Cartoon Network Arabic
Cartoon Network Arabic (Arabic: كرتون نتورك بالعربية) is a Pan-Arab free-to-air children's television channel that is broadcast for a pan-Arab audience in the Middle East and North Africa region (excluding Israel, Iran, Turkey and Cyprus), and it is one of two Arabic-language versions of Cartoon Network, the other being an HD pay TV channel on beIN and additional providers called Cartoon Network MENA which is available in both English and Arabic. The channel was launched on 10 October 2010 at 10:10 AM GST, with the channel's launch coinciding with the opening of Turner Broadcasting System Europe's offices in Dubai Media City. As of 2019, it's managed by Warner Bros. through its Middle East unit.
| Cartoon Network Arabic كرتون نتورك بالعربية | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Launched | 10 October 2010 |
| Owned by | Warner Bros. MENA |
| Picture format | 16:9 (576i SDTV) (2014–present) 4:3 (576i SDTV) (2010–2014) |
| Slogan | "كرتون نتورك هي العنوان" (Cartoon Network is the address) |
| Country | United Arab Emirates, Egypt and Saudi Arabia |
| Language | Arabic |
| Broadcast area | Middle East and North Africa (excluding Israel, Iran, Turkey and Cyprus) |
| Headquarters |
|
| Sister channel(s) |
|
| Timeshift service | Cartoon Network Arabic +2 (defunct as of 2016) |
| Website | Official website MENA language website (English and Arabic) |
Availability | |
| Satellite | |
| Nilesat | 12226 H - 27500 - 5/6 |
| Arabsat BADR6 | 11747 V - 27500 - 3/4 |
| Yahsat 1A | 12130 H - 27500 - 8/9 |
| beIN Network | Channel 107 (unencrypted SD using Arabsat/Es'hail transponder) |
| eLife | Channel 311 (HD) |
| Du | Channel 356 (HD) |
| Humax | Channel 13 |
| Cable | |
| Mozaic TV (Qatar) | Channel 14 (SD) |
The standard channel broadcasts via Arabsat Badr 6 and Nilesat. Cartoon Network Arabic is considered a free-to-air alternative to Cartoon Network MENA and Boomerang MENA, two pay TV channels offered in the Arab world in HD and in both English and Arabic on beIN Network and additional providers since 1 July 2016, despite the varying differences in programming, schedules, and available languages.
History
Cartoon Network Arabic was launched on 10 October 2010 at 10:10 AM GST.[1][2] The channel's launch coincided with the opening of Turner Broadcasting System's offices in Dubai Media City, UAE, which is where the channel's local owner is located.[3]
The channel changed its aspect ratio from 4:3 to 16:9 on 5 October 2014; it also began using the Check it 3.0 branding on that day.
On 4 October 2017, the channel has fully rebranded to Dimensional style.
In December 2015, Turner Broadcasting System entered an exclusivity deal with the Qatar-based beIN Media Group.[4] This deal led to Cartoon Network Africa, Boomerang Africa, and TCM moving from OSN to the latter's beIN Network service, and also caused the HD feed on YahLive to shut down; the actual channel, however, is unaffected due to being a free-to-air channel on Nilesat and Arabsat/Badr. Cartoon Network Arabic was added to beIN as channel 138 as an HD channel, although the HD version was later replaced with the SD version on Arabsat/Badr. CNN International HD was removed from My-HD's channel list and moved to beIN as an encrypted HD channel along with the pay-only HLN which is in letterboxed SD, but CNN continues to remain available as a free-to-air channel on Nilesat and Arabsat/Badr in SD. However, subscribers to Etisalat and du's IPTV services in the UAE were virtually unaffected at the time. However, due to their direct relations with Turner, UAE Telecoms, Etisalat and Du continue to offer these channels to IPTV subscribers.[4] Additionally, inVision in Saudi Arabia, Ooredoo in Qatar and Cablevision in Lebanon offer Cartoon Network and Boomerang as well.
Programming
TV series
Animated programs aired include original Cartoon Network Studios productions like the Ben 10 reboot, Regular Show, Powerpuff Girls reboot, Uncle Grandpa, Clarence, Adventure Time, and We Bare Bears, as well as programs produced by other studios (such as Hasbro Studios'[5] Transformers: Robots in Disguise, Warner Bros. Animation's Teen Titans Go!, Justice League Action, Rainbow's 44 Cats and Mattel WildBrain's Polly Pocket, etc.). The channel mainly airs animated cartoons from Cartoon Network Studios. Local productions like Mansour are produced and aired along with movies, shorts, live-action series, and shows from various other studios.
The channel is only available in Arabic, with no choice to switch to English or any other languages. This is due to the fact that the channel is a free-to-air TV channel aimed solely at an Arabic-speaking audience for money. The channel broadcasts a line of Cartoon Network's own shows dubbed from English. Cartoon Network Arabic has also offered numerous localized shows, such as Mansour and the Arabic version of Ben 10: Ultimate Challenge, which are the result of various partnership deals with local production companies, including the Dubai-based Lammtara Pictures (Freej) or the Jordan-based Rubicon Group Holding (Ben wa Izzy, Tareq wa Shireen). The channel often edits certain programs for content, cutting out certain scenes from them. In 2019, Cartoon Network Arabic started airing Kral Şakir as -ليث the king-.
