Cartoon Network started its broadcast in Asia on 6 October 1994 timesharing with TNT, also broadcasting on Australia and New Zealand. It operated from 6:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., with Turner Classic Movies taking the remainder of the daily schedule. From the launch of 1994, Cartoon Network was originally called TNT & Cartoon Network. On 1 July 2001, Cartoon Network Asia became a separate 24-hour channel, with exclusive local feeds. It originally aired only Hanna-Barbera cartoons. In 1996, MGM shows started airing, then in 1997, Warner Bros. shows started airing, and in 1997 the channel began airing original productions. On 22 August 1999, Cartoon Network rebranded, introducing new bumpers, new original productions and a new graphical package. In 2000 other non-original shows were introduced. Also, throughout the early 2000s, Cartoon Network started airing several more original productions. In 2001, a block called Cartoon Cartoons was introduced. Cartoon Network also introduced other programming blocks including Toonami, Acme Hour, Prime Time, the Boomerang block and Cartoon Network Night Shift. In 2003 and 2004, more programming blocks were added. Early in 2004, the Boomerang network exclusively on Foxtel. Many of the older cartoons migrated to the new channel. In addition, Cartoon Network for a brief period would show segments of kids getting prizes during the holidays but this was cancelled due to low audience. Up until mid-2004, Cartoon Network had been tied with the Disney Channel as Asia's most popular family network. The removal of older 1950s-1980s Hanna-Barbera programming from the network during this period led to a fall in average audience share during 2004 as fans of older cartoons moved to Boomerang. On 1 October 2005, the channel's 'bumpers' were replaced with 3-D animation promotions that were set in a fictional location called "CN City". A well known scene from a show was sometimes the theme. The "Cartoon Cartoons" moniker was dropped in 2006. On 31 August 2008, the bumpers and ads were updated. "Cartoon Network Theatre" was renamed "Cartoon Network Popcorn". On 1 October 2011, during The Amazing World of Gumball premiere, the channel introduced a new branding, logo, and slogan. In 2012, Cartoon Network started airing all shows with the exceptions of Courage the Cowardly Dog and other past shows in HDTV1080i format. In 2013, the US CN bumpers and the Asia bumpers were refreshed.
Tiny TV was first shown on CN SEA in June 2002 and showed cartoon series that were targeted at very young children, such as The Flintstone Kids, Baby Looney Tunes, Krypto the Superdog, Tom & Jerry Kids and A Pup Named Scooby-Doo.
Availability
China
In China, CN SEA was broadcast through both Telstar 18V and AsiaSat 7 communication satellites; only Telstar 18V includes CN SEA in its D-Sky package. it aired in Mandarin along with an English track.
Hong Kong and Macau
In Hong Kong, CN SEA was broadcast on now TV and Cable TV Hong Kong. In Macau, it was broadcast on Macau Cable TV. It airs in English along with Cantonese and Mandarin.
In January 2003, CN SEA was launched in South Korea after the discontinuation of a Cartoon Network block on Tooniverse. However, the channel was unable to insert Korean audio tracks into shows because non-South Korean channels are legally prohibited from doing so. In 2006, JoongAng Ilbo and the Turner company established a joint venture to launch a separate South Korean version of Cartoon Network and was launched in November of the same year.
Thailand
In Thailand, CN SEA is available through the TrueVisions cable and satellite networks; TrueVisions includes CN SEA in both its Gold and Platinum packages. CN SEA is offered as a shared feed between Singapore and Thailand because their time zones are only one hour apart. Starting from 2009, Thai audio track for promos and adverts was introduced alongside an official Thai website. In February 2018, Cartoon Network along with CNN International was made available on AIS Play. Meanwhile, Cartoon Network has 2 Pay Providers in Thailand along with CNN and Warner TV.
In Indonesia, CN SEA is available on First Media Gold and Platinum packages, BiG TV Gold and Platinum packages, MNC Vision Platinum Packages, TransVision Platinum Packages. and Indikids add-on package on IndiHome.
Philippines
In the Philippines, it had the same feed as CN SEA in HD but with local commercials during breaks.
Vietnam
CN SEA used to be available in English in Vietnam, but in April 2014, a localized feed was launched. The line-up is identical to the Southeast Asian version, but the promos are entirely in Vietnamese. and the local titles of the cartoons are shown on screen, right next to Cartoon Network's logo. The Vietnamese feed is available on VTC Digital, SCTV, Hanoi Radio-Television and Vietnam Television. Starting from December 2016, Vietnamese audio track for promos and adverts is introduced. A Vietnamese ad or other channel's promos may appear when promos are playing.
The first Malaysian broadcasting company to air CN SEA was Astro subsidiaries of Measat Broadcasting Systems Sdn Bhd. Cartoon Network was launched from on channel 616 in Malaysia and Brunei on 31 August 2006 in Malaysia and Brunei.
Sri Lanka
In Sri Lanka, it is available on PEO TV. Dialog TV used to carry the SEA feed but is now carrying the Cartoon Network India HD+ in SD feed instead.
