Cash-bleeding media giant Warner Bros. Discovery, pulled the plug on Cartoon Network’s website.
The David Zaslav-led company — which on Wednesday reported a huge net loss of nearly $10 billion, driven by a stunning $9.1 billion write-down for a decline in the value of its cable TV networks — redirected visitors to cartoonnetwork. com to a landing page on Max, its streaming service.
Looking for episodes of your favorite Cartoon Network shows? See what’s available to stream on Max (subscription required),” says a pop-up message on the new Max landing page.
WBD — which owns the Warner Bros. movie studio, Food Network, HBO and CNN — took down cartoonnetwork.com on Thursday, Variety reported.
A spokeswoman for Cartoon Network declined to comment on the specific date of the shutdown or whether there were any layoffs, but she confirmed that the website had been shut down.
“We are focusing on Cartoon Network shows and social media where we find consumers are most engaged and there is significant potential for growth,” the spokeswoman said.
“While we have closed some digital products, fans can continue to interact with Cartoon Network through the Cartoon Network app as well as select TV provider apps on platforms including mobile and connected devices such as Roku, Apple TV and Amazon and through social platforms YouTube. Instagram and Facebook”, added the representative. “And of course, fans can also continue to tune into Cartoon Network to enjoy 11 hours of their favorite Cartoon Network series from 6am to 5pm every day.”
Before the shutdown, the Cartoon Network site had offered full episodes and clips for its slate of shows, including Adventure Time, Craig of the Creek, The Amazing World of Gumball, Teen Titans GO!, Steven Universe’, ‘We Bare Bears’ and ‘Clarence’.
The website also offered access to free games, including games for “Teen Titans GO!,” “Adventure Time” and “Gumball,” Variety said.
The shutdown of cartoonnetwork.com comes a week after the media titan told subscribers it will shut down classic toon streamer Boomerang effective Sept. 30 — and move its customers and content catalog to Max .
The latest moves are part of a cost-cutting initiative at Warner Bros. Discovery.
The struggling company reported a 6% drop in second-quarter revenue of $9.71 billion.
Last month, WBD cut nearly 1,000 jobs as analysts urged Zaslav to explore strategic options.
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