Check it. Another safe internet space for kids has closed. Probably another victim of Warner Bros. Discovery’s money bleed, the company has shut down Cartoon Network’s website. Long gone the days of being a haven for flash games, as of Thursday it now redirects to a landing page on Max, encouraging signups to watch their favorite Cartoon Network shows.
“Looking for episodes of your favorite Cartoon Network shows? Check out what’s available to stream on Max (subscription required),” a pop-up message reads on the landing page. “Sign up for Max, where you can also create a Kids Profile with ratings restrictions and additional privacy protections to keep it fun and kid-friendly! Cable subscribers, continue to enjoy your favorite CN programming on your TV and connected apps as well!” Currently, it appears to be the only of the company’s cable channels affected.
“We are focusing on the Cartoon Network shows and social media where we find consumers are the most engaged and there is a meaningful potential for growth,” a Cartoon Network representative's statement said. “While we have closed some digital products, fans can continue to interact with Cartoon Network via the Cartoon Network app as well as select TV providers apps on platforms including mobile and connected devices like Roku, Apple TV, and Amazon and via social platforms YouTube, Instagram, and Facebook.” He too emphasized the eleven hours of daily programming currently on the linear channel.
With the app still functional, there is still some access to Max-removed series like Summer Camp Island, the entire original continuity of Ben 10, and is especially important for the teen era voiced by Yuri Lowenthal, as Alien Force, Ultimate Alien, and Omniverse aren’t streaming on Netflix like the original series is. The Heroic Quest of the Valiant Prince Ivandoe, which finally premiered Stateside in November, isn’t on Max yet. This comes after Nick Jr. ceased having its own website in favor of a hub on Nick.com, whose own video section has been gutted and most of Comedy Central and MTV’s offerings are now Paramount+ redirects, with the latter’s news archives no longer available without the Internet Archive. The Noggin app has already shut down, and the Boomerang app will do the same at the end of September, while many of Paramount’s cable channel apps have shut down as well.
Sources: Variety, The Hollywood Reporter
THIS is what comes of corporations who don't really give a fuck about animation pretending otherwise.