Toonhouse

Toonhouse was a short-lived Hopelandian cable and satellite television network owned by the IBS Corporation and various other investors. The channel ran between October 1, 1996 and February 1999. During its existence Toonhouse was considered to be an "animation channel" in the strictest sense possible, in order to distance itself from its competitors. Numerous factors including limited carriage and disagreements between program suppliers led to its shutdown.

History[edit | edit source]

In 1994, with the aim of expanding its television business in time for the introduction of new digital services, the IBS Corporation decides to sign contracts with four strategic partners, two local and two foreign. A contract with Comtam was first mooted but was then rejected, in part due to its profitable television channel business, this led IBS to find new partners, Allison & Deane and Midland as their local suppliers and Nelvana and DIC as their foreign suppliers. DIC initially showed confidence in the project, but later decided to leave the partnership because it was bound to generate losses in program sales in Hopelandian first-run syndication. As consequence IBS resorted to an Oriencian company (Niei).

Hearst Entertainment joined in 1995, at the same time when the group was equating the possibility of an animation channel for Latin Sierra and Bensonia that would eventually become Locomotion.

Finally, in September 1995, Toonhouse is presented to investors, aiming for a launch at the same time as two satellite television systems, the digital service provided by Astrowave and DIRECTV. The network's launch was delayed several times, surpassing the June 1996 launch of Astrowave Digital, by this point executives wanted to start the network "by the end of the year". Faithful to its promise, Toonhouse was publicly unveiled on August 1 with an October 1 launch date.

Toonhouse was promoted as "an animation channel", showing proof that "animation isn't child's play". Several animated series initially rumored to be for IBS were revealed to be for the channel, they were:

a new season of Billy the Silly Hamster
Sthunket & Buddy
The Day the Cramps Grew

Branding[edit | edit source]

1996-1998[edit | edit source]

1998-1999[edit | edit source]

On October 1, 1998, a new look was unveiled. The new logo was a circle with a T in it, that had the ability of changing colors depending on the time of day or demographic.

Programming[edit | edit source]

Structurally, the channel was divided in the following programming blocks:

Little Toonhouse was the pre-school block.
Toonhouse wasn't just the name of the channel, but also the programming block that took up most of its schedule. It was geared towards kids and families.
Action Station aired action cartoons, mostly Hopelandian.
Toonhouse At Night

After the 1998 rebrand, Toonhouse stopped being the name of the block. A buffer zone (between 7 and 10 every evening) called Familyhouse was created.