adventure Time," "Craig of the Creek," "The Amazing World of Gumball," "Teen Titans GO!" and "We Bare Bears."
Now, when users try to go cartoonnetwork.com, they are redirected to Warner Bros' streaming service, Max. A pop-up message on the site informs visitors that a Max subscription is required to access the cartoons. The message also notes that viewers can continue to watch the shows on the Cartoon Network channel.
The decision to close the Cartoon Network website comes without prior notice and marks a major transition for the brand. This move follows Warner Bros Discovery's recent announcement that it will also shut down the Boomerang streaming service on September 30. Boomerang, known for classic cartoons like "Scooby-Doo," "Looney Tunes," "Tom and Jerry," "Courage the Cowardly Dog," and "The Flintstones," will have its subscribers and content moved to Max.
This closure reflects a broader industry trend towards cost-cutting and encouraging subscriptions to streaming services. For example, Paramount Global recently removed a large amount of content from Comedy Central’s website and erased the entire archives of MTV News and CMT from the internet.
While Cartoon Network assures fans that they can still engage
with the brand through social media and the Cartoon Network app, the shutdown of the website is a significant loss for those who enjoyed the free and easily accessible content.
