Boomerang UK began as a block on
Cartoon Network in 1993. It launched as a separate channel on 27 May 2000, broadcasting from 6:00 AM until 12:00 AM on Sky Digital and other cable systems. At the time of its creation, Cartoon Network had a unique schedule. This led to the creation of the channel by Turner Broadcasting to allow them to broadcast classic cartoons from the Hanna-Barbera, MGM, and Warner Bros. archive programme library. This subsequently allowed its sister network (Cartoon Network) to free many of its classic programming from its schedule. In May 2001, Boomerang became the second-highest-rated children's channel in the UK, beaten only by parent service Cartoon Network. In July of that year, the channel was added to cable operator
Telewest, thus increasing its viewership. James Greville, head of Cartoon Network UK at the time, stated, "The channel launched barely a year ago and yet it's already beaten established kids' channels in terms of ratings and share". By November, the channel was available on
NTL. Boomerang increased its library of old cartoons in early 2003 by acquiring rights to other animated shows such as
Danger Mouse,
The Pink Panther Show and
Garfield and Friends. On 10 November 2005, Turner announced that it would launch a one-hour timeshift service of Boomerang. The channel launched on 6 March 2006, replacing
Cartoon Network +'s broadcast capacity, and swapping over with Toonami's EPG slot on Sky. The launch of the service was part of a plan to boost Turner's audience penetration. Boomerang rebranded with the new international graphics package developed by UK-based graphic design agency Art&Graft on 16 February 2015. The channel switched to 16:9 widescreen on 1 June 2015. Subsequently, a high-definition feed was launched on 24 June 2015. On 3 September 2018, the channel was rebranded once again. On 18 November 2020, following the United Kingdom's withdrawal from the European Union, Boomerang and Cartoon Network were split into two regions after the broadcasting licence reserved for the Republic of Ireland and Malta was moved to the Czech Republic, in accordance with the EU Audiovisual Media Services Directive (AVMSD) and single market law following the
UK's withdrawal from the European Union. Like the UK, the Czech Republic has minimal broadcasting regulations and was chosen for EU licensing purposes as WarnerMedia's
HBO had substantial operations located in the country. Editorially, the channel is still managed from WarnerMedia's EMEA headquarters in London. ==Availability==