Cartoon Network website goes dark amid Warner Bros. Discovery cost-cutting moves
Cash-bleeding media giant Warner Bros. Discovery pulled the plug on Cartoon Network’s website.
The David Zaslav-led company — which on Wednesday reported a whopping net loss of almost $10 billion, driven by a stunning $9.1 billion write-down for a drop in value of its cable TV networks — redirected visitors to cartoonnetwork.com to a landing page on Max, its streaming service.
“Looking for episodes of your favorite Cartoon Network shows? Check out what’s available to stream on Max (subscription required),” a pop-up message says on the new Max landing page.
WBD — which owns movie studio Warner Bros., Food Network, HBO and CNN — disabled cartoonnetwork.com on Thursday, Variety reported.
A spokeswoman for the Cartoon Network declined to comment on the specific closure date or if there were any layoffs, but she did confirm the website was shuttered.
“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,” the spokeswoman said.
“While we have closed some digital products, fans can continue to interact with Cartoon Network via the Cartoon Network app as well as select TV providers apps on platforms including mobile and connected devices like Roku, Apple TV, and Amazon and via social platforms YouTube, Instagram and Facebook,” the rep added. “And of course, fans also can continue to tune in to the Cartoon Network channel to enjoy 11 hours of their favorite Cartoon Network series from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily.”
Prior to shutting down, the Cartoon Network site had offered full episodes and video clips for its roster of shows, including “Adventure Time,” “Craig of the Creek,” “The Amazing World of Gumball,” “Teen Titans GO!,” “Steven Universe,” “We Bare Bears” and “Clarence.”
The website also offered access to free games, including games for “Teen Titans GO!,” “Adventure Time” and “Gumball,” Variety said.
The closure of cartoonnetwork.com comes a week after the media titan told subscribers it will shut down the Boomerang classic ‘toon streamer effective Sept. 30 — and move customers, and the content catalog, over to Max.
The recent moves are part of a cost-cutting initiative at Warner Bros. Discovery.
The struggling company reported a 6% dip in second-quarter revenue of $9.71 billion.
Last month, WBD slashed nearly 1,000 jobs as analysts called for Zaslav to explore strategic options.
