Cartoon Network hits back at claims it’s being shut down

Cartoon Network has dismissed the rumours that it's shutting down after merging with Warner Bros. Discovery.

The American cable television channel behind some of our favourite cartoons has announced it's not closing down but merely ‘turning 30’.

Well, if they were a Hollywood actor, their career would well and truly be over. But alas! The company revealed it's stronger than ever as it edges closer to this significant milestone.

Over the weekend, Cartoon Network’s Twitter page issued a statement: “Y’all we're not dead, we're just turning 30

“To our fans: We're not going anywhere. We have been and will always be your home for beloved, innovative cartoons More to come soon!”

They also issued a follow-up tweet with the caption: “POV: When you find out about your death via Twitter.”

Rumours began to run wild after its parent company Warner Bros. Discovery decided to lay off 82 staff members in the scripted, unscripted, and animation departments while leaving 43 vacant positions, as per Polygon.

The move followed Warner Bros. merging with Discovery in April, with president and CEO David Zaslav vowing to cut costs by $3 billion (AUD $4.8m or £2.6m).

The Wrap reports that while speaking with none other than TV legend Oprah Winfrey during a company town hall, the CEO admitted that the media conglomerate was still undergoing a teething process as they found their feet.

According to the outlet, he told Winfrey: “[The transition team] worked on what we’re going to do day one, what are we doing [the] first 30 days. It’s not perfect. We don’t know exactly how it’s going to work.”

He added: “It’s going to take us a little bit of time and we’re going to try and be as transparent and honest and direct with you as possible. We’ve been a company that’s grown by acquisition.”

A few months later, in August, the company most notably scrapped its upcoming film Batgirl, which had already completed production ahead of its 2023 release.

According to Variety, the superhero flick was terminated because it was seen as not big enough to be released in movies but not small enough to be on a streaming service only.

The report added that releasing the movie would have cost the company tens of millions more in marketing, so instead, Warner Bros. wrote the film off for tax purposes.

However, after the shock decision Warner Bros. Discovery CFO Gunnar Wiedenfels told Deadline that the coverage had been ‘blown out of proportion’ and that the company’s reputation had not suffered as a result.

He added: “We have healthy relationships with talent, and we are offering one of the best platforms for anyone in the creative space.”