Boomerang (UK & Ireland)

This article is about the United Kingdom variant of Boomerang. For the original American version, see Boomerang (TV channel). For Boomerang in other countries, see Boomerang around the world.

Boomerang
Launched	27 May 2000
Owned by	Turner Broadcasting System Europe (Time Warner)
Audience share	0.2% 0.1% (+1) (November 2012, BARB)
Country	United Kingdom Ireland
Language	English
Sister channel(s)	Cartoon Network Cartoon Network Too Cartoonito TCM TCM 2
Timeshift service	Boomerang +1
Website	www.boomerangtv.co.uk
Availability
Satellite
Sky	Channel 603 Channel 618 (+1)
Cable
Virgin Media	Channel 730 Channel 731 (+1)
Smallworld Cable	Channel 603 Channel 618 (+1)
UPC Ireland	Channel 603
Ziggo (Netherlands)	Channel 309
WightFibre	Channel 105 Channel 57 (+1)
IPTV
TalkTalk TV	Channel 309
Internet television
Sky Go	Watch live (UK and Ireland only)
Virgin TV Anywhere	Watch live (UK only)
UPC Horizon	Watch live (Ireland only)

Boomerang is a television channel broadcast in the United Kingdom and in the Republic of Ireland launched on 27 May 2000. It is broadcast 24 hours on the Sky, Virgin Media, Smallworld Cable, TalkTalk TV, Top Up TV, UPC Ireland. It mostly features classic cartoons such as Tom and Jerry and Scooby-Doo, and contemporary classics like Pink Panther and Pals and The Garfield Show.

History

Origins

Boomerang was originally started in December 1992 as a programming block on Cartoon Network USA. It originally aired for four hours every weekend. The programming block followed a unique programming format—every week, cartoons produced during a certain year (and cartoons produced during years prior to that year) would be showcased. For example, if Boomerang was showcasing the year 1969, the viewer would more than likely see an episode of Scooby-Doo, Where Are You! or Dastardly and Muttley in their Flying Machines. US Boomerang channel was launched in April 2000.

UK launch

Boomerang launched on 27 May 2000, Airing between 06:00-00:00, on Sky Digital and certain cable operates. The channel was created by Turner Broadcasting to broadcast classic cartoons from the Hanna-Barbera, MGM and Warner Bros archive programme library, and Targeted at babyboomers and their children. In May 2001 The channel become the second highest rated kids' channel (amongst 4-9ers), with over 1.3m kids tuning in. It was beaten only by sister channel Cartoon Network. In July the channel was launch on UK cable operator Telewest network, thus increasing viewers. James Greville, head of Cartoon Network UK. "The channel launched barely a year ago and yet it's already beaten established kids' channels in terms of ratings and share" By November the channel was launched on NTL platform. Boomerang increased it library of old cartoons when it acquired the rights to Dangermouse, Snoopy, The Pink Panther and Garfield. By the end of 2001 the channel started to move away from its original purpose, and moved to broadcast more recent programming.

A timeshift channel, Boomerang +1, was launched on 6 March 2006.

Live action programming

In the September of 2007, the channel started airing live action programming My Spy Family. The series was a co-production between Turner Broadcasting and Kindle Entertainment, the independent production company to have emerged from the closure of ITV Productions, Kids. The show marks a major investment for Turner in live action at a time when many broadcasters are reviewing their commitment to children's programming.

Other live action Series included Life with Derek and popular sitcom The Latest Buzz.

Technical faults and interruptions

On 27 July 2006, Boomerang, along with its sister channels suffered a major 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 the inability as the 2006 European heat wave had hit Turner Broadcasting System Europe. The power cut caused a mix up of channels (i.e. Cartoon Network being broadcast on Boomerang and Toonami, with Boomerang being broadcast on Cartoon Network Too). Boomerang +1 was off air for some time, while TCM, reverted between TCM France and other programming during the times it was able to provide a service. TCM 2 didn't have a power cut because of its downtimes of timesharing. Most advertising was suspended and several of the channel websites were offline also. 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 Cartoon Network Too and Boomerang were showing episodes of The Flintstones. These backups where played out with a scrolling message which said "We apologise for the disruption to this service. This is due to technical difficulties. We will resume normal programming as soon as possible" in multiple languages. Whilst most channels returned to the air relatively quickly, it took longer for Cartoon Network Too to resume programming and it was also joked on various animation based forums by Toonami UK viewers, many of whom have made note of their disdain for the direction in which Turner took the Brand in the UK, that the backup transmission was more entertaining, purely on the basis that there's no live action aired during the black out. The idents on Toonami which aired between shows during the black-out displayed the message "Sorry! Toonami is broken, we'll be right back as soon as we fix it.". These idents have since been re-used in disclaimers warning viewers not to try stunts on various shows at home.^{[citation needed]}

Boomerang programmes

Main article: List of programmes broadcast by Boomerang UK & Ireland

Like the U.S. channel of the same name, the station's programming consists almost exclusively of MGM, Hanna-Barbera and Warner Bros. archive programming, though it also includes fairly recent programmes featuring older characters, such as Garfield and Friends, Taz-Mania, and The Pink Panther Show. Unlike the U.S. station, commercials are broadcast. The channel occasionally suspends its regular programming for theme weeks, most often for Tom and Jerry and Scooby-Doo. For a few months starting from September 2000, more archive action-oriented programming was shown on the Boomeraction slot at weekends, including shows such as The Fantastic Four, Centurions and Challenge of the GoBots. This endeavour was short-lived however, and the slot and its programmes were permanently dropped from the schedules in May 2001. For a short while, Boomerang UK aired a few on CN's shows like Fosters Home For Imaginary Friends and Camp Lazlo and not to mention Chowder, It also features other cartoons, like Mr. Bean and Gadget Boy as well as some classic British cartoons such as Danger Mouse and Roobarb. In July 2007, Boomerang UK started to show Live-action shows, including exclusive shows like My Spy Family, The Latest Buzz and Life with Derek as well as puppetery shows like Fraggle Rock and Thunderbirds (several years before).

Boomerang's original logo was the same as the U.S. channel, used from 27 May 2000 to 12 September 2004.

Pet Personality Awards

Boomerang set up a yearly competition, since 2009, where viewers can submit and vote for any photos and videos of their pets. A downloadable virtual puppy is also available and one of the categories. Each award category is based on the characters from Boomerang's programming:

• Garfield - Greediest
• Tweety - Cutest
• Scooby Doo - Funniest
• Tom & Jerry - Oddest Couple
• Bugs Bunny - Most Talented
• Scrappy Doo - Bravest
• Pink Panther - Most Unusual
• Daffy Duck - Fave Celebrity and Pet
• Best Animal Impression
• Best Looked After Virtual Puppy

Another competition called "Pet of the Week" aired on Boomerang from October 24, 2009.

External links

• Official website