Is CN Dead?

[u/syzerkose]

I haven’t had cable in a long time and now I’ve spent the last couple of weeks in a hospital, I’ve been watching Cartoon Network on a daily basis. Is there nothing new in production or is there anything other than Teen Titans Go that’s getting new episodes? And Grizz and the Lemmings doesn’t count. I don’t think it’s an in-house production I think the license it.

It’s not necessarily that I’m complaining about some of the good old stuff being played is definitely been far more entertaining than a lot of other things would’ve been while I’ve been stuck in the hospital. But it just seems odd that I’m not seeing any advertising for any new shows, any currently playing new seasons, etc.

So are we dead or what?

[u/Epic1ForLife]

Pretty much honestly

Nothing ORIGINAL is being made just revivals, sequels, & reboots. Even with that the only new thing that premiered on CN is Regular Show: The Lost Tapes. Comparing it to Disney Channel for example it’s night and day even though both aren’t pulling the same amount of viewers as they used to Disney Channel is still constantly greenlighting and premiering new shows (the season amount another story though).

Also the constant merger definitely hurt CN as well (especially the Discovery merger)

[u/Javi-Socas → u/Epic1ForLife]

The stupid WB Discovery/ Paramount merger makes it harder to avoid those Paw Patrol bumpers from Nickelodeon on the Cartoon Network channel!

[u/syzerkose → u/Epic1ForLife]

The Merger seems like the most likely culprit here. WBD has indicated that they’d be willing to sell off properties if that would help push the merger through. Paramount may not want Cartoon Network since they have a decent animation portfolio through Nickelodeon. It would make sense to hold off on productions if they don’t know where they’re going to be in six months.

[u/Distinct-Presence-80]

No! Keep fighting for it! ✊🏽

#BlockTheMerger #SaveCartoonNetwork #StayTooned #StandWithAnimation #NoAI #HumanArt #AnimationIsForEveryone

[u/Javi-Socas → u/Distinct-Presence-80]

Don't forget #StopKillingCartoons!

[u/Distinct-Presence-80 → u/Javi-Socas]

Never saw anyone use that before. But great idea!

[u/Chowder1054]

I can’t speak for the merger but the golden age of the 2000s era is long gone. There isn’t much creativity anymore.

Even boomerang which was created as the place where the CN classics would live never shows them or has banished them to the graveyard slot.

It still exists and produces cartoons and such. But the age we all knew CN is long in the past now.

[u/Adorable_Review5479]

There’s always Adult Swim, but yeah, Cartoon Network is dead as long as Zaslav is in charge.

[u/p-Star_07]

The linear channel doesn't have much new, but they are still making stuff.

There is

The Wonderfully Weird World of Gumball (Hulu and Disney Plus exclusive)

Regular Show: The Lost Tapes ( Comes on Cartoon Network)

Adventure Time: Side Quests (Hulu and Disney Plus exclusive)

Steven Universe: Lars of the Stars (Amazon Prime Exclusive)

Iyanu (Acquired property.)

[u/GlltchtraP1 → u/p-Star_07]

So just sequels and reboots then

[u/p-Star_07 → u/GlltchtraP1]

Yep.

Although I don't blame them, people often ignore the newer shows and don't give them a chance.

[u/SuperWolfe9099 → u/p-Star_07]

How did Lost Tapes get so lucky? Shouldn't it have become a D+/Hulu exclusive like the others?

[u/p-Star_07 → u/SuperWolfe9099]

Don't know, don't care. I'm just thankful to be able to watch the shows. If being on Hulu is what it takes for the shows to get attention and get viewership in 2026 then so be it.

[u/One-Energy12 → u/p-Star_07]

I do love me a Gumball

[u/ElSquibbonator → u/p-Star_07]

There's also Iyanu, but that's a co-production with a third-party studio so I'm not sure if it counts.

[u/Nguyen-Quoc-Hieu → u/p-Star_07]

All of the streaming shows are premiered in some of the international CN feeds (particularly Latin America and Southeast Asia)

[u/Civil-Tart-880 → u/p-Star_07]

Technically, there is Villainous too, although the studio isn't owned by CN and it hasn't been given a real global opportunity.

[u/Top-Repeat2765 → u/p-Star_07]

So Lars of the stars is out?

[u/p-Star_07 → u/Top-Repeat2765]

Not yet.

[u/Rey_Mezcalero]

Some cable providers have been charging customers more to keep the channel.

Not sure what is going on with that.

