>Opinions | Cartoon Network is Bribing Its Viewers

Originally Posted by Jeff Harris

bribery: n. 1. a crime implying a sum or gift given alters the behavior of the person in ways not consistent with the duties of that person. 2. the offering, giving, receiving, or soliciting of any item of value to influence the actions as an official or other person in discharge of a public or legal duty.

Cartoon Network has been accused of a lot of things, among them deviating from its protocol of providing the best cartoons on the planet, alienating older viewers who aren't interested in the childish, immature shows on Adult Swim, and airing live-action programming under the aegis of being "live-action cartoons" that inspired animators.

Re-Animated, one of those "live-action cartoons," had much hoopla surrounding it from the network's end, and for some reason, the movie became the highest-rated original movie since Cartoon Network began making original movies starting with the Samurai Jack premiere movie back in 2001. Of course, the numbers are deceptive because they only counted the 2-11 viewers and didn't take into account the fact that Cartoon Network is in 20 million more households now than they were in 2001, plus four times as many viewers were watching Rudolph and Frosty in the same time period making those airings 10 and 17 in the ratings for the week, respectively. But ratings are ratings, and even artificial ones are good ones for them.

After the celebration of the high ratings waned, the ratings for the future airings of Re-Animated dropped many percentages, failing to get at least half the ratings they had when it premiered. Most the viewers were just curious about the film only to realize that it was an awful film. They even aired it as part of the last Cartoon Network Fridays lineup of 2006. Two weeks after that airing, Re-Animated's coming on again.

Unlike the previous airings, Cartoon Network is doing something . . . odd. They're going to flash a number throughout the evening and during the movie for kids to call so they could be one of 200 viewers to win $500 in cash.

In short, Cartoon Network's bribing viewers to watch an awful movie.

While Nickelodeon and Disney Channel have collectively assimilated the minds of the nation's youth, Cartoon Network continuously plays catchup to a group that wants nothing to do with the network. Cartoon Network's niche originally was to cater to animation fans of all ages, airing cartoons of yesteryear alongside modern cartoons. Nowadays, older viewers that aren't drawn to Adult Swim shows, and those above age 14 aren't welcome to Cartoon Network. However, the younger viewers aren't there either, and they've been struggling in the ratings ever since they abandoned older audiences. They've tried everything other than being themselves that even newcomers to the network realize that they're completely failing.

So, why should I be surprised that they've decided to commit bribery on their audience?

I'm not.

I'm saddened, yes, but I'm not shocked. Cartoon Network has deviated from everything that they stood for, completely thrown away the formula that made them fan favorites and an animation nerd's paradise (hope Michelle doesn't get too mad at me using that), and decided to go for the Disney Channel crowd even though that crowd is watching . . . um, Disney Channel. They can't convince them to watch tripe like Re-Animated on purpose anymore, so they have no other choice but to bribe them to watch.

You see. When they air the crappy movie again, the Network's going to gush about the ratings improving from the previous airing without telling how they managed to do so, which is by bribing viewers to watch. I used to think it was about whether or not something was worth watching, but apparently, it's all about the money.