Isn't a "Toonami Swim" Channel a No Brainer?

[JohnCrichton]

I mean... they have Boomerang, but does that even get good ratings? And hands down, wouldn't a Toonami Swim channel easily blow away Boomerang ratings?

[Killtacular]

I don't see how it would, seeing as no cable provider would carry it.

[Animation Otaku]

I don't see how it would, seeing as no cable provider would carry it.

Do any cable providers carry Boomerang?

[Killtacular]

It gets 20 million viewers.

But cable providers would feel a little more at ease with choosing a channel that's mostly classic material from the 60s, than a channel that has animation targetted at older teens and adults, because of the times we live in.

[Pilmedium]

A spinoff channel would probably get picked up by few cable companies, so a Toonami/Adult Swim channel would not reach many of its fans.

It gets 20 million viewers.

Many of those people probably have satellite television.

[Digu Volz]

Isn't a "Toonami Swim" Channel a No Brainer?

Not necessarily. I think they'd be better off keeping Toonami exclusive, though they should go back to three hours.

[Parallax]

I think if WS had access to Bandai's whole library and aquire or make a new more adult/action american shows it could happen.

[Teio]

Start slow and let's just aim for TeenSwim/Teenami.

[Nik Jam]

or CNX.......

[EscaflownePilot]

Wow! I'm surprised at the negative response this has gotten so far...
I would absolutely love a Toonami/Swim channel!!
I'm not too sure how many providers would carry it initially - probably very few. But that's typicall of nearly every single TV network that's new. Just give it time.

Are all of you seriously saying that a full 24/7 network devoted to the block that carries such hits as DBZ and Gundam Wing wouldn't attract veiwers?!?! I'd bet that, given proper marketing on CN, the demand for a 24/7 Toonami network would rise considerably! Providers may like the idea of classic cartoons better than modern action cartoons, the general audience will not! Boomerang likely only appeals to people who actually watched the cartoons when they were younger, and still crave to experience them again... A Toonami network, however, is a network of current shows with a large pre-existing fanbase that I'm sure would flock to the network. After demand is shown, providers will be much more open to carry the network.

As far as the Adult Swim part.... egh... that would take a bit more effort to make successful... but then, Adult Swim's ratings and popularity are growing at an alarming rate, so it's really only a matter of time before demand becomes available... and if things are marketed correctly, then the whole "adult" aspect of it won't be as bothersome to cable providers...

I am in full agreement with John Crichton on this...

[livingfruitvirus]

Start slow and let's just aim for TeenSwim/Teenami.

won't happen. teens are such a small percentage of CN's audience that it's not worth capitalizing on. let them have their MTV.

[Matthew Williams]

Programmers are notoriously picky for what they're going to carry, save for, say, DirecTV, which'll carry anything that launches. Analog cable is out of the picture for most companies, as space is nearly filled (I was shocked that they managed to squeeze in an extra channel here to add FX), and digital cable doesn't have nearly as much space as digital satellite. So they're only going to carry proven channels-- i.e., multiple versions of premium channels or proven hitmakers(anything MTV, VH1, Nick, or Discovery), or channels they have a direct interest in (Comcast and G4).

My guess is, a major reason why Boomerang came before anything based on Toonami or AS was because this programming is proven. Boomerang is simply Cartoon Network around 1996, and that programming was the foundation used by CN to build itself up. WE may clamor for a Toonami or AS channel, but I don't think enough higher-ups are convinced that an animation channel geared towards an older audience is going to take off yet. Look at how long CN took to go "all ages", or look at the painfully slow, awkward launch of ADV's anime channel.

[Bandit]

umm, all anime channels don't even exist in japan. plus, if it weren't for CN and adult swim, i would rarely watch cartoon network in the first place.

[Nabuca]

I don't see how it would, seeing as no cable provider would carry it.
As long as its profitable a cable provider will carry anything, ANY THING.

[NovaSaber]

Who says cable providers are a good judge of what's profitable? Mine doesn't carry Boomerang, and didn't carry Cartoon Network for a long time. The chances that I'd ever get to see this hypothetical Toonami/AS network are next to nothing.

[Teio]

won't happen. teens are such a small percentage of CN's audience that it's not worth capitalizing on. let them have their MTV.

Remember the saying:

"If you build it they will come."

Besides,the Teen audience is slowly building.

