MeTV Announces Toons Network, A Free Channel Dedicated To Classic Animation
In what is quite possibly the most exciting news in years for fans of classic American animation, Chicago-based Weigel Broadcasting Co. has announced the launch of a free, 24/7 animation network, dedicated exclusively to classic animation, from theatrical animation shorts to tv series.
MeTV Toons, a spinoff of Weigel’s nostalgic tv channel MeTV, is being launched in collaboration with Warner Bros. Discovery and will feature cartoons from throughout WBD’s library including characters like Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, Scooby-Doo, Tom & Jerry, Josie and the Pussycats, George Jetson, Top Cat, Popeye, Freakazoid, Yogi Bear, Johnny Quest and Fred Flintstone. Warner Bros. calls Weigel one of its “long-standing and innovative licensing partners.”
The network will additionally license cartoons from other companies, and its line-up will also include Rocky and Bullwinkle, Woody Woodpecker, Casper, Inspector Gadget, Mister Magoo, Betty Boop, and Speed Racer.
The list of studios that will be represented on the network is essentially a who’s who of animation history, including Warner Bros., MGM, Paramount Pictures, Fleischer Studios, Walter Lantz Productions, Terrytoons, United Productions of America, Jay Ward Productions, Hanna-Barbera Studios, Universal Studios, and Columbia Pictures.
MeTV Toons will benefit from the expertise of legendary animation historian – and Cartoon Brew co-founder – Jerry Beck, who will help produce original content that will expand the viewing experience and add context to the cartoons being aired. Another key hire at the network is veteran voice actor Bob Bergen, who has often voiced WB characters like Porky Pig, Tweety, and Marvin the Martian. Bergen will serve as the signature voice of the network.
In a presentation yesterday, Neal Sabin, vice-chairman of Weigel Broadcasting Co., explained the reason for launching this new network, and it largely has to do with the popularity of the Saturday morning animation block on the existing MeTV channel. In the fourth quarter of 2023, he reported that MeTV’s cartoon block outperformed Seinfeld and The Office on Comedy Central, Law & Order on USA, and Friends on Nick at Nite in the 25-54-year-old demo.
Beck added during the presentation:
There’s a lot planned, more than you even see right now – Not only the classic cartoons, the classic characters, but shows and series and shorts that haven’t been seen in 25, 30, 40, 50 years are going to make their re-debut on this channel. For people like me, cartoonaholics, this will blow your mind!
Some of the programming on the network includes:
- Cartoon College: Overseen by Beck, this is a series of original interstitials that will explore interesting facts and little-known aspects of characters, creators, and cartoons shown on the network.
- Quick Schticks: Spread throughout the daily programming will be clips of cartoon characters’ most iconic scenes.
MeTV Toons will launch June 25, 2024. The network will be available for multi-platform distribution on over-the-air broadcast television, traditional MVPDs (multichannel video programming distributors) and virtual MVPDs, along with a complimentary offering for ad-supported streaming services.
Weigel Broadcasting’s other broadcast networks include MeTV, Heroes & Icons, Start TV, Catchy Comedy, MOVIES!, Story Television, and Dabl.
