Our Childhood's Core Is Disappearing? Warner Bros. Discovery Shuts Down Cartoon Network Website

If you visit Cartoon Network's website now, then you will most probably be shown a message that directs you to stream your favourite cartoon shows' episodes on Max.

Cartoon Network used to be a core part of the lives of millenial kids. The cartoon shows that we used to watch as kids were the OG (Original Gangsters), be it Dexter's Laboratory, The Scooby-Doo Show, Johnny Bravo, Pokemon, or even Beyblade, those shows are the ones that we cherish till date. Do you feel like rewatching those shows or getting any details about them that you might've forgotten? We used to have a Cartoon Network website, but Warner Bros. Discovery has shut down the website and directed users to its Max streaming services, where you can watch those animated series.

If you visit CartoonNetwork.com now, then you might see a message that directs you to stream episodes on Max (it requires a subscription, though). What this has basically done is remove free access to episodes and clips of many shows. The interactive games related to many animated shows are also no longer available now.

According to a report by Variety, a Cartoon Network spokesperson said that the company is shifting focus to its shows and social media because it believes that greater consumer engagement and potential for growth lie ahead in those areas only. Earlier in 2022, Warner Bros. Discovery announced a merger of Warner Bros. Animation and Cartoon Network Studios. The closure of the website has reduced the Cartoon Network brand's presence.

Can Viewers Still Watch Cartoon Network Content?

Although the website has been shut down, viewers can still access Cartoon Network content through various platforms, including the Max streaming service (with a subscription), the Cartoon Network app, TV provider apps available on Roku, Apple TV, and Amazon, as well as through cable TV where the Cartoon Network channel continues to broadcast its shows. This closure comes on the heels of Warner Bros. Discovery's recent announcement to discontinue its Boomerang streaming service as of September 30.

Boomerang subscribers and its content will be transitioned to Max as well. These moves are part of a larger cost-reduction strategy by Warner Bros. Discovery, which recently disclosed a net loss of $9.7 billion and laid off nearly 1,000 employees in an effort to enhance its financial standing.

Moreover, Warner Bros. Discovery removed classic Warner Bros. cartoons from the Max platform, including hundreds of Looney Tunes episodes and nearly 80 episodes of "The Flintstones" at the end of 2022. While initial reports indicated that these shows were leaving the service, the company later clarified that their removal was unintentional.