Newsarama
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.
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.
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.
Saturday morning cartoons were pretty much over with anyway, but this is the final nail in their coffin.
It's a shame to see such a nostalgic tradition fade away, but that's life I guess.
