Sunday, March 9, 2014

As some of you noticed, Boomerang. Cartoon Network's 24/7 animation network aimed at baby boomers will be rebranding as an ad-supported network aiming for preschoolers, girls and families, debuting later this fall.
 
Some of you nostalgia buffs will have this reaction:
depressed animated GIF
 
But here's the thing: an all-reruns channel is out of style these days. Advertisers aren't interested in pouring money into a channel that doesn't show anything new and original, hence why Boom is still ad-free. Nicktoons and Toon Disney were initially channels that were ad free and had no new programming, just reruns of older shows. Then their companies weren't making any cash out of them besides subscription fees, so they changed their format. For Nicktoons, Viacom added newer cartoons like Kaput & Zosky, Yakkity Yak, Skyland, Corneil & Bernie, Ricky Sprocket, Kappa Mikey, Wild Grinders and the like. For Toon Disney, the Mouse House added a new action block on the network, which was called Jetix, which begin taking over TD's hours like a virus (because it got higher ratings than TD did, due to having original and new programming. The latter was still a reruns channel at that time). TD/Jetix were eventually revamped into a new network targeting at boys, which was and currently is called Disney XD.
 
However, Boomerang adding newer shows into its schedule come fall, doesn't mean the older shows will vanish. Turner mentions in a recent article that the revamped Boom will consist of "classic and contemporary cartoons", so the likes of The Flintstones and Looney Tunes will remain on the network, hopefully.
 
Meanwhile, I've made up some of my ideas for the revamped Boomerang. Some of them are likely going to happen anyway, but who knows?:
 
Programming
 
I'll like to see Turner gets its hands on more WB cartoons for the new Boomerang. The Sylvester & Tweety Mysteries, Taz-Mania, Freakazoid!, Baby Looney Tunes and Duck Dodgers are the best choices right now. If The Hub's rights for Tiny Toon Adventures and Animaniacs expire, maybe Boom can get those two. I'm really tired of seeing Hanna-Barbera cartoons 24/7. Variety is a spice of life.
 
And not just the WB cartoons, maybe something girl-centric like Totally Spies! will have its new home on the network (since Boom will be targeting girls as well) now that it hasn't debuted on Cartoon Network U.S. for a sixth season back in September (where it supposedly was). Other choices of mine like the new Sailor Moon series, Atomic Betty, Sabrina: The Animated Series, Sabrina's Secert Life, Horseland and W.I.T.C.H. would do.