Boomerang (TV channel)
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Boomerang is the name of at least two TV networks owned by Cartoon Network, one in the United States, and one in the United Kingdom, which shows classic animated cartoons, mainly from the Warner Brothers, MGM, and Hanna-Barbera archives. The UK channel has also screened the puppet show Thunderbirds (the US rights of which are owned by G4TechTV). Formerly a segment of programming within the Cartoon Network, the channel was launched at the end of the 20th century and introduced to satellite in April 1, 2000.
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The United States channel
The United States version of Boomerang initially carried a weekly looping programming format. Notably, Boomerang does not carry product commercials. The only advertising on the channel is for Boomerang or Cartoon Network programming.
During its looping format, which lasted through January 17, 2005, program days began at 8 AM Eastern time (5 AM Pacific time). Monday through Thursdays had been just normal programming days, with a variety of half-hour and hour-long cartoon programs shown. On Fridays, "monthly feature" cartoons were shown for the entire day; one cartoon was featured for each Friday of a given month for 24 hours straight. As of January 22, 2005, this banner became known as "monthly character of the month", and is now shown on weekends 2-4 pm eastern. On Saturdays, a calendar year was featured with the cartoons of that year (ranging from approximately 1963 to 1983, one year per week in sequence). Sundays carried the "Boomeraction" theme, with animation featuring action and adventure such as SuperFriends and Jonny Quest.
Boomerang has carried both theatrical animated shorts and television series from several libraries, including Warner Brothers, MGM, Hanna-Barbera (The Flintstones, The Jetsons, Scooby-Doo), Ruby-Spears (Thundarr the Barbarian), Jay Ward Productions and Total Television: (Rocky and Bullwinkle and Underdog), Paramount (Popeye the Sailor, Betty Boop, and properties later sold to Harvey Comics: Casper the Friendly Ghost, Modern Madcaps, etc.), United Productions of America (Mr. Magoo, Gerald McBoing-Boing, etc.), and Format Films (in turn later sold to Ross Bagdasarian: The Alvin Show and Clyde Crashcup).
Boomerang's promotional slogan is one of nostalgia that accurately reflects its programming: "Boomerang - It's All Coming Back To You."
The United Kingdom and Ireland channel
There is also a version of Boomerang broadcast in the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland, launched on 27 May 2000. It is broadcast 24 hours on the Sky Digital, NTL, Telewest Broadband and Chorus Digital platforms. Like the US channel, the station's programming consists almost exclusively of Hanna-Barbera and Warner Brothers archive programming, though it also includes fairly recent programmes featuring older characters, such as Garfield and Friends, Taz-mania, Baby Looney Tunes and Duck Dodgers. Unlike the US station, commercials are broadcast. The channel occasionally suspends its regular programming for theme weeks, most often for Scooby-Doo.
The Australian channel
An Australian version of Boomerang was launched in March 2004 as part of the Foxtel Digital launch, with a lineup very similar to that of the UK version.
Other countries
Since 2004, Boomerang has also a Spanish version on the Digital+ digital platform, after being introduced as a part of Cartoon Network's schedule on weekend afternoons. There is also Boomerang Latin America and Boomerang Brazil.pt:Boomerang