{{Short description|Former official website of Cartoon Network}}
'''CartoonNetwork.com''' was Cartoon Network's official website, active from 1998 to 2024. Throughout its existence, it housed games, minisites for its shows, an online store (Cartoon Network Shop), and, in the past, Web Premiere Toons and Cartoon Orbit. The website changed its format several times since its inception, and shut down in 2024, since then, it redirects to Cartoon Network hub on HBO Max.
==History== ===Early years=== Cartoon Network registered its official website, CartoonNetwork.com, on January 9, 1996. It officially launched on July 27, 1998;<ref>{{Cite news |date=July 27, 1998 |title=The Toons Are Taking Over the Web with Launch of CartoonNetwork.com |url=https://www.timewarner.com/newsroom/press-releases/1998/07/The_Toons_Are_Taking_Over_Web_with_Launch_CartoonNetworkcom_07-27-1998 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140202211329/http://www.timewarner.com/newsroom/press-releases/1998/07/The_Toons_Are_Taking_Over_Web_with_Launch_CartoonNetworkcom_07-27-1998 |archive-date=February 2, 2014 |access-date=June 5, 2013 |publisher=Time Warner}}</ref> simultaneously, its existing AOL channel that had been in operation since 1996 was upgraded.<ref>Tedesco, R. (1998). Cartoon Net launches Website, upgrades on AOL. Broadcasting & Cable, 128(31), 45.</ref> Sam Register served as Cartoon Network Online's senior vice president and creative director from 1997 to 2001,<ref>{{Cite web |last=DeMott |first=Rick |date=November 27, 2007 |title=Register Inks Deal with Warners |url=https://www.awn.com/news/people/register-inks-deal-warners |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220124003921/https://www.awn.com/news/register-inks-deal-warners |archive-date=January 24, 2022 |access-date=January 19, 2013 |publisher=Animation World Network}}</ref> and Rob Sorcher served as executive vice president and head of Cartoon Network Online.<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Janczewski |first=William |date=March 1999 |title=CartoonNetwork.com: The Cartooning of the Net |magazine=Animation Magazine |page=21 |volume=13 |issue=3 |issn=1041-617X}}</ref> In its early years, small studios partnered with the network to produce exclusive "Web Premiere Toons", short cartoons made specifically for CartoonNetwork.com.<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Burr |first=Ty |date=April 9, 1999 |title=Now Playing on a PC Near You |url=https://ew.com/article/1999/04/09/now-playing-pc-near-you/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130522204257/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20179351,00.html |archive-date=May 22, 2013 |access-date=January 19, 2013 |magazine=Entertainment Weekly}}</ref> More about animation was included in the "Department of Cartoons", which featured storyboards, episode guides, backgrounds, sound and video files, model sheets, production notes, and other information about shows on the network. In January 1999, the Department of Cartoons showcased the "MGM Golden Age Collection", most of which had not been published or even seen in more than 50 years.<ref>{{Cite news |date=January 19, 1999 |title=CartoonNetwork.com to Showcase Never-Before-Published Animation from MGM's Golden Age Beginning January 18 |url=https://www.thefreelibrary.com/CartoonNetwork.com+To+Showcase+Never-Before-Published+Animation+from...-a053594563 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140201153344/http://www.thefreelibrary.com/CartoonNetwork.com+To+Showcase+Never-Before-Published+Animation+from...-a053594563 |archive-date=February 1, 2014 |access-date=November 15, 2013 |publisher=Business Wire |via=The Free Library}}</ref> Among the earliest exclusives were a special ''The Flintstones''-themed minisite tied in with a week-long event celebrating the best episodes of the series in August 1998,<ref>Business & Entertainment Editors/Multimedia Writers. (1998, Aug 11). Ted Turner and Crew Shout "Yabba-Dabba-Doo!" in Celebration of Top "Flintstones" Episodes at CartoonNetwork.com. Business Wire</ref> a ''Scooby-Doo'' minisite for October that year<ref>Feature, &. E. E. (1998, Oct 07). Tricks, Treats and "31 Days of Scooby-Doo" Featured at CartoonNetwork.com Throughout October. Business Wire</ref> and never-before seen artwork of MGM's animation from January 18, 1999, which was inserted in the Department of Cartoons for a week.<ref>Business, &. E. E. (1999, Jan 19). CartoonNetwork.com To Showcase Never-Before-Published Animation from MGM's Golden Age Beginning January 18.</ref>
Cartoon Network launched Cartoon Orbit, an online gaming network characterized by digital trading cards called "cToons", in October 2000.<ref>{{Cite web |date=September 12, 2000 |title=CartoonNetwork.com to Launch Cartoon Orbit |url=https://www.timewarner.com/newsroom/press-releases/2000/09/CartoonNetworkcom_to_Launch_Cartoon_Orbit_09-12-2000 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140202211343/http://www.timewarner.com/newsroom/press-releases/2000/09/CartoonNetworkcom_to_Launch_Cartoon_Orbit_09-12-2000 |archive-date=February 2, 2014 |access-date=March 16, 2009 |publisher=Time Warner}}</ref> The game officially ended on October 16, 2006.
