Cartoon Network
Cartoon Network is a Warner Bros. Discovery-owned children's animated entertainment brand, distributing its content library exclusively through HBO Max streaming to families and animation enthusiasts globally. The company operates as a content production unit within the WBD ecosystem.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1992
- Headquarters—
- Headcount501–1,000
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingDigital Commerce or Content
What Cartoon Network does
Cartoon Network is a children's animated entertainment brand founded in 1992 by Turner Broadcasting System and now owned by Warner Bros. Discovery (NASDAQ: WBD). It operates as a branded channel within the HBO Max streaming platform, offering on-demand animated series and specials such as Adventure Time, Regular Show, Craig of the Creek, Total Dramarama, We Baby Bears, and Lamput. The brand is headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia with approximately 510 employees, and its content is targeted primarily at families with children, with a secondary audience of animation enthusiasts consuming nostalgic or adult-oriented titles from the catalog.
The company's distribution model is exclusively streaming-based via HBO Max, which is accessible through web browsers, mobile apps, connected TV apps, and set-top box applications globally across North America, Latin America, Europe, and Asia Pacific. Revenue is generated through content licensing to HBO Max (internal licensing within the Warner Bros. Discovery group), with HBO Max operating a tiered subscription model: Basic With Ads at $10.99/month, Standard at $18.49/month, Premium at $22.99/month, and Disney+/Hulu bundle offerings at $19.99-$32.99/month. The platform supports WCAG 2.2 Level A and AA accessibility standards and maintains an audio description library of over 8,000 hours.
Cartoon Network has undergone multiple corporate restructurings since its founding: Turner Broadcasting was acquired by Time Warner in 1996, which merged with AOL in 2000 before spinning off in 2009; AT&T acquired Time Warner in 2018, renaming it WarnerMedia, which then merged with Discovery, Inc. in 2022 to form Warner Bros. Discovery. The brand does not operate as a standalone legal entity with disclosed revenue, operates no independent app, holds no patents, and has no dedicated investment in AI/ML capabilities or proprietary technology platforms.
Cartoon Network firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Cartoon Network
- Legal name
- Cartoon Network (brand owned by Warner Bros. Discovery)
- Website
- https://cartoonnetwork.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1992
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 501–1,000 employees
- Short description
- Cartoon Network is a Warner Bros. Discovery-owned children's animated entertainment brand, distributing its content library exclusively through HBO Max streaming to families and animation enthusiasts globally. The company operates as a content production unit within the WBD ecosystem.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Cartoon Network industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Children's Animated Entertainment
- NAICS
- Television Broadcasting Stations (516120), Media Streaming Distribution Services, Social Networks, and Other Media Networks and Content Providers (5162)
- SIC
- Television Broadcasting Stations (4833), Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Distribution (7822)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Kids’ General Entertainment Channels (Ages 6–11) (MPABAKAB)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Kids & Family Cable Networks (MPABAFAF), Kids & Preschool Animation Production (MPADACAJ), Kids & Family Streaming Platforms (MPACAAAG)
Keywords
Cartoon Network business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Digital Commerce or Content
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain
Revenue model
- Streaming Content Licensing: Cartoon Network shows are licensed and made available for streaming on HBO Max platform, generating revenue through content licensing agreements with Warner Bros. Discovery.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Monthly | Basic With Ads - Entry level streaming plan |
| Subscription | Monthly | Standard - Ad-free streaming plan |
| Subscription | Monthly | Premium - Ultimate streaming experience |
| Subscription | Monthly | Disney+, Hulu, HBO Max Bundle With Ads |
| Subscription | Monthly | Disney+, Hulu, HBO Max Bundle No Ads |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels1 record
Cartoon Network product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Cartoon Network produces and distributes animated entertainment content for children and families, with programming delivered through the HBO Max streaming platform and legacy cable/satellite distribution. The content catalog includes established animated series and specials such as Adventure Time, Regular Show, Craig of the Creek, Total Dramarama, We Baby Bears, Lamput, and Villainous, aimed at kids and family co-viewing audiences.
