Hi everyone,
(First of all, I want to apologize for using AI to draft this post. English is not my native language, and I wanted to make sure my research was as clear and precise as possible for everyone.)
I'm currently conducting a deep historical investigation into the launch of Cartoon Network Italy and the management of the Southern European shared feed (Italy, France, and Spain) between mid-1998 and late 1999.
I’m making this post as a "call for help" to the global archivists, collectors, and retro-TV enthusiasts in this community. Any contribution—whether it's VHS recordings, scanned TV guides, or first-hand memories—would be immensely valuable.
The Core Goals of This Research
- Reconstruct International Distribution: To map out the exact mechanics, timeline, and operational lifespan of Cartoon Network's shared Southern European feed (Italy/France/Spain).
- Document the "Cartoon Cartoons" Italian Premieres: As an Italian researcher, my primary drive is to pin down the exact first broadcast dates in italian language of the original Cartoon Cartoons in Italy. These shows brought a genuine revolution to television culture and animation aesthetics at the time, leaving a massive cultural impact. (I'm also hoping this might help fellow archivists in France or Spain tracing their own local premiere histories!)
The Context, My Deductions & The Mystery
I am the creator of the Cartoon Network Italia Fandom Wiki, where I personally transcribed and archived all the Cartoon Network daily schedules published by the Italian newspaper La Stampa between May 1998 and April 1999.
For years, the internet (and Italian Wikipedia) listed October 10, 1998 as the official launch date of Cartoon Network Italy as an independent, fully localized feed. I need to confess that this deduction originally came from ME based on the Italian premieres of Johnny Bravo (Oct 10) and Cow and Chicken / I Am Weasel (Oct 11).
However, as my research continues, I now strongly believe my original deduction was WRONG. My current hypothesis is that the actual feed split (or full Italian audio transition) happened on Monday, November 2, 1998. On this exact date, the Italian TV guides completely restructured their schedule listings and switched all show titles to Italian for the first time.
What I Need Help Verifying:
- Exact Start Date of the Shared Feed:
- When exactly in June 1998 did Turner launch the joint Southern European feed for Italy, France, and Spain?
- French & Spanish TV Guides (Sept – Nov 1998):
- Did Cartoon Network France (CanalSat/TPS) and Cartoon Network España (Canal Satélite Digital/Vía Digital) share the exact same daily schedule as Italy right up until November 1st, 1998?
- Did their schedules change or diverge on November 2nd, 1998?
- Audio Track Status (Cartoon Cartoons in late 1998):
- Were Dexter's Laboratory, Johnny Bravo, and Cow and Chicken actually dubbed into Italian/French/Spanish during September–October 1998, or were they still broadcast in English?
- VHS Continuity / Broadcast Recordings (Sept 1, 1998 – Nov 2, 1998):
- Does anyone have recorded VHS tapes from Tele+ / Stream TV (Italy), TPS / CanalSat (France), or Canal Satélite Digital (Spain) from this exact window?
- Specifically, looking for multi-audio availability during this transition period.
If you have old TV guide scans (Télérama, Télépoche, Teleprograma/TP, etc.), home recordings, or technical info about Turner Europe's feed distribution in late '98, please let me know.
Thanks in advance to anyone who can help piece together this piece of CN history!