Boomerang (TV channel)
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For Boomerang in other countries, see Boomerang around the world. Boomerang is a 24-hour American cable television channel owned by Time Warner. The network debuted April 1, 2000, as well as a now-defunct programming block on its parent network, Cartoon Network.
HistoryBoomerang was originally a programming block on Cartoon Network aimed towards the generation of baby boomers. It originally aired for four hours every weekend. The block's start time jumped frequently, with the Saturday block moving to Saturday afternoons, then back to the early morning, and the Sunday block moving to Sunday evenings. Eventually, Boomerang was shortened by an hour, making the total airing time 2 hours each weekend instead of the original four hours. Boomerang (both the programming block and the original spinoff channel that launched on April 1, 2000) followed a unique programming format - every week, cartoons produced during a certain year (and cartoons produced during years prior to that year) would be showcased. For example, if Boomerang was showcasing the year 1969, the viewer would more than likely see an episode of Scooby-Doo, Where Are You! or Dastardly and Muttley in their Flying Machines. Once the Boomerang channel was launched in 2000, promos for the channel aired at the end of every broadcasted show during the block in attempt to gain popularity for Boomerang. Also, all of the older programming on Cartoon Network, including Looney Tunes and shows from Hanna-Barbera migrated to Boomerang. On October 2 and October 3, 2004 nearly four months after the re-launch of the Cartoon Network, the Boomerang block was replaced by Adult Swim everyday with older reruns of classic anthologies like The Popeye Show, The Bob Clampett Show, ToonHeads, former Boomerang fare like The Gary Coleman Show, Super Globetrotters. October 2 and 3rd were the last times Looney Tunes officially aired on Cartoon Network. Duck Dodgers, Cow & Chicken, The Jetsons, The Flinstones, What a Cartoon, Snorks, Smurfs and Baby Looney Tunes are now featured on the channel, although much of the Looney Tunes programming has gradually vanished. They are still seen from time to time. The channel initially carried a weekly looping programming format. Notably, Boomerang does not carry product commercials. The only advertising on the channel is for Boomerang or Cartoon Network programming. During its looping format, which lasted through January 17, 2005, program days began at 8 a.m. Eastern time (5 a.m. Pacific time). The looping format had 8 hours of programming repeated three times a day. Monday through Thursdays had been just normal programming days, with a variety of half-hour and hour-long cartoon programs shown. On Fridays, "monthly feature" cartoons were shown for the entire day; one cartoon was featured for each Friday of a given month for 24 hours straight. As of January 22, 2005, this banner became known as "monthly character of the month", and is now shown on weekends from 2 to 4 p.m. eastern and as of March 2007 it it known as Boomeroyalty. On Saturdays, a calendar year was featured with the cartoons of that year (ranging from approximately 1960 to 1996, one year per week in sequence). Sundays carried the "Boomeraction" theme, with animation featuring action and adventure such as Valley of the Dinosaurs, SuperFriends, Space Ghost, Jonny Quest, and Battle of the Planets. In recent years, Boomerang began airing shows from more recent times, such as Batman: The Animated Series, What's New, Scooby-Doo?, The Addams Family, and Pokémon. Boomerang's promotional slogan, Boomerang: It's All Coming Back To You, used until late 2005 on Boomerang itself, was one of nostalgia that accurately reflected its programming of the time. However, this slogan is still used on promos airing on sister channel Cartoon Network. The announcer for most promos for the channel is actor and current Family Feud host John O'Hurley. ProgrammingBoomerang has featured many exclusive programming blocks such as Hanna-Barbera's Cartoon Corral, The Zoo, Boomeracers, Acme Hour (originally a part of Cartoon Network), and Late Night Black and White. In 2005, Boomerang began to carry more modern series, including 2 Stupid Dogs, Batman: The Animated Series, Superman: The Animated Series, Justice League, He-Man and the Masters of the Universe (2002 series), Baby Looney Tunes, Duck Dodgers, and What's New, Scooby Doo?. In 2006, Boomerang began to experiment with reruns of the Cartoon Network original series Dexter's Laboratory, and Mike, Lu & Og. Because of this, many Boomerang fans wonder if Boomerang might become a "Cartoon Network Too" in the US. The first five seasons of the U.S. dubbed Pokémon animated series began airing on the network July 31, however the show was taken off the network's schedule on October 20, 2006 along with Baby Looney Tunes. Krypto the Superdog and the Tickle-U version of Gerald McBoing-Boing began airing on February 5, 2007 along with the return of Baby Looney Tunes. Boomerang has carried both theatrical animated shorts and television series from several libraries, including:
(...and many others)
(...and many others)
Cable companiesDistribution of the channel is very limited. The cable company Comcast offers Boomerang On Demand, albeit with limited selection in select areas. There is only one known Comcast system carrying the 24/7 Boomerang network, which is the one in Atlanta, Georgia (it is on channel 270). Other companies, such as Suddenlink Communications, offer Boomerang as a regular station in select areas. Time Warner Cable and Cox offers both services in select areas. Verizon's new FiOS TV offers the channel in most markets. Several smaller Cable providers do not provide the channel at all. See alsoExternal links
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