Fetch TV subscribers have a new reason to smile, with Cartoon Network making a surprise addition to the Kids Pack lineup — and the timing couldn’t be more fitting.
The animated favourite made an unexpected return to Australian screens on October 31, just one day before the platform farewelled all Paramount-branded channels, including Nickelodeon, Nick Jr, and a suite of MTV music offerings.
In an email to customers, Fetch announced the new addition by saying, “Keep your kids entertained with all-time favourites like Adventure Time, The Powerpuff Girls, We Bare Bears and more,” noting that those already subscribed to the Ultimate Pack, Kids Pack or Entertainment Pack automatically have access to the channel.
The reappearance of the popular kids’ channel marks a notable comeback for Warner Bros. Discovery, which ended its Foxtel distribution deal for Cartoon Network and sister channel Boomerang earlier this year after launching their streaming service HBO Max in Australia.
At the time, many of the network’s popular titles shifted to the new streaming service. And while Foxtel struck a deal with WBD to give existing customers complimentary access to HBO Max, the loss of yet more linear channels left many pay-TV viewers understandably frustrated.
Its surprise addition to Fetch comes despite Warner Bros. Discovery scaling back some local operations in favour of its DTC business— recently exiting its 9Rush partnership with Nine, not renewing channel arrangements with Foxtel, and selling its New Zealand free-to-air business Three to Sky.
For Fetch customers, the move is a welcome boost after a stretch of more channel departures than arrivals, and a recent round of plan price adjustments which ended the platform’s long-running price freeze.
The new addition significantly bolsters Fetch’s Kids Pack, which would otherwise have been left with just BabyTV, Moonbug (added on September 1), and ZooMoo following Nickelodeon’s departure.
