CW To Replace KidsWB! With 4Kids

[GrnMarvl14]

Source.

The animation world was sent spinning yesterday when Variety announced the CW TV network will be shutting down its Kids WB! Saturday morning animation block at the end of the 2007-8 season. The 12 year old Kids WB! was the last remaining animated block of Saturday morning programming left on any network, cable or broadcast that was produced in-house.

Starting with 2008, the five-hour block will be filled by 4Kids Entertainment, which currently does a more preschool-oriented syndicated block for Fox. 4Kids will handle all national commercial advertising, Variety reports, and will share in ad revenue with the CW. The CW's share will be applied against a guarantee 4Kids will pay the network. The deal will kick off in September of 2008, with 4Kids covering the 7:00 am – 12:00 pm timeslot.

The primary cause of this decision was simple: ratings and advertising revenue. An inside source confirmed what Variety reported that Kids WB! was losing a substantial number of viewers to cable networks including Nickelodeon, Disney and the Time-Warner owned Cartoon Network. According to the trade, the final blow came when a major sponsor, cereal manufacturer Kellogg’s, announced it was withdrawing all its advertising due to recent government pressure regarding child-oriented breakfast foods.

"This is a great transaction for both the CW and 4Kids Entertainment," CW chief operating officer John Maatta told the trade. Maatta added that 4Kids offered "substantial resources and laser-focus in this arena."

The news has left fans of not only comic book-based animation but also long term franchises like Scooby Doo and Tom & Jerry speculating on the future of their favorite weekend programs. According to the source, fans of The Batman, Legion of Super Heroes, the upcoming Spectacular Spider-Man and other comic book and animated stables should not be too concerned.

Simply put, the end of Kids WB! does not mean the end of Warner Bros. Animation, the source explained, pointing out that they are two completely separate entities. For many shows, Kids WB! was the outlet Warner Bros. Animation series used, but those series aren’t going to be cancelled at the end of the 2007-2008 season. “We are exploring a number of other avenues to direct this programming, from other networks to direct-to-DVD options,” the source said. “There are a wide field of possibilities to be explored.”

For example, Toon Disney’s Jetix block of programming is now showing Batman: The Animated Series and Superman: The Animated Series, and will soon begin airing Pinky and the Brain. Clearly, when Disney is airing Warner Bros. animated series, the distribution picture as well as visions of old studio rivalries needs to be re-thought.

An additional possible distribution outlet – T-Works, the upcoming online animation-centric Warner Bros. site. While the WB source stopped short of saying that T-Works would be the home for new episodes of animated series, it was announced that the new online venture would be the home to a yet-untitled Batman shortform series as well as an animated Wizard of Oz project.

Another distribution channel for Warner Bros. Animation’s projects – direct to DVD films. According to the source, sales of both Superman: Doomsday and the latest original Scooby Doo DVDs have exceeded projected sales by approximately 30%.

"We absolutely intend to stay true to our heritage," Warner Bros. TV Group President Bruce Rosenblum said to Variety. "This is an important business that touches many of the Warner Bros. divisions, and we have confidence that Lisa Judson and her team at Warner Bros. Animation will continue to build toward future opportunities.”

Rosenblum had more to say in a statement released to the media:

“Clearly, this was an issue that we examined closely with our partners at CBS,” Rosenblum said. “We fully believe it makes the most business sense for The CW in this broadcast marketplace. That being said, Warner Bros. has a long, successful track record in the animation business and we absolutely intend to stay true to our heritage by producing world-class animated entertainment for the children's market be it for cable, direct-to-DVD, broadband, wireless and platforms of the future.”

Meanwhile, 4Kids appears to be very pleased with themselves. Their contract with Fox has been extended to at least 2009, and now they also have a five year deal with The CW.

“We are delighted to be in business with The CW and secure distribution of 4Kids’ content for the next five broadcast seasons,” said Alfred R. Kahn, 4Kids Entertainment’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. “We have had tremendous success over the years collaborating with CW Network partner Warner Bros., to whom we licensed 4Kids’ hit TV series and movies such as Pokémon and Yu-Gi-Oh!. We think The CW’s outstanding affiliate lineup and young target demographic make the network a perfect fit for our programming and business initiatives,” said Kahn.

“We have tremendous faith in Saturday morning kids television, and with this deal we’ve renewed our commitment to remain a major player in children’s entertainment,” said Norman Grossfeld, President of 4Kids’ subsidiary 4Kids Productions. “We look forward to embracing the fans of Kids WB! and we welcome the opportunity to work with all the production companies, program distributors and advertisers that share our passion for the kids business. We also continue to value our relationship with the Fox Network and its affiliates. Fox recently exercised its option to extend the term of our deal with them through the end of the 2008-2009 broadcast season.”

