Cartoon Network is Toast, I'm Afraid.
Cartoon Network’s decline in 2025 marks a fading legacy, with the channel shrinking amid streaming shifts and Comcast’s latest move.
The TL;DR...
Current Struggle: Down to 66 million U.S. households, with reduced hours and content scattered across Hulu, Netflix, and Max.
Rich History: Launched in 1992, it shaped kids’ TV with classics like The Powerpuff Girls and Adventure Time.
Decline Timeline: Hit by viewership drops, studio closures, and content purges since the 2010s.
Comcast Move: Dropped from core TV packages on August 12, 2025, now a $9.95 add-on.
Legacy Lost: The iconic brand is overshadowed by cost-cutting and a streaming focus.
Cartoon Network, as we’ve known it, is basically toast.
If you grew up with Cartoon Network (CN) as your animated escape—marathoning Dexter’s Laboratory after school or losing hours to Adventure Time’s quirky worlds—it’s tough to watch it fade into the background. The network that turned Saturday mornings into a cultural event and birthed a generation of creators is now a shadow of its former self, squeezed by streaming giants and corporate decisions under Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD).
While Cartoon Network Studios still churns out shows and international branches hang on, the 24/7 cable vibe, those unforgettable bumpers, and the creative spark that defined it are slipping away. Let’s walk through its current state, revisit its golden days, and trace the steps to this bittersweet moment.
This piece pulls from the latest industry scoop, fan chatter on X, and a bit of nostalgia to paint the full picture. Grab a snack, maybe some of those old CN-themed snacks we used to love, and let’s dive into why the network we adored might be toast.
What’s Happening with Cartoon Network Right Now?
As of July 2025, Cartoon Network is fighting to stay relevant on the small screen. Its viewership has shrunk to 66 million U.S. households, a steep drop from the 100 million peak a decade ago, as cord-cutting took hold. The website, once a digital playground with free episodes and Flash games, shut down last year, redirecting to Max, leaving fans nostalgic for its heyday.
Comcast’s latest move, pulling CN from core TV packages effective August 12, 2025, and tucking it into a $9.95 More Sports & Entertainment add-on tier, feels like a nail in the coffin for cable fans. Programming hours are often slashed to 6 a.m.–5 p.m. in many U.S. markets, though schedules vary by region and occasionally stretch with Adult Swim crossovers, relying heavily on Teen Titans Go! reruns that dominate the airwaves.
Content feels like a jigsaw puzzle, scattered across platforms. The Amazing World of Gumball revival streams on Hulu, accessible via a Disney+ add-on, while Steven Universe found a home on Hulu and Netflix, yet Max still holds onto Teen Titans Go! and Fionna and Cake.
The kid audience shift is stark—only 13% of 10- to 12-year-olds tune into Max compared to 72% on Netflix, pushing CN to adapt or fade. Cartoon Network Studios, merged with Warner Bros. Animation a few years back, keeps the lights on with Gumball for Hulu and Fionna and Cake for Max, but its independent spirit is a thing of the past.
Overseas, Hanna-Barbera Studios Europe carries the torch, with sites like cartoonnetworkhq.com active in some regions, but it lacks the unified magic CN once had. Fans on X lament, with posts like “CN’s just a ghost now,” capturing the mood.
How Did Cartoon Network Become a Household Name?
Cartoon Network burst onto the scene on October 1, 1992, a brainchild of Ted Turner and first president Betty Cohen, who transformed Hanna-Barbera’s vast library—think The Flintstones, Scooby-Doo, Tom and Jerry—into a 24-hour animation haven.
Turner’s earlier MGM acquisition brought Looney Tunes into the mix, giving CN a rich starting point. In 1994, Cartoon Network Studios was born as a division of Hanna-Barbera, launching What a Cartoon! in 1995, a bold experiment that birthed Dexter’s Laboratory, Johnny Bravo, and The Powerpuff Girls. These shows didn’t just entertain—they inspired a wave of animators and fans alike.
The 2000s were CN’s golden era, with Samurai Jack’s stunning visuals, Foster’s Home for Imaginary Friends’ heartfelt chaos, and Ben 10’s alien adventures leading the charge. Toonami brought anime like Dragon Ball Z to a new audience, while Adult Swim carved out a late-night haven for older viewers.
The Burbank studio, revamped from a former bakery for $1.2 million in 2000, became a creative hub where talents like Genndy Tartakovsky and Craig McCracken crafted masterpieces. The website, launched in the late 1990s, offered free episodes, clips, and addictive Flash games, making it a digital playground until its closure last year. It was a cultural touchstone, and its loss stings.
When Did Cartoon Network Start to Fade?
