Cartoonito (British and Irish TV channel)

This article is about the original British television channel. For the brand as a whole, see Cartoonito.

Cartoonito
Logo used since 2022
CountryUnited Kingdom
Broadcast areaUnited Kingdom
Ireland
Malta
NetworkCartoon Network Too
(2006–2007)
Cartoon Network
(2022–present)
HeadquartersLondon, England, United Kingdom
Programming
Language(s)English
Picture format1080i HDTV
(downscaled to 576i for the SD feed)
Ownership
OwnerWarner Bros. Discovery EMEA
Sister channelsCartoon Network
Boomerang
CNN International
History
LaunchedBlock
4 September 2006 (original)
1 March 2022 (relaunch)
Channel
24 May 2007
ReplacedCartoon Network Too
(original version)
ClosedBlock
23 May 2007 (original)
Links
Websitewww.cartoonito.co.uk
Availability
Terrestrial
See separate section

Cartoonito is a British pay television channel which targets children between the ages of 3 and 6.[1] It is run by Warner Bros. Discovery under its International division. Unlike Cartoon Network and Boomerang, Cartoonito doesn't have a +1 timeshift in the UK.[2] The channel is available in high definition on Sky Stream and Virgin Media. [3]

History

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Launch as a strand on Cartoon Network Too (2006–2007)

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Former logo with purple eyes, used from 2006 to 2018

On 14 August 2006, Turner Broadcasting System Europe announced they would launch a new pre-school-oriented strand for Cartoon Network Too known as Cartoonito, which would launch on 4 September, running from 6:00AM to 3:00PM.[4]

Relaunch as a full channel (2007–2017)

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Former logo with black eyes, used from 2018 to 2022

On 2 May 2007, Turner announced that they would expand Cartoonito to a full-time network on 24 May 2007. This allowed Cartoon Network Too to merge and replace Toonami, allowing the full Cartoonito channel to launch in the ex-Cartoon Network Too slot.[5]

On 24 May 2007, at 3:00 AM, Cartoonito launched as a standalone channel on Sky channel 619, just after the old version of Cartoon Network Too closed at 7 PM the previous day. The channel was broadcast from 3:00AM until 7:00PM and originally timeshared with Turner Classic Movies 2 (later became Turner Classic Movies +1 after 13 August 2013).[6]

On 28 August 2009, it was announced that a Cartoonito block would air on Boomerang from 9:00am-10:30am on school-term weekdays beginning in September. The block aimed to introduce the Cartoonito brand to viewers who had never seen the programmes the channel offered.[7]

On 1 March 2010, it was announced that Cartoonito would be added to Virgin Media by April, and wad added as such on 25 March.[8] For the launch, the channel's broadcast hours was changed by one hour, from 3:00AM until 7:00PM to 4:00AM until 8:00PM.

On 26 October 2013, Cartoonito was launched on BT TV, and Cartoonito launched on Plusnet in May 2015. On 15 December 2016, Cartoonito was added to TalkTalk.[9]

Introduction of 24 hour broadcasting and 2018 UK rebrand (2017–2022)

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Cartoonito shifted its aspect ratio to 16:9 widescreen on 1 November 2017. The channel moved to a full 24 hour schedule on 15 January 2018.[10] On 2 March 2018, the channel was announced for a rebrand with an updated website. The logo remained the same, with the only difference being that the eyes were changed from purple to black.[11]

2022 UK rebrand and strand relaunch on Cartoon Network (2022–present)

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On 1 February 2022, the channel rebranded with the new 2021 logo and bumpers.[12] Following the rebrand, a Cartoonito strand launched on its sister channel Cartoon Network, airing weekdays from 9:00AM until 10:00AM (was briefly extend to end at 11:00AM from Spring until the Summer of 2022).[13]

On 1 October 2023, the channel transitioned to utilising the same style of promos as Discovery's free-to-air channels, although it remains a pay network.

On 27 September 2024, an HD simulcast of the channel launched on Virgin Media alongside Boomerang HD, replacing the SD feed on the service.[14]

Availability

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Cable

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Online

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Satellite

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  • Sky: Channel 610

Terrestrial

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  • BT UK: Channel 471

Programming

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Main article: List of programmes broadcast by Cartoonito (UK & Ireland)

See also

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References

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  1. ^ DeMott, Rick (21 April 2011). "Turner Broadcasting To Launch Cartoonito Across EMEA". Archived from the original on 8 August 2019. Retrieved 17 November 2019.
  2. ^ "TV Guide". Sky. Retrieved 16 July 2023.
  3. ^ "Virgin Media upgrades two children's channels to HD: Virgin Media's cable TV customers can now access children's channels Boomerang and Cartoonito in HD". RXTV. Retrieved 28 September 2024.
  4. ^ "Cartoon Network Too unveils preschool block - UK Broadcast News | 14/08/2006".
  5. ^ "Turner Promotes Preschool Programming with Channel Changes in U.K."
  6. ^ TCM 2 final closedown (RECREATION) - 13th August 2013, retrieved 15 July 2023
  7. ^ "C21 Media, 28 Aug 2009 Channel profile - Boomerang".
  8. ^ "Virgin Media Expands Kids' Line-up with Cartoonito". Virgin Media. 1 March 2010.[permanent dead link]
  9. ^ "Cartoonito UK Now Available On TalkTalk TV". Regular Capital. Retrieved 19 April 2018.
  10. ^ RegularCapital. "Cartoonito UK Now Available 24 Hours A Day". Archived from the original on 26 January 2018. Retrieved 26 January 2018.
  11. ^ RegularCapital (5 March 2018). "Cartoonito UK Rebranded 2nd March 2018". RegularCapital. Retrieved 25 December 2021.
  12. ^ "WarnerMediaKidsUKFebruary2022Highlights.pdf". Google Docs. Retrieved 21 December 2021.
  13. ^ "WarnerMediaKidsUKMarch2022Highlights.pdf". Google Docs. Retrieved 26 January 2022.
  14. ^ "Virgin Media upgrades two children's channels to HD: Virgin Media's cable TV customers can now access children's channels Boomerang and Cartoonito in HD". RXTV. Retrieved 28 September 2024.
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