The Cartoon Network website has officially shut down. As of Friday, visitors to CartoonNetwork.com are greeted with a popup that encourages them to subscribe to Max, Warner Bros. Discovery’s primary streaming service. The message informs users that they can find episodes of their favorite Cartoon Network shows on Max, but a subscription is required. It also mentions that cable subscribers can still access content through the linear channel and associated apps.
Clicking through the popup takes users to the Cartoon Network channel on Max, where they are again prompted to sign up for the streaming service.
As of now, Cartoon Network seems to be the only Warner Bros. Discovery cable channel website that has been affected by this change. Other channels such as TNT, TBS, HGTV, Discovery, and Adult Swim remained functional on Friday morning.
A representative from Cartoon Network stated, “We are focusing on the Cartoon Network shows and social media where we find consumers are the most engaged and there is a meaningful potential for growth. While we have closed some digital products, fans can continue to interact with Cartoon Network via the Cartoon Network app and select TV provider apps on platforms including mobile and connected devices like Roku, Apple TV, and Amazon, as well as through social media platforms like YouTube, Instagram, and Facebook. Fans can also continue to watch the Cartoon Network channel, which airs 11 hours of their favorite shows from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily.”
The closing of the Cartoon Network website follows Warner Bros. Discovery’s announcement of a $9.1 billion impairment charge related to its networks division, which includes Cartoon Network and other channels. The company pointed to a declining advertising market as a contributing factor to this financial setback.
In a related move, Paramount made significant cuts to its own digital presence in June, shutting down the websites for Comedy Central, TV Land, and a few other cable channels. Both companies are implementing such changes primarily as a cost-saving measure.