The Cartoon Network website was officially shut down on August 8 after 26 years online.
According to Variety, the site, launched in 1998, previously featured a video-heavy homepage with popular shows such as ‘Teen Titans Go!’, ‘The Powerpuff Girls’, ‘Adventure Time’, and ‘Steven Universe’. Users attempting to access the Cartoon Network website are now redirected to Max, a Warner Bros. Discovery streaming platform.
A welcoming pop-up on Max advises visitors, “Looking for episodes of your favourite Cartoon Network shows? Check out what’s available to stream on Max (subscription required).” The message also guides cable subscribers to continue enjoying Cartoon Network programming through their televisions and connected apps. It promotes Max’s features, like the Kids Profile, which offers rating restrictions and privacy protections.
A Cartoon Network spokesperson stated, “We are focusing on the Cartoon Network shows and social media where we find consumers are the most engaged, and there is a meaningful potential for growth.” Despite the website’s closure, the network will continue to provide 11 hours of television content daily, from 6 am to 5 pm.
The discontinuation of CartoonNetwork.com reflects the broader trends in the streaming industry and appears to be a strategic move to direct viewers towards the Max platform. This shift follows Paramount Global’s similar actions earlier in June with the websites for Comedy Central, MTV News, and CMT and the cancellation of the preschool-focused channel Noggin in February.
While the closure caused a stir rumours of the entire network shutting down sparked by a video from “Animation Workers Ignited” on X (formerly Twitter) suggesting that the channel was “dead,” officials clarified that Cartoon Network was not ceasing operations but merely adapting to the changing media landscape with new programming and spin-offs in development.
