MeTV
MeTV, an acronym for Memorable Entertainment Television, is an American broadcast television network owned by Weigel Broadcasting. Marketed as "The Definitive Destination for Classic TV", the network airs a variety of classic television programs from the 1950s through the late 2000s. It was launched on January 6, 2003 as a programming block on WFBT-CA and eventually as a national network on December 15, 2010.
For Hanna-Barbera's programming, the network added The Flintstones on September 30, 2019,[1] the Tom and Jerry theatrical shorts on January 2, 2021 (as part of their Saturday Morning Cartoons block),[2] and The Jetsons on Febuary 21, 2021.[3]
On January 4, 2021, MeTV debuted Toon in with Me, an anthology TV series that broadcasts theatrical shorts from the Golden Age of American animation, and hosted by Bill the "cartoon curator" and his fish sidekick Toony in various segments.[4] The program primarily consists of cartoons from Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (including Tom and Jerry and Droopy), in addition to the Looney Tunes/Merrie Melodies series from Warner Bros. and Popeye the Sailor Man from Fleischer and Famous Studios (both of which are owned by Turner Entertainment under Warner Bros.; with license from King Features Syndicate for the latter). Toon in With Me also airs on the MeTV Plus digital network, usually in repeats of episodes aired earlier at the same day.
On May 2, 2024, Weigel Broadcasting announced to launch a sister channel called MeTV Toons on June 25, dedicated to classic cartoons from the 1930s to the 1960s, including the library owned by Warner Bros. Discovery such as the above, along with Scooby-Doo and Yogi Bear. Additionally, Warner's animated library also airs on this channel alongside other licensed properties, including Woody Woodpecker from Universal.[5]
Programs
- The Flintstones
- The Jetsons
- Toon in With Me
- The Tom and Jerry Show[Note 1]
Behind the scenes
- Unlike other free-to-air and basic cable channels in the United States, MeTV primarily airs Tom and Jerry and other MGM shorts uncut and uncensored, with rare exceptions to depictions of gun violence and self-harm. However, MeTV still edits and bans some shorts for outdated racial content, including use of racist language, caricatures, and imagery, which includes various Tom and Jerry shorts with Mammy Two Shoes.
- Ironically, most depictions of Native Americans remain unedited in airings of the cartoons they appeared in.
Footnotes
References
- ^ Yabba-Dabba-Doo! The Flintstones are coming to MeTV! CBS58 (September 26, 2019).
- ^ Saturday Morning Cartoons are coming to MeTV this January! MeTV.com (November 25, 2020).
- ^ The Jetsons are coming to MeTV this February! MeTV.com (February 6, 2021).
- ^ "'Toon in With Me' Premieres January 4 on the MeTV Network". Animation World Network (December 22, 2020).
- ^ Nemetz, Dave (May 2, 2024). "New Channel MeTV Toons to Air Classic Cartoons Like Looney Tunes, Scooby-Doo, Tom & Jerry and More". TV Line. Retrieved May 1, 2024.
