Cartoonito (UK and Ireland)
Cartoonito is a British pay television channel which targets children between the ages of 3 and 6.[1] It is run by Warner Bros. Discovery under its International division. Unlike Cartoon Network and Boomerang, Cartoonito doesn't have a +1 timeshift in the UK.[2] The channel is available in high definition on Sky Stream and Virgin Media. [3]
 Logo used from 2022 | |
| Country | United Kingdom |
|---|---|
| Broadcast area | United Kingdom Ireland Malta |
| Network | Cartoon Network Too (2006–2007) Cartoon Network (2022–present) |
| Headquarters | London, England |
| Programming | |
| Language | English |
| Picture format | 1080i HDTV (downscaled to 576i for the SD feed) |
| Ownership | |
| Owner | Warner Bros. Discovery EMEA |
| Sister channels | Cartoon Network Boomerang CNN International |
| History | |
| Launched | 4 September 2006 (as a block on Cartoon Network Too) 24 May 2007 (as a channel) 1 March 2022 (as a block on Cartoon Network) |
| Replaced | Cartoon Network Too (original version) |
| Closed | 28 May 2007 (as a block on Cartoon Network Too) |
| Links | |
| Website | www |
| Availability | |
| Terrestrial | |
| See separate section | |
History
editLaunch as a strand on Cartoon Network Too (2006–2007)
edit
On 14 August 2006, Turner Broadcasting System Europe announced they would launch a new pre-school-oriented strand for Cartoon Network Too known as Cartoonito, which would launch on 4 September, running from 6:00AM to 3:00PM.[4] The channel also included interstitials featuring the channel mascots teaching French in its early phase, a unique selling point and the only pre-school channel in the UK to do so.[5]
Relaunch as a full channel (2007–2017)
editOn 2 May 2007, Turner announced that they would expand Cartoonito to a full-time network on 24 May 2007. This allowed Cartoon Network Too to merge and replace Toonami, allowing the full Cartoonito channel to launch in the ex-Cartoon Network Too slot.[6]
On 24 May 2007, at 3:00 AM, Cartoonito launched as a standalone channel on Sky channel 619, just after the old version of Cartoon Network Too closed at 7:00 PM the previous day. The channel was broadcast from 3:00 AM until 7:00 PM and originally timeshared with Turner Classic Movies 2 (later became Turner Classic Movies +1 after 13 August 2013).
In early 2008, Cartoonito's website was redesigned.[7]
On 28 August 2009, it was announced that a Cartoonito block would air on Boomerang from 9:00 AM-10:30 AM on school-term weekdays beginning in September. The block aimed to introduce the Cartoonito brand to viewers who had never seen the programmes the channel offered.[8]
On 1 March 2010, it was announced that Cartoonito would be added to Virgin Media by April.[9] The channel was added on 25 March and by May had become the most widely distributed pre-school pay network in the United Kingdom. The addition to Virgin Media also saw a change in its broadcast hours, from 3:00 AM until 7:00 PM to 4:00 AM until 8:00 PM.[10]
On 26 October 2013, Cartoonito was launched on BT TV, and Cartoonito launched on Plusnet in May 2015. On 15 December 2016, Cartoonito was added to TalkTalk.[11]
Introduction of 24 hour broadcasting and 2018 UK rebrand (2017–2022)
editDuring the premiere of Daisy & Ollie in the UK, Cartoonito shifted its aspect ratio to 16:9 widescreen on 1 November 2017. The channel moved to a full 24 hour schedule on 15 January 2018.[12] On 2 March 2018, the channel was announced for a rebrand with an updated website. The logo remained the same, with the only difference being that the eyes were changed from purple to black.[13]
2022 UK rebrand and strand relaunch on Cartoon Network (2022–present)
editOn 1 February 2022, Cartoonito rebranded with the new 2021 logo and bumpers.[14] Following the rebrand, a Cartoonito strand launched on its sister channel Cartoon Network, airing weekdays from 9:00AM until 10:00AM (was briefly extend to end at 11:00AM from Spring until the Summer of 2022).[15]
On 1 October 2023, Cartoonito transitioned to utilising the same style of promos as Discovery's free-to-air channels, although it remains a pay network.
On 27 September 2024, an HD simulcast of Cartoonito launched on Virgin Media alongside Boomerang HD, replacing the SD feed on the service.[16]
Availability
editProgramming
editSee also
editReferences
edit- ↑ DeMott, Rick (21 April 2011). "Turner Broadcasting To Launch Cartoonito Across EMEA". Archived from the original on 8 August 2019. Retrieved 17 November 2019.
- ↑ "TV Guide". Sky. Retrieved 16 July 2023.
- ↑ "Virgin Media upgrades two children's channels to HD: Virgin Media's cable TV customers can now access children's channels Boomerang and Cartoonito in HD". RXTV. Retrieved 28 September 2024.
- ↑ "Cartoon Network Too unveils preschool block - UK Broadcast News | 14/08/2006". Archived from the original on 28 November 2025.
- ↑ Stewart, L. (2006). "Hard times - kids programming in the U.K. faces an uncertain future". KidScreen.
- ↑ "Turner Promotes Preschool Programming with Channel Changes in U.K."
- ↑ Turner uses online to help brand repositioning. (2008). New Media Age, 2.
- ↑ "C21 Media, 28 Aug 2009 Channel profile - Boomerang".
- ↑ https://web.archive.org/web/20111119024512/http://www.turnermediainnovations.com/about/press-gallery/virgin-media-expands-kids-line-up-with-cartoonito
- ↑ https://web.archive.org/web/20111119023927/http://www.turnermediainnovations.com/about/press-gallery/cartoonito-takes-pole-position-as-the-most-widely-distributed-pay-tv-preschool-channel-in-the-uk
- ↑ "Cartoonito UK Now Available On TalkTalk TV". Regular Capital. Retrieved 19 April 2018.
- ↑ RegularCapital. "Cartoonito UK Now Available 24 Hours A Day". Archived from the original on 22 September 2020. Retrieved 26 January 2018.
- ↑ RegularCapital (5 March 2018). "Cartoonito UK Rebranded 2nd March 2018". RegularCapital. Retrieved 25 December 2021.
- ↑ "WarnerMediaKidsUKFebruary2022Highlights.pdf". Google Docs. Retrieved 21 December 2021.
- ↑ "WarnerMediaKidsUKMarch2022Highlights.pdf". Google Docs. Retrieved 26 January 2022.
- ↑ "Virgin Media upgrades two children's channels to HD: Virgin Media's cable TV customers can now access children's channels Boomerang and Cartoonito in HD". RXTV. Retrieved 28 September 2024.
External links
edit- Official website (Archived 31 December 2007 at the Wayback Machine)