BOOMERANG (TV CHANNEL)

'Boomerang' is the name of at least four television networks owned by Cartoon Network. There are also channels in the United Kingdom, Australia, South Africa, Germany, Spain, France, Italy, Poland, Brazil, Latin America and some Eastern European countries. Boomerang was one of the two actual spin-offs of Cartoon Network, showing classic animated cartoons and animated television series from the Warner Bros., Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, and Hanna-Barbera archives. The UK channel has also screened the puppet show ''Thunderbirds'' (the U.S. rights of which are owned by G4). Formerly a segment of programming within the Cartoon Network, the channel was launched at the end of the 20th century and introduced to satellite and digital cable on April 1, 2000.

Contents

The United States channel

Comcast

The United Kingdom and Ireland channel

The Spanish channel

The Australian channel

Other countries

See also

External links

The United States channel

Main articles: Boomerang (American TV channel)

The United States version of Boomerang 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). 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 2–4 p.m. eastern. On Saturdays, a calendar year was featured with the cartoons of that year (ranging from approximately 1963 to 1983, one year per week in sequence). Sundays carried the "Boomeraction" theme, with animation featuring action and adventure such as ''SuperFriends'', ''Space Ghost'' and ''Jonny Quest''. In recent years, Boomerang began airing shows from more recent times, such as , What's New, Scooby-Doo? and The Addams Family Cartoon.
'Boomerang' has featured many exclusive programming blocks such as ''Hanna-Barbera's Cartoon Corral'', ''The Zoo'', ''Boomeracers'', and ''Acme Hour'' (originally a part of Cartoon Network).
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 announcer for most promos on the channel is actor and current ''Family Feud'' host John O'Hurley.
For many years, Boomerang's slogan was "It's all coming back to you." While still used sometimes, its use has lessened in recent years.
Recently, the amount of Looney Tunes has lessened to a point where it is almost nonexistant on the channel, taken up by Hanna Barbera programming.
Another odd move was the addition of Baby Looney Tunes, which is only very loosely related to Looney Tunes and is intended mostly for little children.

Comcast

The cable network Comcast offers Boomerang On Demand, albeit with limited selection. They, however, do not offer it as a regular station.

The United Kingdom and Ireland channel

Main articles: Boomerang (British TV channel)

There is also a version of Boomerang broadcast in the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland, launched on May 27, 2000. It is broadcast 24 hours on the Sky Digital, Virgin Media, Tiscali TV, Top Up TV and Chorus Digital platforms. It also features other cartoons, like Roobarb, Gadget Boy and The Land Before Time. In late July 2007, Boomerang UK will be showing Live-action shows. It also features Boomerang Cinema.

The Spanish channel

Main articles: Boomerang (Spanish TV channel)

Since 2004, Boomerang has also a Spanish version. It's available on the Digital+ digital platform and on the Auna cable platform. It was introduced as a part of Cartoon Network's schedule on weekend afternoons.
The station's programming resembles strongly the UK version. It relies heavily in older Warner Brothers, MGM, and Hanna-Barbera cartoons, but it also includes fairly recent programmes featuring older characters, like ''Baby Looney Tunes'' and ''Duck Dodgers''. It also features other classic cartoons, like the Japanese ''Heidi'' and the Spanish ''La vuelta al mundo de Willy Fog'' (''Around the World with Willy Fog'').

The Australian channel

Main articles: Boomerang (Australian TV channel)

An Australian version of Boomerang was launched in March 2004 as part of the Foxtel Digital launch, with a lineup very similar to that of the UK version, although using the American logo. It started previously as a 4-hour block of those TV shows when CN introduced 24 hour programming.

Other countries

Main articles: Boomerang (Latin American TV channel)

There is also ''Boomerang Latin America'' and ''Boomerang Brazil'', which began their broadcastings in July 2001. In April 3 2006, Boomerang Latin America / Brazil was relaunched as a general children's network, like Disney Channel and Viacom's Nickelodeon, also featuring live-action programming and movies, while retaining its classic cartoons in late night. In practice, the channel changed from a local version of Boomerang USA to a version of Pogo, Cartoon Network's sister network in India.
Since 2005, Boomerang is also available via digital cable and satellite in the Netherlands and Belgium.
Also since 2005, Boomerang is begin broadcasting in Poland via some Cable TV providers and two of three polish digital platform (Cyfrowy Polsat, N), as channel partially translate. That version of the channel is also available in other countries in Central and Eastern Europe. This version, however, doesn't air any shows owned by Warner Bros., and its schedule consists only of Turner-owned programs.
Since September 1 2005 Boomerang is available in Now TV in Hong Kong and also shown on Cable TV Hong Kong in spring 2006.
In late 2005, Turner Broadcasting made clear that they were considering launching several new channels in the Nordic region (to join their then-current channel Turner Classic Movies, Cartoon Network, and CNN International). One of the planned new channels was Boomerang, for which they applied for a broadcasting license in the Swedish DTT in the autumn 2005.
In March 2006, SkyCABLE started to show Boomerang in the Philippines, but only available in the Platinum Package.
In June 2006, Kabel Deutschland, Kabel BW and Unity Media started to show Boomerang on Pay-TV in Germany.
In the Middle East, North Africa, and the Levant territories broadcasting via satellite, from Showtime Arabia and Orbit Satellite television and Radio pay-TV networks.
In Singapore the channel is now available on StarHub CableTV.
In India, Boomerang appears as a 2 hr block on Cartoon Network Mon - Fri from 9:00pm to 11:00pm. It features such great hits like Popeye, T&J, Scooby and Johnny Bravo.
In October 2007, Teletoon Retro will feature many of the same programs in Canada. Teletoon, a Canadian channel, airs many of the Cartoon Network's programs as well.

See also

List of programs broadcast by Boomerang

Teletoon Retro

External links

★ Official Site

★ Boomerang Latin America

★ Schedule for Boomerang and other Turner Europe channels

★ Polish Boomerang Portal (coming soon in UK)

★ Boomerang Microsite