Adult Swim

What Adult Swim does

Adult Swim is a US-based cable television network and streaming platform specializing in adult-oriented animated and live-action programming. Launched in 2001 as a late-night programming block on Cartoon Network, it operates as a brand and operating division within Warner Bros. Discovery (legal entity The Cartoon Network, Inc.) and is headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia. The company produces approximately 8 to 9 original animated series annually, with a content library spanning 25 years that includes flagship franchises such as Rick and Morty (renewed through Season 12), American Dad, Aqua Teen Hunger Force, Primal (Emmy-winning), Smiling Friends, and My Adventures with Superman. Its programming is organized across several sub-brands: the Toonami anime and action block (celebrating 25 years in 2025), the Smalls short-form animation platform for independent creators, Williams Street Records music label, and Etcetera interactive web content.

The platform distributes content through a multi-channel model: linear cable television via US cable providers, the owned AdultSwim.com streaming platform (requiring cable provider authentication), HBO Max for international markets (UK, Germany, and Australia launched in 2026), Hulu for US catch-up viewing, YouTube for Smalls content, and the WB Shop partnership for merchandise. Revenue is generated primarily through advertising on linear and streaming, content licensing to HBO Max and Hulu, and merchandise/apparel sales tied to franchises like Rick and Morty. The network serves a primary demographic of adults aged 18-49 seeking boundary-pushing animated content, with secondary audiences of anime enthusiasts (Toonami) and independent animation creators (Smalls).

Business operations are integrated with Warner Bros. Discovery's broader animation production infrastructure, including co-productions with Cartoon Network Studios and Warner Bros. Animation. Partnerships extend internationally to include VIZ Media and Studio IAM (South Korea) for anime production. Recent strategic activity centers on franchise extension (President Curtis spin-off, Rick and Morty: The Anime, Virtual Rick-ality VR game), international market entry via HBO Max, and a continuous slate of new original series premieres in 2026.

Name

Adult Swim

Legal name

The Cartoon Network, Inc.

Website

https://adultswim.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2001

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Adult Swim is a US cable network and streaming platform under Warner Bros. Discovery producing adult-oriented animated programming. It distributes original series like Rick and Morty, anime via Toonami, and short-form content via Smalls across cable, HBO Max (UK, Germany, Australia), and owned streaming, targeting adults aged 18-49.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Cable Television and Streaming Entertainment

NAICS

Media Streaming Distribution Services, Social Networks, and Other Media Networks and Content Providers (5162), Media Streaming Distribution Services, Social Networks, and Other Media Networks and Content Providers (516210), Broadcasting and Content Providers (516), Motion Picture and Video Industries (5121)

SIC

Television Broadcasting Stations (4833), Cable & Other Pay Television Services (4841)

akta.pro primary industry

Adult/Explicit Content Cable Networks (MPABAFAN)

akta.pro secondary industries

Live TV Streaming (vMVPD/IPTV OTT) (MPACAAAD), Adult Animation Production (MPADACAK), Pay-TV / Premium Window Distribution (MPADAJAH)

Keywords

• Animated television programming
• Cable network broadcasting
• Anime programming block
• Streaming entertainment platform
• Adult-oriented animation

Headquarters

HQ city

Atlanta

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Digital Commerce or Content

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Advertising Revenue: Adult Swim generates revenue through advertising on its linear TV network and streaming platform. The network sells commercial slots during its programming blocks targeting adult demographics aged 18-49.
2. Content Licensing: Adult Swim licenses its original programming to streaming platforms like HBO Max and Hulu, expanding reach beyond its native platform.
3. Merchandise Sales: The network sells merchandise including apparel, collectibles, and home goods through its WB Shop partnership for shows like Rick and Morty.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Adult Swim operates an American cable television network and digital streaming platform that produces and distributes adult-oriented animated and live-action programming, including original series like Rick and Morty, American Dad, and Primal, plus anime via the Toonami block and short-form content through Smalls. The network distributes content via linear cable, its owned AdultSwim.com streaming site, HBO Max internationally, and sells related merchandise through WB Shop.

