Nexstar and Warner Bros. to Launch "RetroToons" Blocks Across its CW, Antenna TV, and Rewind TV OTA Networks in Fall 2026

[powergate92]

Today Nexstar and Warner Bros. announced that they will launch new "RetroToons" Blocks across its CW, Antenna TV, and Rewind TV OTA Networks in Fall 2026. The blocks will be as follows:

RetroToons: Weekend Adventures on The CW.

Saturdays — 8AM to 12PM

Time - Show
8:00 AM - Looney Tunes
8:30 AM - The Flintstones
9:00 AM - Scooby-Doo Where Are You!?
9:30 AM - Teen Titans (2003)
10:00 AM - Justice League Unlimited
10:30 AM - Powerpuff Girls (1998)
11:00 AM - Foster’s Home for Imaginary Friends
11:30 AM - Rotation of: Ben 10 / Batman Beyond

RetroToons: Morning Classics on Antenna TV.

Weekdays — 6AM to 9AM

Time - Show
6:00 AM - Looney Tunes
6:30 AM - Yogi Bear
7:00 AM - The Flintstones
7:30 AM - The Jetsons
8:00 AM - Top Cat
8:30 AM - Hong Kong Phooey

RetroToons: After School Rewind on Rewind TV.

Weekdays — 3PM to 6PM

Time - Show
3:00 PM - Tiny Toon Adventures
3:30 PM - Animaniacs
4:00 PM - Batman: The Animated Series
4:30 PM - Superman: The Animated Series
5:00 PM - Pinky & The Brain
5:30 PM - Rotating: Freakazoid! / Static Shock

Press Release:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Nexstar and Warner Bros. Discovery Partner to Launch “RetroToons” Across Broadcast Networks
Multi-platform initiative brings iconic animation franchises back to over-the-air television beginning Fall 2026

IRVING, TX and BURBANK, CA — April 1, 2026 — Nexstar Media Group, Inc. and Warner Bros. Discovery today announced a new multi-year licensing and programming agreement to launch RetroToons, a cross-network animation block featuring classic and fan-favorite titles from one of the industry’s most extensive cartoon libraries.

Set to premiere in Fall 2026, RetroToons will roll out across Nexstar’s national network portfolio, including The CW, AntennaTV, and RewindTV, marking a rare large-scale return of classic animation to free, over-the-air broadcast television.

The initiative will feature unified branding with network-specific programming blocks tailored to distinct audience segments:

Programming Blocks
RetroToons: Weekend Adventures
Airs Saturdays, 8:00 AM–12:00 PM on The CW
A family-focused weekend block blending timeless classics with modern-era hits, featuring titles from the Warner Bros. Animation and Cartoon Network libraries.

RetroToons: Morning Classics
Airs Weekdays, 6:00 AM–9:00 AM on AntennaTV
A curated lineup of vintage animation, highlighting Hanna-Barbera favorites and early television-era classics.

RetroToons: After School Rewind
Airs Weekdays, 3:00 PM–6:00 PM on RewindTV
A nostalgia-driven block targeting millennial and Gen X viewers with 80s, 90s, and early 2000s animation.

Each RetroToons block will include integrated messaging and promotional elements directing viewers to expanded libraries, creating a cross-platform viewing ecosystem that bridges linear discovery with on-demand consumption.

“This partnership allows us to activate one of the most recognizable content categories in television history in a way that feels both nostalgic and highly relevant,” said Perry A. Sook, President of Nexstar Media Networks. “RetroToons creates a shared viewing experience for families while delivering scale and consistency for advertisers.”

“Warner Bros. Discovery’s animation catalog has defined generations of audiences,” said Channing Dungey, Chairman & CEO, Warner Bros. TV Group. “By bringing these titles back to broadcast in a curated, branded environment, we’re extending their reach while reinforcing their long-term value across platforms.”

 

[RandomMe]

Pretty solid lineup. I'm pretty sure it will act as a counterweight to a sports-heavy CW.

 

[SpecialColorfull]

I hate April Fools.

 

[RandomMe]

Wait a minute, aren't the retro blocks meant to be some sort of conflict of interests with MeTV Toons?

 

[powergate92]

Wait a minute, aren't the retro blocks meant to be some sort of conflict of interests with MeTV Toons?

Although there is overlap in some of the cartoons, those that overlap are airing in the opposite time of day from MeTV Toons. Plus, MeTV Toons rights are not exclusive.

 

[RandomMe]

Although there is overlap in some of the cartoons, those that overlap are airing in the opposite time of day from MeTV Toons. Plus, MeTV Toons rights are not exclusive.

Now I hope RetroToons adds Underdog