Cartoon Network's high-octane afternoon action-adventure programming block, Toonami (M-F, 4-7 p.m.) is continuing its powerful kids ratings trajectory, charting record year-to-date growth for all targeted demographics. Through its exclusive action-driven schedule, Toonami has doubled its teen 12-17 ratings (1.6) while delivery is up 132 percent to an average of 255,000 teens, from the same period last year. Toonami is also tracking number one among males 12-17 in rating (2.0, up 67 percent) and in delivery (166,000, more than double last year) among all ad-supported cable supported networks. Among all teens, Toonami ties with MTV for first place in rating for its time period.

Showcasing such signature Japanese anime' series as Dragonball Z, Ronin Warriors and Sailor Moon, Toonami also has grown 43 percent over last year ratings with kids 9-14 (2.0), and 38 percent with boys 9-14 (2.9). Delivery for these target audiences also grew across the board — 67 percent both with kids 9-14 (339,000) and with boys 9-14 (255,000).

Among the individual programs, top-performing Dragonball Z at 5 p.m. has averaged a significant 5.8 rating with boys 9-14 year-to-date. In fact, Dragonball Z is number one in its time period among boys 9-14, teens 12-17 and males 12-17.

Toonami, Cartoon Network's popular afternoon action-adventure programming block airs weekdays 4-7p.m. (ET, PT) and features programs like Sailor Moon, Dragonball Z, Gundam Wing, Tenchi Muyo!, Outlaw Star and Ronin Warriors. Intermittently throughout the three-hour programming block, Toonami features popular music, computer generated 3-D animation segments and the block's host, TOM, an animated character who inhabits the space vessel Absolution.

Cartoon Network, currently seen in 71.2 million U.S. homes and 145 countries around the world, is Turner Broadcasting System, Inc.'s 24-hour, ad-supported cable service offering the best in animated entertainment. Drawing from the world's largest cartoon library, Cartoon Network also showcases unique original ventures such as Sheep in the Big City, Courage the Cowardly Dog, Mike, Lu & Og, The Powerpuff Girls, Ed, Edd n Eddy, Johnny Bravo, Cow and Chicken, Dexter's Laboratory and Cartoon Cartoons. Since its launch in 1992, Cartoon Network has remained one of ad-supported cable's highest-rated networks. Cartoon Network's Web site is located at http://www.CartoonNetwork.com.

Turner Broadcasting System, Inc., an AOL Time Warner company, is a major producer of news and entertainment product around the world and the leading provider of programming for the basic cable industry.

Rating period: Jan. 1 — Mar. 11, 2001
Source: Turner Entertainment Research from Nielsen Media Research data.