Product overview
HBO Max is a streaming platform that offers Cartoon Network branded content alongside its broader entertainment library. The Cartoon Network channel within HBO Max provides access to animated shows and family-friendly content. The platform operates on a tiered subscription model with Basic With Ads ($10.99/month), Standard ($18.49/month), and Premium ($22.99/month) tiers, plus bundle options with Disney+ and Hulu. Content includes live sports streaming, audio description accessibility features, and closed captioning.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Cartoon Network Channel on HBO Max Branded channel within HBO Max offering animated shows and specials for kids and families, featuring Cartoon Network properties such as Craig of the Creek, Adventure Time, Regular Show, Total Dramarama, We Baby Bears, Lamput, and Villainous.
Companies that use Cartoon Network
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Cartoon Network technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Cartoon Network partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- Warner Bros. Discovery (HBO Max)coreCartoon Network content is distributed through HBO Max streaming platform owned by Warner Bros. Discovery. This is an internal content distribution relationship where Cartoon Network programming is made available to HBO Max subscribers.
Scale indicators1 record
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Cartoon Network competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Disney Channel: Disney Channel is a direct competitor in kids/family entertainment, now streaming-first via Disney+, and competes head-to-head with Cartoon Network for the same family subscription and household viewing share.
- PBS Kids: PBS Kids is a publicly funded children's educational network and streaming destination that competes for the same family/kids audience with a complementary educational positioning versus Cartoon Network's general entertainment focus.
- Nickelodeon: Nickelodeon is the closest direct peer, operating as a dedicated children's entertainment cable channel and streaming brand (Paramount+) with animated and live-action kids programming targeting the same age demographic.
- Disney Junior: Disney Junior is the Disney-branded preschool/kids channel focused on the younger demographic (ages 2–7), directly competing with Cartoon Network's preschool-adjacent content for early-childhood family viewers.
- Discovery Kids: Discovery Kids is a sibling brand under Warner Bros. Discovery (post-merger) and represents an internal/portfolio peer in the kids/family entertainment category with fact-based and adventure programming.
Emerging players
- Crunchyroll: Crunchyroll is an anime-focused streaming platform partially overlapping Cartoon Network's animation programming (e.g., Toonami legacy) and competing for older kids/teen animation viewership.
- WildBrain (formerly DHX Media): WildBrain is a children's entertainment and animation company operating the Teletoon and Family Channel networks plus a large content library, directly comparable to Cartoon Network as a dedicated kids content producer and licensor.
Broad incumbents
- Peacock Kids: Peacock (NBCUniversal) is a broad streaming incumbent with a dedicated kids vertical that competes for the same Cartoon Network family audience via Comcast/NBCUniversal's kids animation slate.
- Hulu Kids: Hulu offers kids programming and is bundled directly with HBO Max (Disney+/Hulu/HBO Max bundle), making it both a partner and a peer competing for the family streaming subscription.
- Netflix Kids: Netflix Kids is a broad streaming incumbent's kids vertical competing for the same subscription wallet, offering extensive original kids animation and a much larger content investment footprint than Cartoon Network's catalog.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights5 records
Customer concentration
Cartoon Network social profiles
Digital presenceCartoon Network compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
Cartoon Network financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Cartoon Network leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Cartoon Network funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Cartoon Network M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Cartoon Network
What does Cartoon Network do?
Cartoon Network produces and distributes animated entertainment content for children and families, with programming delivered through the HBO Max streaming platform and legacy cable/satellite distribution. The content catalog includes established animated series and specials such as Adventure Time, Regular Show, Craig of the Creek, Total Dramarama, We Baby Bears, Lamput, and Villainous, aimed at kids and family co-viewing audiences.
Is Cartoon Network a public or private company?
Cartoon Network is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was Cartoon Network founded?
Cartoon Network was founded in 1992. It employs 501 to 1,000 people.
How does Cartoon Network make money?
One revenue line is on record: streaming Content Licensing.
Who are Cartoon Network's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Disney Channel, PBS Kids, Nickelodeon, Disney Junior and Discovery Kids. Emerging players are Crunchyroll and WildBrain (formerly DHX Media). Broad incumbents are Peacock Kids, Hulu Kids and Netflix Kids.
Does Cartoon Network have an API?
No public API is recorded for Cartoon Network.
What industry is Cartoon Network in?
Cartoon Network's product category is Children's Animated Entertainment. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPABAKAB, Kids’ General Entertainment Channels (Ages 6–11), with a secondary code of MPABAFAF, Kids & Family Cable Networks. Its NAICS code is 516120 and its SIC code is 4833.