Key insights

• 📉 The decline of Saturday morning cartoons was due to a shift in entertainment consumption and advertising revenue
• 📺 Major networks discontinued original blocks, and educational mandates ended, contributing to the irrelevance of Saturday morning cartoons
• 💔 Vortex's run ending in 2014 can be seen as a significant factor contributing to the demise of Saturday morning cartoons
• 📺 Sinclair Broadcast Group, owning over 200 stations, faced controversy over media control while bringing back Saturday morning cartoons
• 📺 Sinclair outright owns its stations, unlike major networks, and brought back Saturday morning cartoons under CEO Steven Markoff
• 🌟 Kids Clique revived morning cartoons with a multi-platform approach like Cartoon Network and Nickelodeon, airing a three-hour daily block on various devices and CW 14
• 📺 Kids Click offers programming for kids on weekdays and Sundays without the need for cable, featuring acquired series and no original productions
• ❌ The Kids Click programming block faced challenges in establishing its identity and maintaining a consistent lineup, eventually leading to its abrupt discontinuation

Q&A

• Why was the Kids Click programming block discontinued?

  Despite initial investment and potential, the Kids Click programming block faced challenges in establishing its identity and maintaining a consistent lineup. It lacked a clear identity and iconic series, making it hard to define what Kids Click really was. Despite being a young market attempt, Kids Click was discontinued without warning or tribute, signaling the end of Saturday morning cartoons.

• How did the programming of Kids Click change over time?

  Several series were axed to make way for new series and holiday specials. The programming stabilized with the addition of new series like Transformers Cybertron and LEGO Friends: Girls on a Mission. There were numerous changes in the lineup, including the debut of new series, cuts of existing ones, and stabilization with holiday specials and movies.

• What kind of programming does Kids Click offer for kids?

  Kids Click offers programming for kids on weekdays and Sundays without the need for cable. The programming includes acquired series with no original productions. The lineup featured series like Angry Birds, Max Steel, Miraculous Ladybug, Pac-Man, and others. Additional series like Zakk Storm, Team Hot Wheels, and Winx Club joined later in 2017. The programming saw changes throughout the year.

• How are morning cartoons being revived?

  Kids Clique is reviving morning cartoons with a daily three-hour block on various devices and CW 14. They debuted in 2017 with a multi-platform presence similar to Cartoon Network and Nickelodeon. The programming adopts a multi-platform approach, utilizes simplistic bumpers, and has an unprecedented airtime, airing every day of the week alongside Saturday mornings.

• Who brought back Saturday morning cartoons?

  Sinclair Broadcast Group, a major media company that owns over 200 stations, brought back Saturday morning cartoons. They launched in 1971 and now have over 200 stations. The company outright owns its stations, unlike major networks like NBC and ABC. Sinclair brought back Saturday morning cartoons under the leadership of Steven Markoff, the CEO.

• What led to the demise of Saturday morning cartoons?

  The decline of Saturday morning cartoons was primarily due to the shift in entertainment consumption and advertising revenue, the discontinuation of original blocks by major networks, the end of educational mandates, and the eventual discontinuation of Vortex's run in 2014.

• 00:02 Saturday morning cartoons have become irrelevant, mainly due to the shift in entertainment consumption and advertising revenue, leading to the discontinuation of original blocks by major networks and the end of educational mandates, eventually resulting in the demise of Saturday morning cartoons in 2014.
• 01:33 Sinclair Broadcast Group, a major media company, owns over 200 stations and has faced controversy over media control, but also brought back Saturday morning cartoons.
• 02:57 Kids Clique is reviving morning cartoons with a daily three-hour block on various devices and CW 14, debuting in 2017 with a multi-platform presence similar to Cartoon Network and Nickelodeon.
• 04:01 Kids Click offers programming for kids without cable on weekdays and Sundays. It features acquired series and no original productions.
• 05:15 Several series such as Dinosaur King, Max Steel, and Super 4 were axed to make way for new series and holiday specials. The programming stabilized with the addition of new series like Transformers Cybertron and LEGO Friends: Girls on a Mission.
• 06:39 The Kids Click programming block faced challenges in establishing its identity and maintaining a consistent lineup. Despite initial investment and potential, the block was abruptly discontinued without any announcement or tribute, marking the end of Saturday morning cartoons.