In October 2000, CartoonNetwork.com outdid its rival Nickelodeon's website in terms of unique users, scoring 2.12 million compared to Nick.com's 1.95 million.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Kempner |first=Matt |date=December 15, 2000 |title=Cartoon Network Is Adding Punch to Its Online Presence |work=The Atlanta Journal-Constitution<!-- |page=8H |section=Business-->}}</ref> The website by 2001 was beginning to converge with the linear channel, owing largely to Cartoon Network developing the website on its end, rather than using a subsidiary like its competitors. Toonami also started to make good use of the website from September 18, 2000, with its Total Immersion Events.<ref>[https://www.awn.com/animationworld/come-together-online-and-air-converge-cartoonnetworkcom Come Together: Online and On-Air Converge on CartoonNetwork.com]</ref>
===2002 reface=== Cartoon Network did a major reface to its website in July 2002, dividing the site into four core categories: Play, Watch, Orbit and Shop. On the week of its relaunch, the site had a record 105 million visits.<ref>Broadband Bulletin. (2002). Cablefax, 13(136), 1.</ref> October saw the release of ''Trick-or-Treat Beat'', part of the Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF fund-raising campaign, featuring several Cartoon Network characters.<ref>{{Cite press release |date=August 28, 2002 |title=UNICEF and Cartoon Network Launch First-Time Partnership for Annual Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF |publisher=Time Warner |url=http://www.timewarner.com/newsroom/press-releases/2002/08/28/unicef-and-cartoon-network-launch-first-time-partnership-for |access-date=2013-06-05 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160104085437/http://www.timewarner.com/newsroom/press-releases/2002/08/28/unicef-and-cartoon-network-launch-first-time-partnership-for |archive-date=2016-01-04}}</ref> The website hosted next-day repeats of ''Star Wars: Clone Wars'' upon its premiere in October 2003.<ref>Snider, M. (2003, Nov 07). 'Star Wars' goes animated tonight. USA Today</ref>
===2004 reface=== The 2004 reface of the website saw it move away from the previous HTML-friendly layout and adopt one predominantly using Flash.<ref>[https://gihyo.jp/design/serial/01/wsereport/vol3 CartoonNetwork.com & AdultSwim.com Sibling Websites succeed through simplicity]</ref> As of year-end 2004, the website hosted over 110 free online games and 12 paid PowerPlay Games. That year saw a record 1.6 billion game plays.<ref>[https://www.awn.com/animationworld/air-online-and-back-again From On-Air to Online and Back Again]</ref>
2006 saw the introduction of Toonami Jetstream with Viz Media<ref>{{Cite web |title=Press Release: Cartoon Network and VIZ Media Announce Broadband Joint Venture, Toonami Jetstream {{!}} ComiPress |url=https://www.comipress.com/press-release/2006/04/26/64 |access-date=2024-03-01 |website=www.comipress.com}}</ref> and Cartoon Network Video for its comedy titles.<ref>[https://www.awn.com/animationworld/digital-directions-indies-follow-majors-lead Digital Directions: Indies Follow Majors' Lead]</ref> ''Battle Arena'', based on the Ben 10 series, was the first to use PlayStation 3's browser.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.nytimes.com/2007/06/10/business/yourmoney/10frame.html?_r=3&oref=slogin&oref=slogin&oref=slogin |title=Media Innovations, Leaping From Lab to Screen |access-date=2018-04-29 |archive-date=2018-04-29 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180429041852/http://www.nytimes.com/2007/06/10/business/yourmoney/10frame.html?_r=3&oref=slogin&oref=slogin&oref=slogin |url-status=live }}</ref> That year, the total number of game plays surpassed the 2 billion mark.<ref name="dotandline"/>
In July 2007, Nielsen ratings data showed visitors spent an average of 77 minutes on the site, surpassing the previous record of 71 minutes set in 2004, and the site ranked 26th in terms of time spent for all US domains.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ball |first=Ryan |date=August 23, 2007 |title=CartoonNetwork.com Hits Visitor High |url=https://www.animationmagazine.net/internet/cartoonnetwork-com-hits-visitor-high/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121023171559/http://www.animationmagazine.net/internet/cartoonnetwork-com-hits-visitor-high/ |archive-date=October 23, 2012 |access-date=December 28, 2012 |website=Animation Magazine}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=DeMott |first=Rick |date=August 24, 2007 |title=CartoonNetwork.com Sets Sticky Record |url=https://www.awn.com/news/internet-and-interactive/cartoonnetworkcom-sets-sticky-record |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220124003922/https://www.awn.com/news/cartoonnetworkcom-sets-sticky-record |archive-date=January 24, 2022 |access-date=December 28, 2012 |publisher=Animation World Network}}</ref>
