TBS's Cartoon Network is Headed to Canada

TORONTO - Cartoon Network series first started airing in Canada in 1997 when the Canadian cable animation channel Teletoon launched here.

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Early Teletoon offerings included classic Cartoon Network titles like Scooby Doo, The Jetsons and Cow and Chicken.

Now Turner Broadcasting Systems is returning the favor by giving Teletoon a green light to launch Cartoon Network in Canada later this year, via a programming and branding deal.

Terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

But Teletoon, which is run by Astral Media and Corus Entertainment, will launch Cartoon Network, a Canadian ad-supported digital TV channel to feature Cartoon Network-branded programming from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. nightly.

The Canadian version of Cartoon Network will then feature Adult Swim fare overnight for older viewers, starting at 9 p.m.

Teletoon has not yet set a launch date for Cartoon Network later this year.

The TBS deal to bring Cartoon Network north is the latest sign Canadian broadcasters are looking to U.S. branded channels to build out their subscriber bases.

Rogers Media recently brought FX Networks, while Corus Entertainment brought Oprah Winfrey’s OWN Network into Canada and will launch ABC Spark north of the border on March 26, thanks to a separate licensing agreement with Disney/ABC Television Group.

The Cartoon Network deal for Canada will bring shows across the broder like The Amazing World of Gumball, Adventure Time and Regular Show that have yet to air here.