Truly the end of an era. But it's good to see nothing will really change.

 

[The Big Al]

Chinese Weavles proves once again to be insane. Dropping Pokemon, cancelling Veronica Mars, (I personally believe they engineered the downfall of Enterprise), and now signing a deal with the devil himself. Anyone else think CW's logo should be replaced with the Deceptikahn Emblem?

At least Warner Brother's cartoons will live on elsewhere. Though I can see why they're losing viewers, a lot of their shows stink. Outside the comic book based shows it's been one dud after another.

 

[Cybersai]

The thing is 4kidsTV still has another year on Fox before their contract expires, so for one year 4kids will be programming two Saturday morning blocks at the same time.

I imagine most of 4kids shows will migrate over to the new block, and they already confirmed Yu-gi-oh and TMNT.

 

[XD375]

4Kids TV actually airs on the Detroit WB (now called My20) on Sundays, or at least it did for the 2005-2006 and 2006-2007 seasons. I'm not sure about anything before or after...

 

[Lil Brother]

4KidsTV doesn't even air here in Atlanta, so it's good to see it will with a CW counterpart. I don't care about anything on it aside from a mild interest in Sonic X, so it doesn't effect me too much... although maybe if they started the F-Zero dub again...

 

[Trainer Lisa]

So uh, if they're still airing the current lineup of 4Kids TV shows on Fox....

When the CW starts airing 4Kids' shows as well, which shows will be airing there? I mean, for a while, the two channels will both be airing 4Kids' shows at the same time. But they couldn't have the CW air the same shows as 4Kids TV though, right?


And come to think of it, I'm really surprised Khan mentioned Pokemon in that article (in relation to the CW). o.o

Well, anyway, it was nice of him to mention that Pokemon helped bring success to 4Kids.

 

[The Big Al]

Pokemon is the only reason 4Xenophobes exists. If another hole in the wall dubbing company had taken it they would be the multi-billion dollar corporation.

 

[Trainer Lisa]

Oh, really?

Wow. So picking up Pokemon made all the difference for them. That's interesting, indeed....


And apparently, the same thing would've happened to any dubbing company that received Pokemon....

I never realized that before, but it's really quite amazing!! ^^

 

[Blackjack Gabbiani]

I'm against *any* company having a huge block like that on more than one channel. What happened to variety?

Also, are ANY networks (that is, not cable) but those two airing cartoons any more? Because I look at Saturday blocks and the Big Three air nothing but live-action "kidcoms". Even ABC, which is owned by Disney; you'd think they if no one else would air some cartoons.

 

[GrnMarvl14]

The cartoons are...in there. They seem to either be aired early on, or later on, depending on the channel. I know I keep running across cartoons on NBC later in their block.

 

[Duckgon Z]

4Kids TV actually airs on the Detroit WB (now called My20) on Sundays, or at least it did for the 2005-2006 and 2006-2007 seasons. I'm not sure about anything before or after...

I live in Detroit, so it still airs on Sundays, but now I guess that's about to change.

This is what happens when you get rid of good shows from your line-up, like Pokemon, Xiaolin Showdown, and Yu-Gi-Oh (even though it ended). Lower ratings happen, less money starts coming in, sponsers start pulling out, and your up a shit creek without a paddle. I hope Cartoon Network grabs Legion of Superheroes and The Batman (again). They'll probably get Tom and Jerry and Scooby-Doo, too.

 

[Pokeyug]

This what happens when they become stupid and get rid of their top rated show which is Pokemon. I would bet a lot of money that if they would have just kept Pokemon and maybe showed Yu-gi-oh! GX this would NOT be happening.

With that said, I am still very angry at The CW for their decision. I grew up with Kids WB! It has been there for 12 years! Why does 4kids need two blocks. Why isn't one block on one network not enough? I am actually thinking of starting a campaign to get Kids WB back.

I have recently just created a Save Kids' WB Organization. For everyone who wishes to join click here. http://bmgf.bulbagarden.net/showthread.php?p=433133

 

[Kazamatsuri]

I'm against *any* company having a huge block like that on more than one channel. What happened to variety?

Also, are ANY networks (that is, not cable) but those two airing cartoons any more? Because I look at Saturday blocks and the Big Three air nothing but live-action "kidcoms". Even ABC, which is owned by Disney; you'd think they if no one else would air some cartoons.

You know, don't take my word for it, but I think 4Kids will be ending contract with Fox next fall. If so, then that would mean that there would be no more 4KidsTV on Fox in September 08. I don't know for sure. I just recall hearing it from somewhere.

Edit: Nevermind! I just found out that 4KidsTV will last until at least 2009.

 

[Terra Force]

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! May Al Kahn be smitten by Arceus!