[Nin-Nin69]

Well if I ever strike it rich in the gamer busniess after staring my own chain of stores when I leave my job, I might start my own cable company and be glad to host a 24/7 Toonami channel. Best of all its Un-cut and 100% fan approved. :tom:

[EscaflownePilot]

umm, all anime channels don't even exist in japan. plus, if it weren't for CN and adult swim, i would rarely watch cartoon network in the first place. Doesn't Japan have a "Cartoon Network"?

[Cyporiean]

Doesn't Japan have a "Cartoon Network"?

Filled with Amerime

[Disco Pete]

Who says cable providers are a good judge of what's profitable? Mine doesn't carry Boomerang, and didn't carry Cartoon Network for a long time. The chances that I'd ever get to see this hypothetical Toonami/AS network are next to nothing.

I'm in the same boat. I didn't get CN until about a year ago. At this rate the "Toonami/Adult Swim" channel will show up in my neck of the woods in time for my kids to enjoy it.

I'd like it, and it sounds nice, but I know I'll never see it.

[Sketch]

I would love to see a Toonami/AS channel. I always have. However if they want to keep things from getting too overplayed (they will get overaplayed eventually, but the ammount could be lightened) they would likely have to get some exclusives and tie-ins from other companies. Bandai, Funimation, ShoPro, 4kids, and Pioneer should suffice for anime (ADV would be fantastic, but it would take some string pulling), but help from other companies for american cartoons would be a must. Such as DiC, Sunbow, Ruby Spears, etc. Get some classics and some new stuff. Mix it all up and top it off with Adult Swim at night and movies on Saturday (and possibly Friday) night (to protect the children from seeing unsightly things). Adding in uncut DBZ, YYH, Kenshin (well... less cut), DB, etc. and bringing back old Toonami faves like Sailor Moon, Gundam Wing, Tenchi, etc. If such a case were to happen... I might never turn my TV off. Heh...

[EscaflownePilot]

Filled with Amerime So? We don't have a 24-hour American animation network... okay, so Toon Disney might be, but then there isn't any rule on this or any other network that anime can't be shown on it.

[Jeff Harris]

umm, all anime channels don't even exist in japan. That's technically true.

Animax shows majority anime, but they mix in Western-made shows now and then. Cartoon Network Japan airs an even mix of anime and Western-made shows.

But here's the kicker and the thing that makes the Japanese so cool and globally conscious.

They don't segregate animation by region like we do in this shortsighted narrowminded country. Whether it's European, North American, or Asian made, it's all anime, which to the Japanese, is the same as saying animation. And animation is a universal language in all areas.

That's why I prefer CN over other animation outlets. Toon Disney and Nick are like "America is so great and everything outside the country is super scary, and we aren't open to seeing anything new and different than what we have." Not to sound cliche, but Cartoon Network goes outside the box; however, recently, they've been kind of set in their ways. Sure, they're still the best thing out there, but they haven't really made any breakthroughs lately (the whole "ooh, we can curse, have sexual humor, and bleed some more" attitude of Adult Swim is getting kind of old) and slowly descending into Kids' WB world.

They need to break out of the norm and actually do something that'll get them noticed, not to mention break away from that "kids-only" mentality left from the previous overboss.

I'll answer the big question of "Isn't a Toonami/Swim Channel a no-brainer?"

Three years ago, I would have said hell yeah, it's a no brainer. However, after looking at the big picture, I don't think the network's mature enough to handle it. They still have this mentality of limiting themselves, even in their "mature" programming.

Plus, they need to dramatically improve Boomerang before they launch a second spinoff network. The whole repeat-the-lineup-twice-in-a-day is one reason why a whole lot of cable outlets aren't carrying the network. They need to have a straight lineup from 6 AM to 6 AM with a solid schedule format, ala Cartoon Network. Boomerang is getting more shows outside of their library, but they need to at least try to pick up packages of shorts from the likes of UPA or Walter Lantz and (dare I say?) classic black and white action shows from the golden age of televised animation. What's the point of having a classic animation channel if you're just going to show the stuff you own? It's like going a buffet restaurant and all they have is roast beef, their house specialty. Sure, you'll like it for a while, but you want choices. Plus, not everybody likes roast beef. They'd probably want crab legs. Boomerang needs crab legs.

Was that over the top? I could never tell!