Turner takes Boomerang OTT

Time Warner companies Turner and Warner Bros have partnered to launch Cartoon Network’s sibling channel Boomerang as an SVoD service in the US.

Classic Scooby Doo will air on the OTT version of Boomerang

The OTT version of Boomerang will feature content drawn from the extensive Hanna-Barbera, Looney Tunes and MGM animation libraries, which together include more than 5,000 titles.

Set to launch in the spring, it will provide instant and exclusive access to both new and classic episodes of Scooby Doo, Tom & Jerry, Bugs Bunny, The Jetsons and The Flintstones, among others.

New original series destined for the platform include Warner Bros Animation (WBA)’s comedic fantasy series Dorothy & the Wizard of Oz and Wacky Races, a reboot of the Hanna-Barbera classic, first reported by C21 in 2015.

This follows the deal Turner and WBA agreed in 2015 for the latter to supply almost 450 half-hours of original programming, primarily from its huge library of classic titles, to Boomerang.

The SVoD service will be ad-free and launch in the US on web, iOS and Android devices for US$4.99 per month, with a seven-day free trial, or US$39.99 annually, with a 30-day free trial.

It will feature family profiles, personalised recommendations, the option to download for offline viewing, Spanish audio and interactive features, Turner said.

The product will expand to several more platforms after launch, including Amazon, Roku and Apple TV. Turner and Warner Bros will explore additional distribution opportunities with both new and existing partners in the future, the companies said.

“Boomerang is a beloved brand that has always had multi-generational appeal and some of the greatest animated shows ever created,” said Christina Miller, president of Cartoon Network, Boomerang and Adult Swim.

“Our on-going partnership with Warner Bros around this new premium service continues our strategy of making sure our fans are engaged with fresh and fun content whenever and wherever they want it.”