Why is it that the major networks for cartoons don't seem to care about adult fans?

F

fishy!

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I mean, if they were smart they would unerstand that:
programming that kids and adults can both enjoy=better ratings. And Cartoon Network sits around wondering why they get such bad ratings while making their programming into a Disney Channel ripoff (Which actually makes it worse).
 
Well the thing is that Cartoon Network DID care about they're adult fans. That's why Adult Swim was created in the first place. However AS seperated and CN's exectuive mindset went down the toliet and despieratley tried any way they could to get more kid viewers even if it meant making stupid stupid stupid programming decisions. As for the other major networks, it's because in general most other places that show cartoons are networks targetted at kids anyway and don't want a show to be to adult in fear of alienating/ standards regulations. Also it goes with the whole "seperating children and adult programming" mentality that seems to be happening more and more latley. Nowadays the only shows that kids and adults can realy enjoy... are actually movies. Everything on TV has a seperating line that prevents this kind of interlacing to happen.
 
Nickelodeon seems to care. Though their primary focus is programming for kids, adults are entertained by them as well, whether the network intended it or not.
I don't know if they include adult viewers in the ratings, though.
 
The short answer is that in America, the common belief is that animation is enjoyed primarily by children (which is also a stupid belief, as cartoons are typically made by adults and the early animated shorts made in the 30s and 40s were intended to viewed by adults who went to the movie theaters), and as such, most animation themed channels are consciously aimed at kids. Kids aged 7-15 have buying power, and unlike most adults, they don't have to pay bills, rent and other expenses, so they have more money to throw away on useless junk, so the admen and accountants who run CN consciously aim their programs (and their subsequent sponsors) at kids.

But as it was previously stated, network execs have taken older animation fans' feelings into consideration, hence why we have channels like Boomerang and programming blocks such as [adult swim].
 
Cartoon Network doesn't get bad ratings because it doesn't appeal to adults, otherwise Nickelodeon and Disney Channel wouldn't be the top channels for the 2 - 17 demographic. It's more than likely their programming choice, or availability. Hense why they're changing their shows recently, to find out what works.

Remember, adult-ratings don't mean much for the three big channels, so even if every adult in the world watched them, it wouldn't do them any good because their advertisers are directed towards kids, not adults.
 
I always found it interesting how the people who reguard animation as kids stuff sometimes forget that the people who actually make the cartoons themselves are adults. Ironically, kids who are too young to get jobs usually have to depend on their parents to buy the toys for them.
 
That's one of my major beefs with the networks these days. They continue to seperate both age groups for whatever show comes down the pipeline.
 
I tend to think it's due to convience more than anything.

With a kid show, most of the time lacks in writing because of the assumption that their target audience is braindead.

Adult programs, sometimes the writer isn't up to the very hard task of writing, so they'll just insert profanity and sex material to compensate.

Whereas a family show, you couldn't really resort to both of those choices, therefore you'd actually have to work hard to put a show together.

That and the majority of writers today don't seem to like their jobs. I mean would in their right mind would get a job doing something they like?
 
Because they don't find us marketable. Sad but true. If an adult should happen to like a show meant for kids (such as Fairly Oddparents), that's cool and all, but unless the number is significant (and a way to squeeze a little more money), they don't care.

Sure, there are some obviously for adult shows, such as Futurama and Family Guy, but those are rare and you don't often see a "happy medium." That's the problem.
 
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