Cartoon Network Latin America

COUNTRIES: The channel airs in 43 countries in Latin America and the Caribbean, excluding Puerto Rico.

LAUNCH DATE: April 30, 1993

OWNERSHIP: Turner Broadcasting System

DISTRIBUTION: 28 million households

DESCRIPTION: For kids and teens across Latin America, Cartoon Network touts an array of high-profile original programs, mixed in with animated and live-action acquisitions from the Hollywood studios and third-party distributors.

SENIOR MANAGEMENT:
Senior VP & General Manager: Barry Koch
Senior Director, Operations: Fran Slimmon
Senior Director, Content: Pablo Zuccarino

PROGRAMMING STRATEGY: The original programming on Cartoon Network in Latin America helps set the channel apart from many of its competitors in the region. "The main thing that differentiates us is the original content that we make, own and develop throughout the region," says Barry Koch, the senior VP and general manager of Cartoon Network Latin America. "It truly is a differentiator. If you look at Cartoon Network, we’re known for Ben 10, we’re known for The Power Puff Girls. Ben 10 right now is so hot as a property, as a brand, as a show in the region."

Cartoon Network boasts a total of 27 original series, including Dexter’s Laboratory, Johnny Bravo, Cow & Chicken, Ed, Edd n’ Eddy, Foster’s Home for Imaginary Friends, Hi Hi Puffy AmiYumi and Chowder. 

"A secondary differentiator for the channel in the region is the tonality and the attitude and the packaging and the DNA of the channel and the brand," Koch says.

A defining aspect of the Cartoon Network schedule is comedy, but there’s still a lot of action on the schedule. Movies, both live action and animated, are also on the grid. Warner Bros. is a big programming source for the network, but Cartoon also works with the other major Hollywood studios for movie deals. Further programming comes from international animation players like Cookie Jar, Nelvana and Toei Animation, as well as smaller boutique outfits. "We do acquire and will acquire from anyone and anywhere where there’s great programming," Koch notes.

Some of the channel’s highest rating acquisitions are Being Ian and Total Drama Island. Cartoon Network is also the pay-TV home of Star Wars: The Clone Wars.
Cartoon Network seeks to be a defining media brand for kids 4 to 11 across multiple platforms, so it often makes use of new media to reach out to its young tech-savvy viewers. "We do a lot of special promotions with codes utilizing the website and the channel. People who are watching the channel and getting codes are able to do certain things in games or obtain certain premium content on the website."

UPCOMING HIGHLIGHTS: In November, Cartoon Network is launching Ben 10: Alien Swarm, which is the second live-action feature film from Cartoon Network. That will be a global premiere.

WEBSITE: www.cartoonnetworkla.com