Toonami (UK)
TV channel|
name= Toonami|
logosize=200px|
logofile=New toonami logo.gif|
logoalt=Toonami logo|
launch=
September 8,
2003 |
closed date=|
share=0.1% |
share as of= Jun' 06 |
share source= [
1]| owner=
Cartoon Network (
Time Warner) |
former names=|
replaced names=
CNX|
sister names=|
timeshift names=|
web=
www.toonami.co.uk|
availability note=|
terr serv 1=
Top Up TV| terr chan 1=Channel 74
(05:00-09:00 Weekends only)| sat serv 1=
Sky Digital|
sat chan 1=Channel 602|
cable serv 1=
Telewest|
cable chan 1= Channel 732|
cable serv 2=
NTL|
cable chan 2= Channel 903|
dummy parameter=|}}
Toonami is a
UK children's channel dedicated to
comedy,
drama and
cartoons.
Toonami was a programming block on the
Cartoon Network, until
October 2002 when it became a key component of
CNX, a new channel launched by Cartoon Network UK, the first Cartoon Network derivative to launch outside North America. CNX also broadcasted
martial arts movies, adult-oriented animation like the
Adult Swim originals, and dramas like
The Shield and
Birds of Prey at night. The network's audience was the young adult male demos that's currently catered by the UK's
Bravo and the US's
Spike TV. Almost a year later, CNX was relaunched as
Toonami and now targeted towards a much younger audience.
It is of note that Bravo will be airing an adult swim block as apposed to any Turner channel as a result of this demograph fixation.
In the United States, Europe and many international Cartoon Network channels,
Toonami remains a block on Cartoon Network. See
Toonami for more details on the programming strand.
Toonami UK has had its critics ever since day one after it was relaunched from the previous CNX format. The biggest criticisms has come from viewers who wanted more action-animation aimed towards older audiences which had all but disappeared.
In March
2006, criticism about Toonami increased after the network relaunched itself from an action-animation network into a general entertainment outlet airing
teen soaps, live-action
sitcoms, and other non-animated programming.
Toonami UK has shown most DC Comics shows on the channel, including the more recent
Justice League Unlimited, although contractual disputes with Warner TV distribution has prevented the channel from showing the third and final season of
Batman Beyond and the whole of
Superman: The Animated Series, forcing the channel to recycle through the first two seasons of
Batman Beyond as a result. This theory is corroborated by the fact that not a single episode of the myriad
Super Friends shows (which were something of a mainstay on the US Cartoon Network channels) have ever been broadcast on a Turner UK channel.
As of March 2006, Toonami UK changed its focus from action cartoons to entertainment in general, as the channel began airing four live-action shows:
Backyard Science,
Parker Lewis Can't Lose (which has since been axed from its weekday slots),
Stencil,
Hangin' with Mr. Cooper and
Life with Derek. Earning even more distain from the older fans.
Toonami also adopted a new on screen look and website style (Changing the black and red style to suit the channel's new blue appearance) and a new EPG (Electronic Program Guide) No. on
Sky (602 next to
Cartoon Network).
For a short period of time, Toonami UK aired a special programming block on Fridays called "Destination Friday", which ran from 4PM to 9PM. Recently, Toonami UK's newer shows have only aired once or twice a week, such as
One Piece,
Code Lyoko and
Pokémon Chronicles.
Code Lyoko was later stripped across 7 days. "Destination Friday" initially repeated the week's episodes for viewers who either want to see them again or missed them the first time round. Between 5.30PM and 7PM, a feature-length animated movie has also been shown.
A selection of the various
Batman animated movies were shown here, such as
Batman & Mr. Freeze: Sub-Zero,
Batman: Mask of the Phantasm and
Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker. The UK premieres of the
Dragon Ball, and
Dragonball Z and
Dragonball GT movies occupied this slot throughout the summer months.
Current Shows
Coming Soon
*
Spider-Man: The New Animated Series (Starts September 4th)
Previously Aired Shows
On
July 27th 2006, Toonami, along with Cartoon Network, Boomerang, CN Too, Boomerang +1 and TCM, suffered a technical fault due to a power cut in Soho, London. This was due to the energy supplier
EDF cutting power from different parts of Soho one at a time for four hours, purposely, due to a fault. One of the causes was due to too many homes and shops using air conditioning. The power cut caused a mix up of channels (ie. Cartoon Network broadcast on Boomerang and Boomerang broadcast on CN Too) and also channels without a signal. Those who could still receive the channels had a backup transmission played out, making people curious into why the incorrect programmes were played out when compared to the EPG. These backups where played out with a scrolling message which said something similar to "We apologise for this fault. This is due to technical difficulties. We will resume to normal service as soon as possible" in multiple languages. When regular service was resumed, it was a simple "click" back to the regular programmes. CN Too was still suffering with problems for a little bit longer.
It was joked on verious animation basied fourms that the backup transmission was more entertaining, purely on the basis that no Live action aired during the black out.
*
Toonami UK - Official website for the UK Toonami Channel
*
Sky Page with TV Listings
*
The X Bridge - American based opinion of what has become of Toonami UK.
