Boomerang (British and Irish TV channel)

Boomerang is a 24-hour British pay television channel which primarily features classic and modern animated series from Hanna-Barbera and Warner Bros. Animation. The channel launched on 27 May 2000 as a spin-off of Cartoon Network and localisation of the original American network. It is run by Warner Bros. Discovery under its International division.

This article is about the United Kingdom feed. For the original American channel, see Boomerang (TV network). For Boomerang in other countries, see Boomerang (TV network) § International.

Boomerang
CountryUnited Kingdom
Ireland
Malta
Broadcast areaUnited Kingdom
Ireland
NetworkCartoon Network
HeadquartersLondon, England, United Kingdom
Programming
Language(s)English
Picture format1080i HDTV
(downscaled to 576i for the SDTV feed)
Timeshift serviceBoomerang +1
Ownership
OwnerWarner Bros. Discovery EMEA
Sister channelsCartoon Network
Cartoonito
CNN International
History
Launched27 May 2000 (2000-05-27)
Links
Websitewww.Boomerangtv.co.uk
Availability
Terrestrial
See separate section

History

Origins

Boomerang UK began as a block in 1993 and was aired on Cartoon Network.

Launch

Boomerang launched on 27 May 2000,[1] airing between 06:00–00:00, on Sky Digital and certain cable systems. At the time, Cartoon Network had a unique schedule and so the channel was created by Turner Broadcasting to broadcast classic cartoons from the Hanna-Barbera, MGM and Warner Bros. archive programme library, as well as freeing its sister network of many classics in the schedule.[2]

In May 2001, Boomerang became the second highest-rated children's channel, beaten only by parent service Cartoon Network. In July of that year, the channel was added to on cable operator Telewest, thus increasing its viewership. James Greville, head of Cartoon Network UK at the time, stated, "The channel launched barely a year ago and yet it's already beaten established kids' channels in terms of ratings and share".[3] By November, the channel was available on NTL.[4]

Boomerang increased its library of old cartoons by acquiring rights to other animated shows such as Danger Mouse, The Pink Panther Show and Garfield and Friends.[5] By the end of 2003, the channel decided to stay away from its former purpose and shifted to broadcast television movies and series.

A one-hour timeshift channel, Boomerang +1, launched on 6 March 2006.

Boomerang rebranded with the new international graphics package developed by UK based graphic design agency Art&Graft on 16 February 2015.[6][7] The channel switched to 16:9 widescreen on 1 June 2015. A high-definition feed was launched on 24 June 2015.[8]

On 3 September 2018, the channel was rebranded once again.[9]

On 18 November 2020, Boomerang UK and Ireland were split into two regions following the move of the Bomerang Éire broadcasting licence to the Czech Republic. Boomerang Éire is managed by HBO Europe specifically targeting EU countries the Republic of Ireland, Malta and Gibraltar.[10]

Availability

Cable

Online

Satellite
  • Sky: Channel 603 (HD), Channel 611 (+1) and Channel 641 (SD)

Terrestrial
  • BT UK: Channel 467 (SD) and Channel 474 (HD)

Programming
Main article: List of programmes broadcast by Boomerang (British and Irish TV channel)

Live-action programming

Between 23 July 2007 to 1 August 2009, the channel started airing live-action programming, starting with Fraggle Rock (which also began airing on Cartoonito the same day).[11]

Other live action series included Life with Derek,[12] popular sitcom The Latest Buzz and the spy show My Spy Family.

Logos
  • 27 May 2000 – 13 September 2004
    27 May 2000 – 13 September 2004
  • 13 September 2004 – 16 February 2015
    13 September 2004 – 16 February 2015

References
  1. "Digest". Marketing Week. 6 November 2000. Archived from the original on 26 February 2014. Retrieved 16 June 2013.
  2. Archived 22 July 2012 at the Wayback Machine
  3. "Boomerang increases its UK penetration". C21Media. 7 September 2001. Archived from the original on 6 January 2015. Retrieved 16 June 2013.
  4. "NTL adds 15 channels". Broadcast. 26 October 2001. Retrieved 16 June 2013.
  5. "Garfield joins Cartoon Network". Broadcast. 20 March 2003. Retrieved 16 June 2013.
  6. "Boomerang Global Rebrand". Art&Graft. Archived from the original on 4 June 2015. Retrieved 31 July 2015.
  7. "Boomerang UK Rebranded Today (16/02/2015)". RegularCapital.com. 16 February 2015. Retrieved 31 July 2015.
  8. "Boomerang UK HD Officially Launched Today (24/06/2015)". RegularCapital.com. 24 June 2015. Retrieved 25 June 2015.
  9. Archived at Ghostarchive and the Wayback Machine: "Boomerang UK - Rebranded! (September 3, 2018)". YouTube.
  10. "ROZHODNUTÍ O UDĚLENÍ LICENCE" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 17 April 2021.
  11. Oatts, Joanne (22 June 2007). "Boomerang gets its own 'Spy' Family". Digital Spy. Retrieved 16 June 2013.
  12. "Boomerang Expands its Life with Derek". Thinkbox. 4 June 2008. Archived from the original on 18 April 2013. Retrieved 16 June 2013.
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