Cartoon Network , operated by The Cartoon Network, Inc., is an American cable television network owned by Turner Broadcasting which primarily airs animated programming. The channel was launched on October 1, 1992, after Turner purchased the animation studio Hanna-Barbera Productions in 1991. It was originally a 24-hour outlet for classic animation properties from the Turner Broadcasting libraries and was all-ages-oriented, but now the channel also targets teens and adults with mature content handled by its Adult Swim division.