Warner Bros. Discovery’s (WBD) iconic animation brands, Cartoon Network and Adult Swim, are facing significant challenges as the media landscape shifts under CEO David Zaslav’s cost-cutting measures and the dominance of streaming.

Decline in Traditional Cable

Once powerhouse hubs for animated hits like Adventure Time, Rick and Morty, and Steven Universe, Cartoon Network and Adult Swim have seen their influence wane as cable TV subscriptions plummet. Younger audiences increasingly favor streaming platforms like Netflix and Disney+, leaving linear networks struggling to maintain relevance.

Zaslav’s Cost-Cutting and Content Purges

Under Zaslav’s leadership, WBD has prioritized financial restructuring, including massive write-offs and content removals (e.g., HBO Max’s infamous purge of completed films and shows). This austerity has hit animation hard, with projects canceled, budgets slashed, and creatives frustrated by the lack of long-term investment.

Streaming Strategy Struggles

While Max (WBD’s streaming platform) hosts Cartoon Network and Adult Swim content, the shows compete with bigger IPs like Harry Potter and Game of Thrones. Unlike Disney+, which heavily promotes its animated catalog, WBD has not given Cartoon Network the same priority, leading to concerns about brand erosion.

Creative Exodus and Industry Backlash

Many animators and showrunners have publicly criticized WBD’s approach, citing canceled projects and diminished creative freedom. The merger’s instability has also led to talent migrating to competitors like Netflix and Apple TV+, where animation is treated as a prestige format.

Can They Adapt?

To survive, Cartoon Network and Adult Swim may need to reinvent themselves—focusing on viral shorts (like YouTube’s Smiling Friends) or doubling down on adult animation (a la Rick and Morty). But without a clear streaming strategy or Zaslav’s commitment, their future remains uncertain.

Bottom Line: Once leaders in animation, Cartoon Network and Adult Swim now face existential threats in the Zaslav era. Their survival may depend on whether WBD sees them as vital to its future—or relics of a bygone TV age.