===Shutdown=== On August 8, 2024, CartoonNetwork.com was closed down and was redirected to the Cartoon Network channel hub of the streaming service Max. Regarding the closure of the network's website, a Cartoon Network spokesperson stated "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".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Spangler |first=Todd |date=August 9, 2024 |title=Cartoon Network Website Shuts Down, Warner Bros. Discovery Kicks Visitors Over to Max |url=https://variety.com/2024/digital/news/cartoon-network-shuts-down-warner-bros-discovery-max-signup-1236101422/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240809142338/https://variety.com/2024/digital/news/cartoon-network-shuts-down-warner-bros-discovery-max-signup-1236101422/ |archive-date=August 9, 2024 |access-date=August 9, 2024 |website=Variety |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Porter |first=Rick |date=August 9, 2024 |title=Cartoon Network Website Shut Down by Warner Bros. Discovery |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/cartoon-network-website-shut-down-warner-bros-discovery-1235970594/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240922125640/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/cartoon-network-website-shut-down-warner-bros-discovery-1235970594/ |archive-date=September 22, 2024 |access-date=August 9, 2024 |website=The Hollywood Reporter |language=en-US}}</ref> ''Gizmodo'' reported that this shutdown not only removes "an archive of clips" and "free access to series" but also the website "hosted years of beloved flash games relating to its shows. While many have been erased over the years through various site redesigns–and archived elsewhere for nostalgic fans–at least some of the current archives are still accessible via international versions of the Cartoon Network website in regions where Max is currently unavailable".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Whitbrook |first=James |date=August 9, 2024 |title=Warner Bros. Scrubs Cartoon Network Website, Erasing Years of History |url=https://gizmodo.com/warner-bros-cartoon-network-website-erased-max-streaming-2000485128 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240809153155/https://gizmodo.com/warner-bros-cartoon-network-website-erased-max-streaming-2000485128 |archive-date=August 9, 2024 |access-date=August 9, 2024 |website=Gizmodo |language=en-US}}</ref>
==CartoonNetworkYA.com== '''CartoonNetworkYA.com''' was a Spanish-language translation of the main website, carting the US Hispanic audience.<ref>[https://www.nexttv.com/news/no-matter-what-you-speak-80905 No Matter What You Speak]</ref> Exclusive content was limited, one of these actions included the hypothesis of releasing the ''El Santo'' series in 2007, with the signing of an agreement in April that year.<ref>[https://www.produ.com/television/noticias/cartoon-network-presenta-a-el-santo-en-ahaa/ Cartoon Network presenta a El Santo en AHAA]</ref>
==Cartoon Network Video== '''Cartoon Network Video''' was an advertising-supported website that existed between 2006 and 2012. By 2007, it had amassed a weekly average of 2.2 million streams since launch.<ref name="dotandline">[https://dotandline.net/cartoon-network-notebook-2007-c4d76bcbabdc/ The Notebook That Reveals How Cartoon Network Talked About Its Shows 10 Years Ago]</ref> A mobile app was released on December 17, 2010.<ref>[https://www.awn.com/news/cartoon-network-launches-free-mobile-apps Cartoon Network Launches Free Mobile Apps]</ref>
==Reference== {{reflist}}
{{Cartoon Network}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:CartoonNetwork.Com}} .com Category:American children's websites Category:1998 establishments in the United States Category:2024 disestablishments in the United States Category:Browser-based game websites Category:Internet properties established in 1998 Category:Internet properties disestablished in 2024