Website Closure and Transition to Max- Cartoon Network
Warner Bros. Discovery has taken the entire contents of the Cartoon Network website offline, redirecting visitors to Max, its subscription-based streaming service. The site shutdown happened on Thursday, August 8, with a new landing page encouraging fans to subscribe to Max to access their favorite Cartoon Network shows.
The message on the Max landing page reads:
“Looking for episodes of your favorite Cartoon Network shows? Check out what’s available to stream on Max (subscription required). Sign up for Max, where you can also create a Kids Profile with ratings restrictions and additional privacy protections to keep it fun and kid-friendly! Cable subscribers, continue to enjoy your favorite CN programming on your TV and connected apps as well!”
Strategic Focus Shift
According to a spokesperson for Cartoon Network, the decision to shutter the website aligns with a strategy to focus on areas where consumer engagement and growth potential are most significant, namely the Cartoon Network shows and social media. The network will continue to provide 11 hours of programming on linear TV from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily.
Previously, the Cartoon Network website offered full episodes, video clips, and games for popular shows such as Adventure Time, Craig of the Creek, The Amazing World of Gumball, Teen Titans GO!, Steven Universe, We Bare Bears, and Clarence.
Broader Cost-Cutting and Consolidation Strategy
The closure of cartoonnetwork.com is part of Warner Bros. Discovery’s broader cost-cutting and consolidation strategy, which aims to encourage fans to subscribe to Max. This move follows the announcement that the Boomerang classic cartoon streaming service will also be sunsetted by September 30, with content migrating to Max.
Paramount Global made similar moves earlier this summer, removing substantial content from Comedy Central’s site and pulling archives of MTV News and CMT from the internet.
Financial Context and Company Performance
Warner Bros. Discovery’s decision comes amid financial challenges. In Q2, the company reported revenue of $9.71 billion, a decrease of 6%, and a net loss of nearly $10 billion, largely due to a $9.1 billion write-down related to its cable TV networks. Streaming service subscriptions, led by Max, fell slightly domestically by about 300,000 to 52.4 million, while international streaming customers increased by 3.9 million to 50.8 million.