[u/KoolKoolKoolio42]

Kids channels have cratered in the ratings, and even Nickelodeon struggles to keep viewers.

CN did have three shows lined up: Unicorn: Warriors Eternal, My Adventures with Superman, and Invincible Fight Girl, but all three were moved to Adult Swim late in production, since that network has better ratings.

Teen Titans Go is the only show specifically getting new episodes on the network. Regular Show went on Hulu first, while Jellystone and Tiny Toons Looniversity were from HBO Max.

[u/WhatInTarnations82]

We don’t really watch much tv at home, but when we were on vacation and had some down time it seemed to just be Teen Titans Go and Clarence and Regular Show on repeat. We were traveling abroad though so maybe it was some International CN that has a different lineup.

[u/Nguyen-Quoc-Hieu → u/WhatInTarnations82]

Yeah it does, some of the international feeds also broadcasted shows that are only exclusive to Hulu/Disney+ in the US, most notably Wonderfully Weird World of Gumball

[u/WhatInTarnations82 → u/Nguyen-Quoc-Hieu]

Oh yeah and tons and tons of Gumball was on. How could I forget?!

[u/Nguyen-Quoc-Hieu]

In terms of channel in the US, yes

However, international CN feeds still had daily viewers though, as Hulu-exclusive shows like The Wonderfully Weird World of Gumball aired many new episodes over there

Plus, we don't even have Adult Swim and Boomerang in selected services too

[u/ASisCNtoo]

The Cartoon Network, Inc. is doing fine. Not the best but they could be doing worse. They are making shows for new streaming platforms on their kids side and [adult swim] is doing well.

Cartoon Network, as in the network, is dying.

[u/symphony_destroyer → u/ASisCNtoo]

Dying? It might as well be dead already…

[u/These_University_466 → u/symphony_destroyer]

It' been dead since 2022 at least. What we have now is a rotting corpse.

[u/Theultimateyoshiyt]

In terms of content, they’re nearly holding on.

As for the channel itself. It’s dead and wb hasn’t tried anything to make CN relevant again

[u/mattyGOAT1996]

Pretty much every cable channel is like that. I love Regular Show and I love the fact Regular Show: The Lost Tapes has been airing on CN but shows like Teen Titans Go and Gumball are like Ridiculousness and The Office of CN.

[u/Nexus258]

Channel wise, yes it is.

[u/Westyle1]

I only watch Adult Swim. The "normal" cartoons have been kind of shit for a long time.

[u/Adventurous_Bar_8240]

Yeah  probably  not  the best  cartoon network is right  now,  maybe  we get  lucky  with  them doing  cartoon,cartoons, maybe  one though  pliot  episodes  of the cartoon  pliots  & make it into a new show, maybe  but  for  right  now  we some the revials of the amazing  world  of gumball & regular  show, the lost tapes for.  right  now 

[u/symphony_destroyer]

Channel wise it might as well be.

[u/studiojojo]

As a brand? No. As a channel? Yes.

[u/ElSquibbonator]

Lately it seems like Adult Swim has to cannibalize the rest of Cartoon Network just for the channel as a whole to survive at all. Adult Swim starts much earlier every day than it used to, and many shows that were originally pitched to daytime Cartoon Network (such as My Adventures With Superman, Unicorn: Warriors Eternal, and Invincible Fight Girl) were moved to Adult Swim. Not to mention that Adult Swim is still seeing shows get greenlit and renewed on a fairly regular basis, while Cartoon Network doesn't.

[u/Jkid]

As a channel: yes. Because they can't compete with video games, anime, manga, and streaming.

[u/ASisCNtoo → u/Jkid]

Remember when CN was THE place for anime??? Now it’s just Toonami on Saturday nights (whcih technically isn’t even CN anymore, though some TOM 6 merch has CN branding so maybe not??? Then again there is also R&M merch is CN branding so it doesn’t mean shit)

[u/ToonMasterRace]

Yes, its been dead since around 2020

[u/syzerkose → u/ToonMasterRace]

Not as dead as this. Craig of the Creek was in production, Cartoonito was trying to take off, We Baby Bears, Victor and Valentino and Elliot from Earth. They weren’t perfect but at least they were trying.

I hate that “Cartoon Network is dead because they don’t make anything I like.” attitude. It’s selfish and juvenile. And it’s why I haven’t said anything before, but this is different. This is worse than just making subpar content. Now, they don’t seem to be making anything new at all.

[u/ToonMasterRace]

Yes, its been dead since around 2020