who owns cartoon network
Cartoon Network is currently owned by Warner Bros. Discovery , the media company formed from the merger of WarnerMedia and Discovery, Inc. in 2022.
Who owns Cartoon Network now?
- Cartoon Network operates as part of the Warner Bros. Discovery portfolio, alongside brands like HBO, Discovery Channel, and HGTV.
- More specifically, the Cartoon Network TV channel and brand sit within Warner Bros. Discovery’s television and streaming divisions focused on kids, young adults, and animation.
How ownership changed over time
- The channel was launched in 1992 by Turner Broadcasting System, founded by Ted Turner, after Turner purchased major cartoon libraries including Hanna-Barbera.
- In 1996, Turner Broadcasting merged with Time Warner, bringing Cartoon Network under Time Warner’s control, where it stayed for roughly two decades.
- AT&T acquired Time Warner in 2018, rebranding it as WarnerMedia, which made Cartoon Network part of AT&T’s media arm.
- In 2022, WarnerMedia was combined with Discovery, Inc. to create Warner Bros. Discovery, which is the present owner of Cartoon Network.
What about Cartoon Network Studios?
- Cartoon Network Studios, the animation studio behind many original CN shows, is owned by Warner Bros. Television Group, itself a division of Warner Bros. Entertainment under Warner Bros. Discovery.
- The studio has been reorganized and increasingly integrated with Warner Bros. Animation, but it still functions as an in-house producer of Cartoon Network and Max (formerly HBO Max) animated content.
Is Cartoon Network “dead” or shutting down?
- Despite frequent online rumors and forum discussions saying the channel is “dead,” Cartoon Network is still an active TV channel and brand, though it has faced layoffs, restructures, and a reduced slate of original shows.
- Fans’ worries intensified after Warner Bros. Discovery removed some CN content from streaming and shut down the standalone Cartoon Network website, which created a perception that the brand was being phased out.
Quick HTML facts table
| Aspect | Details (Cartoon Network) |
|---|---|
| Current owner | Warner Bros. Discovery | [3][5]
| Parent TV/film group | Warner Bros. Entertainment / Warner Bros. Television Group | [7][3]
| Original founder | Turner Broadcasting System (Ted Turner) | [5][3]
| Key ownership milestones | Turner (1992) → Time Warner (1996) → AT&T/WarnerMedia (2018) → Warner Bros. Discovery (2022) | [3][5]
| Studio ownership | Cartoon Network Studios owned by Warner Bros. Television Group (under Warner Bros. Discovery) | [7]
