Where did all the cartoons go?
By NoWayRo
@NoWayRo (1061)
Romania
November 24, 2010 4:09am CST
Because I'm home all day, bored to death and watching the daytime TV junk, I noticed something. None of the major, mainstream television networks we have over here broadcast any shows for children anymore.
Sure, there are various specialized channels, available on cable, that show nothing but cartoons all day long, but those are very, very old re-runs.
Why do you suppose that is?
I thought it would be cheap to show some of the old, classic movies (like Snow white, Cinderella, The Jungle Book) and televisions could get a lot from advertising, children make a great segment for advertisers.
I'm curios, is this the standard in other countries as well? No cartoons on general television networks? If you have children, what are they watching these days?
5 responses
@Canellita (12029)
• United States
28 Jan 11
Maybe it's because during the day most children are at school. PBS does have quality children's programming though.
BTW, much of what airs on cable is reruns. It's cheaper than buying new shows.
@Canellita (12029)
• United States
29 Jan 11
Wow, where do you live? Is this all ages of school children?
Your local TV programming is going to mostly reflect what is happening nationally though, regardless. Just like in the summer when daytime programming doesn't change because school is out.
The kids home in the morning should be watching PBS or Nature or the Discovery channel or...
@NoWayRo (1061)
• Romania
28 Jan 11
Hi Canellita,
This is only partially true where I live, because schools are over-crowded here, so half of the children have classes in the morning, and half in the afternoon. So some children are at home in the morning, watching, from what I can tell, soap operas and talk show reruns. 
It's good that at least PBS is doing something about the quality of the show, it's better than nothing.
It's good that at least PBS is doing something about the quality of the show, it's better than nothing.
@Xansus (946)
• Bulgaria
25 Nov 10
I don't like the new cartoons they are not interesting i keep watching most of the old , i like them more then anything (well i like animes too but thats another topic right :P )
Cartoon Network maybe is the only thing that i can watch but still half ot the cartoons are boring .
About the once upon a time the Snow white , Cinderella , Maugly . They time have passed so you will most probably not see them ;(((
@NoWayRo (1061)
• Romania
25 Nov 10
Of course I've seen them, I grew up with the Jungle Book, it's still one of my favorites 
The sequel was pretty bad, though.
In most cases I agree with you, the cartoons they make these days don't have the same appeal, it's like one stereotype after another. But every now and then they manage to produce something good; among the feature films, I liked Ice Age and the first two Shreks.
The sequel was pretty bad, though.
In most cases I agree with you, the cartoons they make these days don't have the same appeal, it's like one stereotype after another. But every now and then they manage to produce something good; among the feature films, I liked Ice Age and the first two Shreks.
@macdingolinger (10386)
• United States
24 Nov 10
I think maybe over the holidays there might be a few more of the "oldies but goodies" as they figure kiddos may be home more during the holidays. Most days kids are either in school or daycare anymore. And maybe it is actually because of what you said, there are specific channels for children's programming and maybe it's just not marketable anymore since they exist!
@NoWayRo (1061)
• Romania
25 Nov 10
Yep, same here, they might have something during the holidays. For the rest of the year, I guess children who stay at home for one reason or another can just watch the reruns of the really bad talk shows about fashion and celebrities, because that's all that's on TV in the morning.
It's been bugging me since I had to babysit a friend's child; I had to bring in some of my (rather antique) tapes; there's nothing on TV a child and an adult can enjoy together.
@devijay78 (1573)
• India
24 Nov 10
Hi NoWayRo. Here in India we do have seperate channels which run cartoons the whole day long. But there are the normal channels which telecast cartoons for an hour or so. But since the cartoon channels are there, nobody waits for the specific time to watch them nowadays.
@NoWayRo (1061)
• Romania
25 Nov 10
Hi devijay78,
Well, at least it's good that they have some cartoons on the main networks, even for an hour, I think. When I was growing up, it was part of the daily schedule, just before going to be, I could watch cartoons for 15 minutes (that was all that was available back then), and it helped me create some sort of a routine. I don't think it's helping the attention span of kids these days that they can just turn on the TV and watch reruns at any time of day.
@devijay78 (1573)
• India
25 Nov 10
I don't allow my daughter to watch cartoons nowadays. She is not much interested too. She is more interested in fighting with her cousin who is one and a half years old and both of them bring down the house! But that is much better than watching tv all the time.
@aaronfyzeon (1920)
• Philippines
24 Nov 10
I am so sorry about that it is happening there in your country that is no cartoons now on major television networks. I think for them the revenue is really not really worth it. Creating a cartoon is a very tedious work. and sometimes the demand of the producers and marketing staff from the cartoons is so high. In our country, mangas and anime is still there. Some are dubbed in our own language because even adults love to watch these cartoons.
@NoWayRo (1061)
• Romania
25 Nov 10
I guess you're right, aaronfyzeon, it's profitable to create cartoons only if you're one of the major companies, for small studios it doesn't seem to be good business anymore. I've been to a cartoon festival this fall, and they had some great features, but only adult cartoons, nothing for the children.
I think it's good that you have the type of cartoons both children and adults can enjoy, it creates a sort of a bond between generations.
