Boomerang (UK & Ireland)

Infobox TV channel
name = Boomerang
logofile = Boomerang logo.png logoalt =
logosize = 200px
launch = 27 May 2000
share = 0.2% (0.1% for +1)
share as of = April 2008
share source = [http://www.barb.co.uk/viewingsummary/monthreports.cfm?report=monthgmulti]
owner = Turner Broadcasting System Europe (Time Warner Inc.)
sister names = Cartoon Network (UK)
Cartoon Network Europe
Cartoonito
Cartoon Network Too| timeshift names = Boomerang +1
web = [http://www.boomerangtv.co.uk/ Boomerang (UK & Ireland)]
[http://www.cartoonnetworkhq.net/microsites/boomerang Boomerang (Europe)]
sat serv 1 = Sky Digital
sat chan 1 = Channel 603
Channel 618 (+1)| sat serv 2 = Orbit Network
sat chan 2 = Channel 20
sat serv 3 = Showtime Arabia
sat chan 3 =
sat serv 4 = ADD
sat chan 4 =
cable serv 1 = Virgin Media
cable chan 1 = Channel 730
Channel 731 (+1)
cable serv 2 = UPC Ireland
cable chan 2 = Channel 603
adsl serv 1 = Tiscali TV
adsl chan 1 = Channel 309

Boomerang is a television channel broadcast in the United Kingdom, Republic of Ireland and the Arab World, launched on May 27, 2000. It is broadcast 24 hours on the Sky Digital, Virgin Media, Tiscali TV, Top Up TV, Chorus Digital, Orbit Network, Showtime Arabia and ADD. It mostly features classic cartoons especially Hanna-Barbera Cartoons, such as Scooby Doo and Tom and Jerry. Since late July 2007 Boomerang has been showing live action series and sitcoms that everythings change.

History and Popularity

Boomerang was the most popular Turner channel in the UK with large audiences often beating popular BBC kids channel CBBC and ITV2's GMTV2 KidsFact|date=February 2007. A timeshift channel, Boomerang +1, was launched on March 6, 2006. Since 2004, the UK version of Boomerang has had a separate on screen identity and logo from the US version (prior to this, the channel had carried US branding and logos). The UK version also has custom made onscreen idents. For example these show children doing various different activities such as shopping, playing games ect. This is thought to be because Boomerang has started showing Fraggle Rock, My Spy Family, The Latest Buzz, Life With Derek and Blue Water High as well as previous programming.

These idents were first broadcast on October 22, 2007 and June 13, 2008.

Technical Faults and interruptions

On July 27 2006 Boomerang, along with Cartoon Network, CN Too, Toonami, Boomerang +1 and TCM, 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 to meet energy demands, 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 CN 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. However, 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 CN 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 CN 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.

Logos

Boomerang Programmes

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", "Baby Looney Tunes", and "Duck Dodgers". Unlike the U.S. station, commercials are broadcast. The channel occasionally suspends its regular programming for theme weeks, most often for "Scooby-Doo". Recently Boomerang UK has been showing new shows, most notably "Camp Lazlo". It began airing "Fosters Home For Imaginary Friends" in February 2006. In August 2007, they started showing Live-Action shows with Fraggle Rock.

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.

From March 2007 till October 2007, Boomerang began airing old Cartoon Network original series late at night.

Boomerang Cinema

Boomerang sometimes presents a series of films, usually at weekends. Most films shown are all the Scooby Doo, Barbie and Bratz animated films and have started to shown live action films. Premieres tend to pop-up sometimes as well.

External links

* [http://www.boomerangtv.co.uk Boomerang UK website]
* [http://www.cartoonnetworkhq.net/microsites/boomerang/ Boomerang Poland Website]
* [http://europe.turnerinfo.com/BOOM/UK/home/index.jsp Boomerang UK at Turner Info]
* [http://europe.turnerinfo.com/BOOM/PAN/home/index.jsp Boomerang Europe at Turner Info]