TC gushes about MeTV Toons — offering hours upon hours of animated joy. Read on and then… watch on! – the editor
The trend away from linear television to streaming may have gotten some blow-back during the last year. However profits have been scarce for media companies since exclusive content is lost income these days. Now if you put on Netflix, you find content from media rivals, like Paramount Global and Warner Bros. Discovery. Even Comcast understands it will get more licensing fees from Netflix than from its own Peacock.
The linear market to those who have cut the cord with cable, have energized the digital OTA market, to support local stations with the digital bandwidth to add several supplemental networks without shelling much cash for heavy syndication fees.
The leader of this trend was the originator: Weigel Broadcasting.
Weigel started several digital stations during the last 20 years— The largest and most successful is MeTV, the network I discussed during articles I wrote during my recovery.
A small portion of its programming is a Saturday Morning Cartoon block it ran, along with a Sunday Morning block, and an original show called:
Tune in with ME.
Sampler = 18-min of joy!
This cartoon compilation, hosted by Toony the fish and his co star, cartoon curator Bill Leff, was a throwback to the children’s programming from my day, like Wonderama and Steampipe Alley out of New York.
This Year the Expansion Commenced…
Weigel announced that a 3rd spin off of MeTV would start broadcasting June 25, a collaboration between Weigel and Warner Bros. Discovery called MeTV Toons.
[See MeTV Toons schedule here.]
I have been previewing the new network the last few days, and being a huge classic cartoon fan, this as become the BEST.NETWORK.EVER.!!!
Warners own a huge library of classic toons, compiling the rights to all the Looney Tunes, the Hanna-Barbera studios, the MGM cartoon including Tom and Jerry, and Popeye the Sailor. While they are the lead content provider, Weigel booked product from Sony, which includes the classic Mr Magoo and Gerald Mc Boing Boing shorts, and Comcast, who owns Woody Woodpecker, Dreamworks, and the Jay Ward studios.
Yes, they got Rocky Bullwinkle, and Underdog. Late at night, the Brits arrive with the Supermarionation classics like Thunderbirds and Captain Scarlet. Something for everyone.
A good portion of product, especially from Warners, has been restored in HD. Bugs, Daffy, and Porky look like they have had work done. Shaggy and Scooby look like they did when they premiered in 1969.
Weigel is still shopping for content. Currently there is no Disney product, mind you, other than Mickey Mouse Club. Disney controlled its product to its own programs and re-releases. Also, 60-70’s animation houses like Filmation and DePatie–Freleng are absent. I am sure after rights are cleared, and source material has been restored, it will make its way to the programming.
[Click to read more about the Golden Ate of American Animation.]
In my market, the local affiliate is next to impossible to get in my house with my antenna. They did have the sense to make broadcast on a couple of streaming providers, such as Philo and Frndly. Both networks have 7 day free trials. Both include some cable stations you cannot stream for free. I have a few more days of sampling, until I try for another antenna, or continue with my endless 7 day free trials.
That’s a Wrap…
Pure. Animated. Glee.
Indeed… Not since Turner launched Cartoon Network, and its sister network Boomerang, have I come across hours upon hours of animated glee. And to top it off, in most TV markets, it is free! Joy for us! The ultimate “throwback” actually, I’d say…
To my fellow siblings who also grew up with these cartoon classics, enjoy!
Thanks for reading. Please go forth, tune in, and share back your experiences–TC
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