Blocks aired on Cartoon Network Arabic
Current
- فقرة كارتونيتو "Cartoonito Block" (24 March 2019 – Present)
- جديد جديد "NEW NEW NEW NEW" (2018 – Present)
- كرتون نتورك مينيز "Cartoon Network Minis" (2017 – Present)
- نادي الإفطار "The Breakfast Club" (2 November 2015 – Present)
- سنيما كرتون نتورك "Cinema Cartoon Network" (5 November 2011 – Present)
Former
- على كيفك "Your Choice" (8 April 2011 – 2015)
- فوازير رمضان "Ramadan Riddles" (1 August 2011 – 2017, Every Ramadan day)
- فقرة كارتونيتو "Cartoonito Block" (4 September 2011 - Early 2014)
- تسالي يوليو "Entertainment In July" (July 2011, short-lived)
- أحلى اثنين "Funday Monday" (September 2013 - December 2013)
- ساعة البطل "Hero Hour" (September 2013 - November 2013)
- إلى كأس العالم "To The World Cup" (June 2014 - July 2014)
- الكوميديا في يناير "The Comedy In January" (Every January)
- القوة القصوي "Maximum Power" (4 January 2015 – 17 June 2015)
- قطط وكلاب "Dogs and Cats" (2016, short-lived)
- أبطال كارتون نتورك "Cartoon Network Heroes" (27 March 2016 – 14 April 2016)
- اضحك من القلب "Laugh Your Heart " (2 February 2016 – Cancelled)
- فقرة بوميرانغ "Boomerang Block" (28 October 2018, short-lived)
Arabic version of Cartoonito
In 2011, Turner Broadcasting System Europe had announced that it would roll out its UK-based preschoolers' channel Cartoonito across Europe, the Middle East and Africa, increasing the brand's distribution to 125 million homes in 112 territories.[6] On Cartoon Network Arabic, Cartoonito was launched as a morning block broadcast every day starting from 4 September 2011. However, the block was phased out in early 2014, with some of its shows no longer available (although Baby Looney Tunes broadcasts on Boomerang HD and LazyTown airs on CN Arabic early in the morning).
However, the Cartoonito block returned on 24 March 2019 with 3 shows, 1 returning is Baby Looney Tunes with 2 new additions to Cartoonito which are Grizzy and the Lemmings and Pat the Dog. It was closed and reopened again in December, with some programs previously on the block being removed.
Other versions and related channels
Cartoon Network Arabic HD
In March 2012, Cartoon Network Arabic became available in true high-definition via the YahLive service.[7] The channel was eventually moved under beIN Network's service after the exclusivity deal was in effect in January 2016. In May 2016, the channel was superseded in favor of Cartoon Network MENA and Boomerang MENA that were later launched in July that year, as they both feature an Arabic audio track.
Cartoon Network Arabic +2
A two-hour timeshift channel variant launched on 30 June 2014 via the My-HD pay TV network. It was terminated in January 2016 as a consequence of Turner Broadcasting System Arabia's deal with beIN Media Group.
Cartoon Network Hindi
On 1 April 2016, Qatar-based beIN Media Group, in association with Turner Broadcasting System Arabia, launched Cartoon Network Hindi exclusively via beIN. Cartoon Network Hindi provides children's animated programming to most South Asian expatriates in the Arab World countries outside of India. As the name implies, the channel is only available in Hindi, which is akin to the Arab World's own pan-aired channel.
On 12 January 2017, the channel was converted to HD and widescreen, in addition to rebranding to Dimensional.
References
- "Cartoon Network Arabic free-to-air goes live on October 10th". Zawya. 2010-10-10. Retrieved 2011-02-09.
- "Cartoon Network Arabic launches". Digital Production Middle East. 2010-10-10. Archived from the original on 2015-09-23. Retrieved 2011-02-09.
- "10 October launch for Cartoon Network Arabic". Rapid TV News. 2010-10-07. Retrieved 2011-02-09.
- "Turner and beIN Media Group Announce Strategic Partnership Exclusively for the Middle East & North Africa Region". beIN Media Group. 2015-12-29. Retrieved 2016-03-17.
- "Hasbro Shows to Air in Europe & Middle East in 2011". Raving Toy Maniac. 2010-12-13. Retrieved 2011-07-19.
- "Turner Broadcasting to launch Cartoonito across EMEA". AMEinfo. 2011-04-21. Archived from the original on 2011-08-05. Retrieved 2011-09-07.
- Saundalka, Jason (2012-03-05). "Cartoon Network Arabic goes HD". Digital Production Middle East. Archived from the original on 2012-03-05. Retrieved 2012-04-13.