FOX TV Closes Saturday Morning Cartoon Block

by dtshyk
Nov 29, 2008 10:17 PM | 61 Comments

According to New York Times, a US TV channel FOX Networks will end its Saturday morning block of cartoon programs in January 2009. 4Kids Entertainment has been holding the block since 2002 and airing cartoons including Japanese animations: "Kirby: Right Back At Ya!", "Yu-Gi-Oh!". "Kodai Ouja Kyouryuu King", "Ojamajo Doremi", "Shaman King". The deal between FOX and 4Kids will be terminated at the end of December 2008, and 4Kids will concentrate the programs on CW Networks. Fox executives explained the reason that network TV channels could no longer survive the competition for the children's programs from the cable channels.

Source: New York Times
Source: Anime!Anime!

20 of 61 Comments Recent Comments

but its about time, it was actually good until 4kids came in and put in really terrible shows

Dec 2, 2008 4:36 PM by MintBlanckz

Kuyukly said:
That's one long-running tradition going down for that network...

True that.

Dec 2, 2008 4:34 PM by Leah

the_seventh_l said:

Baby_Naruto said:
Nuu! This is horrible news *cries*. Now all's that left is Sci-Fi Channel Ani-Mondays, CW314Kids TV channel, Toon Disney, and Cartoon Network :(.

Still, that's a lot more than we had 5 years ago, and way more than we had 10 years ago. But yeah, anime's dominion over US television is slowly receding and there's not a whole lot that can be done at the moment to stop it. :S

Ya sadly so :(. Oh well, at least there's still the option of watching my english dubbed anime online for free and also downloading it for free :D.

Nov 30, 2008 7:09 PM by KidRyan

Baby_Naruto said:
Nuu! This is horrible news *cries*. Now all's that left is Sci-Fi Channel Ani-Mondays, CW314Kids TV channel, Toon Disney, and Cartoon Network :(.

Nov 30, 2008 6:48 PM by the_seventh_l

Nuu! This is horrible news *cries*. Now all's that left is Sci-Fi Channel Ani-Mondays, CW314Kids TV channel, Toon Disney, and Cartoon Network :(.

Nov 30, 2008 6:40 PM by KidRyan

I can't believe Fox is getting out of the Saturday morning race totally, I knew they were losing 4Kids but out of it completly, dang. They need to bring back the real Power Rangers to save them.

Nov 30, 2008 6:30 PM by mitamaking

the_seventh_l said:

Ah, it will only get worse before it gets better. If this isn't a sign the US anime community is mirroring the conditions on Wall Street, I don't know what is.

Can't say I'm really surprised though. With more and more people turning to fansubs and not buying anime when it's licensed stateside, I'm surprised anime companies in the US can even make a business anymore. Quite a shame it is.

Nov 30, 2008 6:18 PM by eternal_blue

eternal_blue said:
First Toonami and now this. America is going into a time of trials in terms of airing anime shows for the younger generation. Really is a pity.

Ah, it will only get worse before it gets better. If this isn't a sign the US anime community is mirroring the conditions on Wall Street, I don't know what is.

Nov 30, 2008 5:55 PM by the_seventh_l

First Toonami and now this. America is going into a time of trials in terms of airing anime shows for the younger generation. Really is a pity.

Nov 30, 2008 5:53 PM by eternal_blue

I used to get up in the am and watch digimon. lol. good times. I looked forward to it. But it's sad that they are closing. But it was bound to happen.

Nov 30, 2008 5:34 PM by yagami-kun

Slayer12 said:

the_seventh_l said:

Slayer12 said:
pfft.... Who would wake up at 8 in the morning on a SATURDAY just to watch kid shows?

Ask the thousands of kids, myself including, who got up before the sun rose to watch then-new episodes of Pokemon ;D

LOL, was that the time youtube wasn't invented? :)

ungh you make me feel old xD

Nov 30, 2008 4:58 PM by the_seventh_l

the_seventh_l said:

Slayer12 said:
pfft.... Who would wake up at 8 in the morning on a SATURDAY just to watch kid shows?

Ask the thousands of kids, myself including, who got up before the sun rose to watch then-new episodes of Pokemon ;D

LOL, was that the time youtube wasn't invented? :)

Nov 30, 2008 4:57 PM by Rei_12

Slayer12 said:
pfft.... Who would wake up at 8 in the morning on a SATURDAY just to watch kid shows?

Ask the thousands of kids, myself including, who got up before the sun rose to watch then-new episodes of Pokemon ;D

Nov 30, 2008 3:07 PM by the_seventh_l

pfft.... Who would wake up at 8 in the morning on a SATURDAY just to watch kid shows?

Nov 30, 2008 3:04 PM by Rei_12

I find this to be... ironic in ways. x3

It's sad though.

Nov 30, 2008 2:18 PM by MissSuzyBear

^ at least there are fansubs for Tokyo Mew Mew ;P

Nov 30, 2008 2:12 PM by the_seventh_l

This is what they get for not completing Mew Mew Power and ending it on a To br continued Grrr....

Nov 30, 2008 2:09 PM by RICEA42991

bubblehead said:

the_seventh_l said:
LOL yeah, Fox Box. Blox? xD

I think that was back when they showed Escaflowne~ *drowns in nostalgia*

I think it became Fox Box after that. Because I watched in the Escaflowne days (also watched Digimon, Monster Ranchers, Tranformers, Flint the Time Detective etc.) but I remember several years later tuning it and thinking "fox box? the heck?". I feel like Fox Box was more Winx era. And Ultimate Muscle.

Or then again maybe my memory is bad in my old age here.

Actually, I think you're right xD

And, man, almost forgot about Flint the Time Detective. Wow, the memories~ :3

Nov 30, 2008 1:54 PM by the_seventh_l

The Saturday morning block will be remembered; many good mornings were shared.

Nov 30, 2008 1:51 PM by yakyuu-addict

the_seventh_l said:
LOL yeah, Fox Box. Blox? xD

I think that was back when they showed Escaflowne~ *drowns in nostalgia*

Nov 30, 2008 1:28 PM by bubble

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