Early 2000s–2011: The Peak Years
CN hit its stride, reaching 100 million U.S. households by 2011, fueled by Adventure Time’s whimsical tales, Regular Show’s offbeat humor, and The Amazing World of Gumball’s wild creativity. It was a time when CN defined Saturday mornings.2008–2014: Programming Shifts
Stuart Snyder’s tenure as president shifted focus to live-action and reality shows, alienating fans. This led to the cancellation of beloved series like Chowder and The Marvelous Misadventures of Flapjack, though Toonami’s 2008 cancellation and 2012 revival showed fan power. It was a rocky transition that hinted at tougher times ahead.2010s: Streaming Takes Over
The cord-cutting trend hit hard, dropping viewership to 66 million households in recent years. Ad revenue plummeted as kids migrated to Netflix and YouTube, leaving CN scrambling to keep up. The rise of streaming platforms began to overshadow its cable dominance.2020–2022: WBD Merger and Cuts
HBO Max launched in 2020, rebranded as Max in 2023, but struggled to hook kids, with only 13% of 10- to 12-year-olds watching compared to 72% on Netflix. The 2022 WBD merger slowed original content, and a major purge of 36 titles, including Infinity Train, was a gut punch to fans.July 2023: Burbank Closure
The Burbank studio closed in July 2023, moving to Warner Bros.’ Second Century Development. Creator Craig McCracken shared a tearful goodbye on social media, marking the end of an era and a blow to its creative heart.August 2024: Website Shutdown
CartoonNetwork.com shut down on August 8, 2024, redirecting to Max, while Boomerang followed on September 30, 2024, leaving fans with fewer touchpoints and a sense of loss.2024–Early 2025: Content Purges
Max shed shows like Ben 10 and Regular Show in 2024, scattering them to Hulu and Netflix, with more cuts in early 2025—exact dates are fuzzy but the trend’s clear. Teen Titans Go!’s eighth season hangs on, a rare holdout amidst the chaos.July 2025: Comcast’s Move
CN’s exit from core packages on August 12, 2025, into a $9.95 add-on reflects the cord-cutting surge, with kids favoring YouTube—global trends suggest high usage, like 75% among parents in India—and streaming platforms.
Why Is Comcast Pulling the Plug on Cartoon Network?
Comcast’s decision to move Cartoon Network to a $9.95 add-on tier on August 12, 2025, after an earlier shift to the Ultimate tier, limits access and mirrors the cord-cutting wave. Kids are ditching cable for YouTube—global data hints at 75% preference among parents in India—and streaming platforms dominate with their on-demand allure.
CN’s slim 6 a.m.–5 p.m. schedule, packed with Teen Titans Go! reruns, doesn’t entice cable holdouts who remember the variety of old CN lineups. Social media chatter, with posts like “the slow death of CN,” captures the growing frustration among fans who cherished its glory days and now see it slipping away.
What’s Left of Cartoon Network Studios and Overseas?
Cartoon Network Studios, now under Sam Register at Warner Bros. Animation, keeps the creative engine running with Fionna and Cake for Max and the Craig of the Creek movie, mostly targeting streaming or Adult Swim. The Burbank closure in July 2023 ended its independent run, relocating to Warner Bros.’ Second Century Development, a move that dimmed its unique spark.
Overseas, Hanna-Barbera Studios Europe pushes forward, producing new content, with cartoonnetworkhq.com active in regions without Max, but it’s a fragmented shadow of CN’s once-unified global presence, struggling to recapture its former magic.
Is the Cartoon Network We Loved Really Gone?
The Cartoon Network that filled our childhoods with original tales and bold animation feels like a distant memory. The website vanished on August 8, 2024, the Burbank studio shut in July 2023, and Max’s purges have scattered its soul to Hulu and Netflix. Comcast’s add-on move on August 12, 2025, and the shift of the Gumball revival to Hulu show a focus on profit over legacy, leaving fans to mourn what once was.
Fans on social media, rallying with #RIPCartoonNetwork, echo the loss—CN’s golden days are toast, and it’s a tough pill to swallow for those of us who grew up with its vibrant spirit.
Reported, Compiled and Edited by Ivy Adams for Pirates & Princesses. Catch the Pirates & Princesses Podcast on Spotify and other platforms. Subscribe for the latest on Disney, animation, travel, entertainment, and more!
Sources:
Cartoon Brew: “Comcast Drops Cartoon Network From Core TV Packages,” July 29, 2025
Cord Cutters News: “Comcast Will Remove Cartoon Network from Its Core TV Packages,” July 26, 2025
Variety: “Cartoon Network Website Shuts Down, Warner Bros. Discovery Kicks Visitors Over to Max,” August 9, 2024
Reddit: r/CartoonNetwork, “Warner Bros. Discovery to shut down Boomerang streaming app,” August 1, 2024
Wikipedia: “Cartoon Network,” April 12, 2025
The Hollywood Reporter: “Cartoon Network Website Shut Down by Warner Bros. Discovery,” August 9, 2024
Animation Magazine: “Cartoon Network Studios Burbank Closure,” July 2023
Statista: “Cartoon Network Household Reach,” November 2023
Nielsen Media Research: “Kids’ Streaming Preferences,” 2024
Warner Bros. Discovery: “Investor Reports on Ad Revenue Decline,” 2024
The Guardian: “Traditional TV is Dying: Can Networks Pivot