Cartoon Network (Australia and New Zealand)
| Company type | Subsidiary |
|---|---|
| Industry | Television broadcasting |
| Founded | October 3, 1995 |
| Headquarters | Australia |
Area served | Australia, New Zealand |
| Owner | Warner Bros. Discovery Asia-Pacific |
Cartoon Network Australia & New Zealand is a subscription-based television channel launched on 3 October 1995, serving as a regional version of the American Cartoon Network. It is owned by Warner Bros. Discovery Asia-Pacific and focuses mainly on animated content.
Originally, the channel was part of the Cartoon Network Asia lineup starting from 30 June 1995, before branching off to cater specifically to audiences in Australia and New Zealand on 3 October 1995.
History
In Australia, Cartoon Network debuted in 1995 as a shared channel with TNT during Foxtel’s cable television rollout. It broadcasted from 6:00 a.m. until 9:00 p.m., with Turner Classic Movies filling the remaining hours. Mid-1995 saw the channel added to Optus Vision under a carriage deal. On 1 July 1997, Cartoon Network Australia transitioned into a full-time, 24-hour channel, initially featuring classic Hanna-Barbera series such as Yogi Bear and The Flintstones. Its programming expanded in 1996 to include MGM cartoons like Tom and Jerry, alongside Warner Bros. titles such as Looney Tunes following Time Warner’s acquisition of Turner that same year. By mid-1997, original productions including Dexter's Laboratory and Space Ghost Coast to Coast premiered, coinciding with availability on Northgate Communications in Ballarat.
In April 2004, the channel became accessible on TransACT. Up until mid-2004, Cartoon Network shared the position of Australia’s leading family channel with Disney Channel. However, after phasing out older shows, it experienced a decline in viewers who shifted their attention to Boomerang, resulting in Cartoon Network trailing behind Disney Channel in audience ratings.
Adult Swim programming was reintroduced on The Comedy Channel in February 2008, showcasing series such as Robot Chicken. The channel adopted a widescreen broadcast format on 30 November 2010 to meet Foxtel’s technical standards.
On 7 February 2017, Cartoon Network Australia entered into an exclusive video-on-demand agreement with streaming platform Stan, enabling simultaneous premieres of shows like Adventure Time and The Powerpuff Girls alongside their television airings.
Both Cartoon Network and its sister channel Boomerang were removed from Fetch TV on 22 April 2021, becoming exclusive to Foxtel thereafter. Fetch responded with a public campaign emphasizing concerns over reduced content accessibility.
Ultimately, Cartoon Network and Boomerang ceased transmission in Australia on 13 May 2025 following their removal from Foxtel’s lineup. A representative from Warner Bros. Discovery confirmed that their programming is now available through the Max streaming service, which is included with Foxtel subscriptions.
Cartoonito
Cartoonito was introduced on 4 July 2022 and was promoted with a Cartoonito Play Zone event held at Federation Square between 7 and 9 July.
Adult Swim
Adult Swim catered to mature viewers aged 17 and over, featuring anime and comedy segments during weeknights and weekends. Prior to its discontinuation, shows such as Squidbillies aired accompanied by content warnings.
This block was discontinued from the Australian feed for strategic purposes but continues airing on The Comedy Channel, where programs like Harvey Birdman, Aqua Teen Hunger Force, Robot Chicken, and Moral Orel remain part of the lineup. Former Adult Swim anime titles are now broadcast within the Sci Fi Channel’s anime segment.
Since 2007, Madman Entertainment has distributed Adult Swim DVD releases in region 4, including titles like Aqua Teen, Harvey Birdman, and Robot Chicken, with new releases continuing regularly.
Toonami
Operating from July 2001 until August 2006, Toonami served as an action animation programming block, predominantly showcasing anime alongside American animated series such as Batman Beyond.
Boomerang
Initially introduced as a Cartoon Network programming segment in 1995, Boomerang concentrated on classic Hanna-Barbera cartoons before evolving into an independent channel on 14 March 2004.
The block debuted in April 2001 with a morning slot from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm and later added a brief evening segment in August 2001. Each week, the lineup rotated to highlight less mainstream Hanna-Barbera productions. The bumpers featured animated toy characters targeted at children, reflecting the branding style used by the US Boomerang channel.
Evening broadcasts concluded in March 2002, and morning shows ended by September 2004; however, late-night Boomerang segments persisted until early 2005, aligning with the network’s rebranding efforts. By late 2012, the channel adopted the visual presentation style of the UK feed.