Killtacular
11-21-2001, 05:25 PM
When it comes to Saturday Morning cartoons, Kids' WB! has been leading the pack ever since it started, back in 1995.
The networks that are really being hit hard are TNBC, who have aired teen-related programming such as spinoffs of "Saved By The Bell," and Fox Kids, better known for the various "Power Rangers" series and "Digimon."
And so, in a move that many analysts have predicted for a while now, Variety.com (http://www.variety.com/index.asp?layout=story&articleid=VR1117856139&categoryid=14) reports that Fox Kids and TNBC are starting over from scratch.
Both networks have been approached by Nelvana and DiC Entertainment. DiC Entertainment is better known for fueling most of NBC and ABC's earlier Saturday Morning shows, from "Sonic the Hedgehog" to "Super Mario Super Show" to "Camp Candy" to "ALF."
Nelvana Entertainment has produced some of the finest Saturday Morning cartoons for FOX, including "Eek the Cat," "Beetlejuice," "Sam and Max," and "The Adventures of Tin Tin."
NBC is doing this move because their TNBC block is difficult to promote, and is aired at an awkward time for teens to reach in the first place. The only time they could promote TNBC, in fact, was during Friends.
NBC wants to have a block that kids can be syphoned into through weekday promotion, which could mean that NBC is planning a kids block for weekday afternoons as well. Either way, NBC has informed the producers of the TNBC shows that their programs will not have a home in a year.
FOX Kids has several options they are considering. One is keeping the block as is, which is now definitely not going to happen. Another is retooling the block to fit an older crowd (18-34). This could mean their anime shows, "Escaflowne" and "Slayers," could be aired with very little editing.
Another option is to air FX programming in the block, which Fox is unsure of, because it might share a similar fate to TNBC. And then of course, there is the lease option, which would grant Nelvana the ability to put on new shows and bring old shows back.
Fox will make their decision within the next couple of weeks. NBC has not announced when their decision will be.
So what will happen to "Power Rangers" and "Digimon," both shows possessing huge cult followings? Most likely, they will be ported over to the ABC network, ABC Family, or another Disney owned network, as Disney owns both series now.
The networks that are really being hit hard are TNBC, who have aired teen-related programming such as spinoffs of "Saved By The Bell," and Fox Kids, better known for the various "Power Rangers" series and "Digimon."
And so, in a move that many analysts have predicted for a while now, Variety.com (http://www.variety.com/index.asp?layout=story&articleid=VR1117856139&categoryid=14) reports that Fox Kids and TNBC are starting over from scratch.
Both networks have been approached by Nelvana and DiC Entertainment. DiC Entertainment is better known for fueling most of NBC and ABC's earlier Saturday Morning shows, from "Sonic the Hedgehog" to "Super Mario Super Show" to "Camp Candy" to "ALF."
Nelvana Entertainment has produced some of the finest Saturday Morning cartoons for FOX, including "Eek the Cat," "Beetlejuice," "Sam and Max," and "The Adventures of Tin Tin."
NBC is doing this move because their TNBC block is difficult to promote, and is aired at an awkward time for teens to reach in the first place. The only time they could promote TNBC, in fact, was during Friends.
NBC wants to have a block that kids can be syphoned into through weekday promotion, which could mean that NBC is planning a kids block for weekday afternoons as well. Either way, NBC has informed the producers of the TNBC shows that their programs will not have a home in a year.
FOX Kids has several options they are considering. One is keeping the block as is, which is now definitely not going to happen. Another is retooling the block to fit an older crowd (18-34). This could mean their anime shows, "Escaflowne" and "Slayers," could be aired with very little editing.
Another option is to air FX programming in the block, which Fox is unsure of, because it might share a similar fate to TNBC. And then of course, there is the lease option, which would grant Nelvana the ability to put on new shows and bring old shows back.
Fox will make their decision within the next couple of weeks. NBC has not announced when their decision will be.
So what will happen to "Power Rangers" and "Digimon," both shows possessing huge cult followings? Most likely, they will be ported over to the ABC network, ABC Family, or another Disney owned network, as Disney owns both series now.