Making MeTV Toons a Success: Lessons from Cartoon Network

A few weeks ago, Weigel Broadcasting Co., the owner of the MeTV channel, announced the launch of a new 24/7 animation channel called MeTV Toons. This channel will be dedicated to classic characters from Hanna-Barbera, Looney Tunes, and more, and is set to debut in June on regular TV. The decision to launch this channel was driven by the high ratings the company received after adding a Saturday Morning block featuring some of these classic cartoons. This move may sound familiar to those who grew up in the 90s during the era of Cartoon Network. Initially, Cartoon Network was dedicated to showing classic and newer cartoons 24/7, but over time, it shifted its focus. The network eventually created a new channel called Boomerang to showcase the classic cartoons, while the more modern cartoons took center stage on Cartoon Network. Eventually, newer cartoons began to dominate Boomerang and the channel would stop playing classic cartoons as well. Until now, the primary way to watch these old cartoons was through the Boomerang streaming service.

What can MeTV learn from Cartoon Network’s past mistakes? I've conducted research by watching old broadcasts of Cartoon Network, and I have identified five key points that MeTV should keep in mind as its cartoon channel grows.

• Don’t stop playing classic cartoons!
  

  1. Firstly, even though many channels like these are aimed at children, the animation is suitable for all ages, and a significant portion of the primary audience is likely to be older generations. These older generations want to revisit their childhood for a few minutes, so it's worth continuing to air these classic cartoons for them. Secondly, it is true that now and then, some older cartoons still resonate with both older and newer generations, who watch them together. A good example is Scooby-Doo; the character remains popular not only because the character is reinvented from time to time, but also because adults pass down their love for Scooby to their children. Thirdly, random exploration can also excite the younger generation. I remember being younger and watching Cartoon Network, which was a special treat for me because we didn't have cable. Every once in a while, I would come across a cartoon I had never seen before, and it would fascinate me. The same element of discovery still works today, even for the younger generation.

• Make the channel a community
  

  1. Cartoon Network's early success can be attributed to its focus on building a strong community. Through programming blocks like Cartoon Cartoon Fridays and Toonami, they actively engaged their audience by encouraging kids to submit pictures of their favorite shows, which would then be featured during commercial breaks. Additionally, they allowed the audience to vote on what they wanted to see on Cartoon Cartoon Fridays. This approach created a sense of belonging and loyalty among fans, similar to what MeTV is doing through its active presence on social media.

• Celebrate creators!
  

  1. In the early days of Cartoon Network, special programming blocks were dedicated to renowned figures in the animation industry such as Chuck Jones, Friz Freleng, and Tex Avery. These blocks introduced kids to the creators and demonstrated why they were important to animation. Rather than providing facts about the creators, the programming showcased their creations in action, effectively conveying their significance.

• Bring back a version of World Premiere Toons.
  

  1. I'm not sure if MeTV will have any original programming, given that their focus is on playing classic television. However, just in case they decide to, I want to mention my favorite part of classic Cartoon Network. It was a program originally called "What a Cartoon Show" but later became "World Premiere Toons." These shows showcased new cartoon ideas and concepts to see what would stick. Some of the new classics that came out of these programs include "The Powerpuff Girls," "Dexter's Laboratory," "Johnny Bravo," and more. It also gave creators a chance to showcase their work. With today's technology, it would be great if viewers could vote for their favorites and those cartoons would get the green light for a series. It's also interesting to go back and watch the cartoons that didn't make it.

• Do a version of Groovies!

  1. I enjoyed the original advertisements on Classic Cartoon Network, especially the ones that featured mashups of characters from different shows or short music videos called Groovies. These videos showcased various characters and sometimes featured original music and animation. One of my favorite Groovies featured a classic Hannah-Barbera character show called Jabberjaw. It was like Scooby-Doo but set in the future, underwater, and with a talking great white shark that sounded like Curly from the Three Stooges. If MeTV could create something similar and air it between ads, I would tune in.

If anyone working at MeTV is reading this, please remember: don't stop playing classic cartoons. Make the channel feel like a community, celebrate creators, bring back a version of World Premiere Cartoons, and create another version of Groovies. But I want to know what you think. What can MeTV do to make their 24/7 cartoon channel a success? Or what do you miss from classic Cartoon Network? Leave your comments below!