Warner Bros. Discovery has officially taken down the entire contents of cartoonnetwork.com, redirecting all visitors to Max, its subscription-based streaming service. The shutdown took place on Thursday, August 8, 2024. Now, fans looking to watch their favorite Cartoon Network shows online are prompted to sign up for Max.
Message to Fans
Visitors to the old Cartoon Network site are greeted with a pop-up on the new Max landing page, which states: "Looking for episodes of your favorite Cartoon Network shows? Check out what’s available to stream on Max (subscription required)." The message further encourages users to create a Kids Profile on Max to access kid-friendly content with added privacy protections. Traditional cable subscribers are advised that they can continue enjoying Cartoon Network programming through their TVs and connected apps.
Focus Shifts to Streaming and Social Media
According to a statement from a Cartoon Network spokesperson, the company is now concentrating on streaming services and social media platforms, where they see the highest engagement and potential for growth. However, the network will still provide 11 hours of daily programming on linear TV from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Loss of Popular Content and Games
Previously, cartoonnetwork.com offered full episodes and video clips from popular shows such as “Adventure Time,” “Craig of the Creek,” “The Amazing World of Gumball,” “Teen Titans GO!,” and more. The site also featured free games related to these shows. All of this content has now been removed with the site’s closure.
Cost-Cutting and Strategic Shifts
The decision to shut down the Cartoon Network website seems to be part of a broader strategy by Warner Bros. Discovery to cut costs and encourage more subscribers to join Max. Just a week prior, the company announced the upcoming closure of the Boomerang classic cartoon streaming service, effective September 30, 2024, with content being migrated to Max.
This move aligns with similar actions by other media companies like Paramount Global, which recently removed content from the Comedy Central website and pulled the full archives of MTV News and CMT from the internet.
Financial Impact and Strategic Direction
Warner Bros. Discovery's decision comes in the wake of a tough financial report. The company revealed a 6% decline in Q2 revenue, bringing in $9.71 billion, and reported a net loss of nearly $10 billion, largely due to a $9.1 billion write-down reflecting the reduced value of its cable TV networks. While domestic streaming subscribers dropped by 300,000, international streaming subscribers saw an increase of 3.9 million, highlighting the company’s shifting focus towards global markets.
This marks a significant change for fans of Cartoon Network, as the company pivots towards a streaming-centric future.