Product overview

Adult Swim is a cable television network and streaming platform owned by Warner Bros. Discovery that specializes in adult-oriented animated and live-action programming. The platform operates on a multi-pronged model comprising: (1) flagship original animated series including Rick and Morty, American Dad, Aqua Teen Hunger Force, and Primal; (2) curated anime programming through the Toonami block featuring titles like One Piece and Naruto Shippuden; (3) independent short-form content via Smalls platform; (4) music content through Williams Street Records and Adult Swim Singles; (5) interactive experiences including Virtual Rick-ality and other web entertainment in Etcetera. Content is distributed via linear broadcast, the adultswim.com streaming platform (requiring cable login), HBO Max streaming, and Hulu partnerships.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Toonami: Anime and action programming block featuring Japanese animated series and original productions, airing Saturdays at midnight.
• Smalls
• Williams Street Records

Products and services

• Rick and Morty Animated sci-fi comedy series featuring multiverse adventures of scientist Rick Sanchez and his grandson Morty, targeting adult viewers aged 18-49.
• American Dad

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Warner Bros. AnimationcoreTechnology or Integration · 17 June 2026Warner Bros. Animation produces Adult Swim's Get Jiro animated series based on Anthony Bourdain's graphic novel. The partnership involves voice casting, food authenticity consulting with Matt Goulding, and production support.
• VIZ MediacoreTechnology or Integration · 10 June 2026VIZ Media produces Rooster Fighter anime series in association with HERO's INC, SOLA Entertainment, and SANZIGEN for Adult Swim's Toonami programming block. The 12-episode series is an adaptation of Shu Sakuratani's manga.
• Cartoon Network StudioscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCartoon Network Studios co-produced Supermutant Magic Academy with Adult Swim, debuting first footage at Annecy Animation Festival. The collaboration spans content development and production within Warner Bros. Discovery animation division.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Crunchyroll: Sony-owned anime streaming service directly overlapping with Adult Swim's Toonami anime block. Both aggregate and stream the same Japanese titles and original anime productions to overlapping audiences.
• Comedy Central: Paramount-owned cable network targeting a similar 18-49 demo with adult-skewing comedy and animation. Competes directly for the same advertising dollars and audience attention in late-night and primetime slots.
• TBS: Warner Bros. Discovery sister cable network airing comedy and animated content like American Dad and Final Space. Operates within the same WBD Networks group as Adult Swim with shared distribution and ad-sales infrastructure.
• MTV: Paramount-owned cable network historically targeting the 18-34 demo with youth-oriented and animated programming. Closely comparable audience profile and advertiser overlap with Adult Swim's 18-49 target.
• Cartoon Network: Adult Swim's sibling network under Warner Bros. Discovery and the originating cable home for Adult Swim as a programming block. Both operate animated cable networks with cross-promotion and shared production resources (e.g., Cartoon Network Studios co-produces with Adult Swim).
• truTV: Warner Bros. Discovery cable network with comedy and unscripted programming targeting young adults. Sister property under the WBD Networks umbrella with similar advertiser base and cable distribution.
• IFC: AMC Networks-owned cable channel featuring independent films and alternative comedy similar to Adult Swim's adult-oriented, countercultural programming. Comparable niche positioning within a larger cable portfolio.
• Syfy: NBCUniversal cable network focusing on science fiction and genre content, overlapping with Adult Swim's sci-fi animated programming (Rick and Morty, Primal, Robot Chicken) and adult 18-49 demo.

Emerging players

• Rooster Teeth: Animation-focused digital studio previously owned by Warner Bros. Discovery, producing original animated shorts and series in a similar irreverent style to Adult Swim's Smalls initiative. Historical WBD sibling with overlapping content sensibility.

Broad incumbents

• Fox Animation Domination: Fox Broadcasting's Sunday-night animated programming block (The Simpsons, Family Guy, Bob's Burgers). Competes for the same adult animation audience and ad revenue, with some titles (American Dad, Family Guy) airing on both Fox and Adult Swim.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/adultswim
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@adultswim/videos
• Facebookfacebook.com/adultswim
• Instagraminstagram.com/adultswim
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/adult-swim

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A1 record

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Adult Swim