Adult Swim

Adult Swim
Logo where the text "adult swim" is in all lower case letters and encased in brackets, followed by the trademark symbol.
Logo used since May 25, 2003
CountryUnited States
Broadcast areaNationwide
Network
Headquarters
Programming
Language(s)
  • English
  • Spanish (with SAP, a Spanish language simulcast of the channel is also available)
Picture format1080i HDTV
(downscaled to letterboxed 480i for the SDTV feed)
Ownership
OwnerWarner Bros. Discovery Networks
ParentThe Cartoon Network, Inc.
Sister channels
History
LaunchedSeptember 2, 2001 (2001-09-02)
FounderMike Lazzo
Keith Crofford
Betty Cohen
Jason DeMarco
Michael Ouweleen
Links
WebcastLive Simulcast (Available nightly during block's duration as listed above; U.S. pay-TV subscribers only)
Websitewww.adultswim.com

Adult Swim (stylized as [adult swim] since 2003, and also abbreviated as [as]) is a programming block broadcast by the American basic cable channel Cartoon Network during the evening, prime time, and late-night dayparts. The block features stylistically varied animated and live-action series targeting an adult audience including original programming (particularly comedies and action series), syndicated series, and short films with generally minimal or no editing for content. Adult Swim is programmed by Williams Street, a subsidiary of Warner Bros. Television Studios that also produces much of the block's original programming.

First broadcast on September 2, 2001, Adult Swim has frequently aired animated sitcoms, adult animation features, mockumentaries, sketch comedy, and pilots, with many of its programs being aesthetically experimental, transgressive, improvised, and surrealist in nature. Adult Swim has contracted with various studios known for their productions in absurd and shock comedy.[1] In addition to comedy, Adult Swim also broadcasts Japanese anime and American action animation, and since May 2012 this type of programming has generally been aired on its Saturday night Toonami block, which itself is a relaunch of the original block of the same name that ran on Cartoon Network from March 1997 to September 2008.

Adult Swim initially ran in the late night hours.[2] It began to expand into prime time in 2008, and moved its start time to 8:00 p.m. ET/PT in 2014.[3][4] To take advantage of young adult viewership of Cartoon Network in the daypart, Adult Swim expanded further to 7:00 p.m. on weekdays and Saturdays beginning in May 2023.[5] After experiencing success with the changes, Adult Swim further expanded to 5:00 p.m. on August 28, 2023; on weekdays, the expanded runtime is filled by "Checkered Past", a sub-block that features classic Cartoon Network original series from the 1990s and 2000s.[6]

Due to its differing demographics, Adult Swim is usually promoted by Warner Bros. Discovery as being a separate network time-sharing with Cartoon Network on its channel allotments, with its viewership being measured separately by Nielsen from the youth-oriented daytime and afternoon programming carried under the Cartoon Network branding.

  1. ^ "Thinking small". Channelweb.co.uk. November 4, 2011. Archived from the original on January 5, 2016. Retrieved November 25, 2017.
  2. ^ Bernstein, Paula (June 11, 2001). "Cartoon Net dives into 'Adult Swim'". Variety. Retrieved October 28, 2023.
  3. ^ Ball, Ryan (November 5, 2008). "Adult Swim Expands with King of the Hill". Animation Magazine. Retrieved October 28, 2023.
  4. ^ Littleton, Cynthia (February 3, 2014). "Adult Swim Block To Expand By One Hour, Cartoon Net Amps Digital Content". Variety. Archived from the original on June 4, 2023. Retrieved October 28, 2023.
  5. ^ Hayes, Dade (March 29, 2023). "As Adult Swim Gets Set To Add An Hour Of Daily Programming, President Michael Ouweleen Sees Warner Bros Discovery In A More Settled Post-Merger State: "We're All Feeling More Possibility"". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on September 19, 2023. Retrieved October 28, 2023.
  6. ^ Flook, Ray (July 17, 2023). "Adult Swim Reveals "Checkered Past" This August - at 5 PM? (TEASER)". Bleeding Cool. Retrieved July 26, 2023.