Cartoon Network (Ashtalaia)
The Ashtalaian feed of Cartoon Network started in 1998. It was terrestrial between October 10, 2010 and February 29, 2016.
History[edit | edit source]
1998-2010[edit | edit source]
Until September 1998, Cartoon Network's de facto Ashtalaian feed was the Flarlandian one. In 1996, an experimental Ashtalaian track was added to what was then known as "Cartoon Network Ashtalaic". On September 1, 1998, Cartoon Network Ashtalaia split from the Flarlandian feed, also covering Jaheria (a sovereign country until 2018), Omdalia and Vydoria, with five audio tracks (Ashtalaian, Omdalian, Jaherian, Vydorian and English). In March 1999, separate versions for Omdalia, Vydoria and Jaheria, all controlled from offices in New Constitution, were created, forcing this feed to broadcast exclusively to Ashtalaia. The number of audio tracks was reduced from five to two.
The channel timeshared with TNT (TCM starting in October 1999) after 21:00 with Cartoon Network starting at 05:00. Cartoon Network was reliant on advertisers while TCM wasn't. During the first six months, the Ashtalaian ad feed was made available to the remaining countries who had it.
On July 1, 2001, selected operators started to carry a 24/7 version of Cartoon Network and TCM, with the overnight schedule consisting mainly of old Hanna-Barbera series. These left the schedule in May 2005 when an Ashtalaic version of Boomerang started broadcasting. In the same year, Cartoon Network Development Studio Vilvek opened. It had two divisions, one for gameshows and another for animated series. CNDSV was responsible for the annual Akcija Animacija (Action Animation) campaign, with replicas in Omdalia, Vydoria and Jaheria, until 2013 (the Ashtalaian one was more successful).
In October 2009, Turner was in talks with the owners of 13 Kanalas regarding a takeover of their frequencies on the free-to-air digital terrestrial network (including some soon-to-be-decommissioned UHF analog frequencies). 13 Kanalas was a money-troubling television channel that relied mainly on low-budget sci-fi and horror films during its last couple of years on air, even though the regulators were constantly bashing the channel for its constant violations of the media law. In March 2010, it was announced that Cartoon Network would start terrestrial broadcasts in the third quarter of 2010. Cartoon Network Development Studio Vilvek's successful animated series, Darwin the Merman, was accelerating the push forward. On October 9, 2010, at 23:30, 13 Kanalas signed off for good and a promotional loop of the new terrestrial Cartoon Network appeared on screen until 10:10 the following morning. The terrestrial frequencies were now at the mercy of Turner.
2010-2016[edit | edit source]
The channel jumped to terrestrial television after months of negotiations on October 10, 2010. The channel rebranded and launched, symbolically, at 10:10, to show a marathon of Ben 10 as part of the 10.10.10 event many Eurectipherian feeds of the channel were having at the time. Next week saw the official move of Darwin the Merman to the channel.
The channel, despite being registered as a kids channel, was now subject to a series of liberties as the slot was formerly occupied by a general channel - later turned into an edgier channel. Since the channel now had an entertainment license rather than a specialist kids license, an Adult Swim block was added to late night slots. In order to avert the regulators, Turner requested for a second license. Initially rumors believed that Boomerang would join the terrestrial platform, when, in realiy, a new channel, Cartoonito (since the brand was on an expansion course) was launched instead, on September 19, 2011. Boomerang remained as a cable and satellite channel.
Ratings for Cartoon Network as a terrestrial channel increased significantly, with an estimated 25% of its viewership base consisting of kids not subscribed to any television operator. Darwin the Merman triggered a domino effect boosted by merchandise sales and exportation, as well as being the channel's unofficial "mascot". Starting in 2014, Cartoon Network feeds outside of Ashtalaia have lost interest in the series, and changes to the Ashtalaian TV industry have put its license at risk.
2016-present[edit | edit source]
Beginning March 1, 2016, having lost its terrestrial license, Cartoon Network returned to the pay-TV market. The channel was being plagued by increased censorship, because by then the channel was at the mercy of Turner's Eurectipherian offices, and only masters provided by them would be seen by the channel. Sometimes entire shows had to be redubbed and dialogs changed or cut, which infuriated longtime viewers.
On November 22, 2021, selected CN shows will air for free again as part of a block on TBS.
