At a Glance
- Looney Tunes moves to Turner Classic Movies with a marathon of 45 Bugs Bunny cartoons.
- The six-year license brings over 750 shorts to the network, starting with the 1940 classic A Wild Hare.
- The deal follows Warner Bros. Discovery’s removal of the library from HBO Max and a successful partnership with Tubi.
**Why it matters: Fans gain a permanent, high-quality home for the franchise, while the network expands its classic-film lineup.
The following day, February 2, Warner Bros. Discovery announced that the iconic Looney Tunes library would be moving to Turner Classic Movies (TCM). The move includes a week-long marathon of Bugs Bunny cartoons, with the 1940 debut A Wild Hare-directed by Tex Avery and Oscar-nominated the following year-opening the lineup.
New Home for Classic Cartoons
The marathon is only the beginning. TCM will continue to air the entire line of shorts on an “ongoing basis” beyond February, and select titles will be highlighted as TCM Premieres. According to a press release, the licensing deal will last six years. Programming SVP Charlie Tabas said the agreement makes TCM the new “ongoing television home for this iconic library.” He added, “We’re able to present these cartoons with the care they deserve, alongside the classic films they helped influence.”
The deal also “ensures these cartoons are celebrated, contextualized, and accessible to audiences of all ages.”
Key Points
- 750 Looney Tunes shorts will be available on TCM.
- The initial broadcast focuses on Bugs Bunny, with 45 cartoons showcased.
- The partnership follows the removal of the library from HBO Max.
- TCM will feature selected titles as Premieres.
- The agreement is set to run for six years.
Past and Future of Looney Tunes Distribution
Last year, Warner Bros. Discovery pulled hundreds of Looney Tunes shorts from HBO Max. They later found a home on Tubi, where the service described adding the library as a “huge win” in October. Tubi has stated it is working to keep the shorts on the platform for years to come.
At the time of writing, it’s unclear how the Tubi partnership will intersect with the new TCM lineup or how much overlap there will be between the two services.
Looking Ahead: Movies and More
Later this year, the Looney Tunes characters will return to the big screen with Coyote vs. Acme. Additionally, Speedy Gonzales is slated to have his own solo movie in development. These projects signal a continued effort to expand the franchise beyond television and streaming.
Timeline of Key Events
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| February 2 | Announcement of Looney Tunes move to TCM |
| 2023 | Removal from HBO Max |
| October 2023 | Tubi adds Looney Tunes library |
| 2024 (planned) | Coyote vs. Acme release |
| 2024 (planned) | Speedy Gonzales solo movie development |
Key Takeaways
- Warner Bros. Discovery has secured a six-year licensing deal with TCM for its Looney Tunes library.
- The move follows the removal of the shorts from HBO Max and a successful partnership with Tubi.
- Fans will see a marathon of Bugs Bunny cartoons, starting with A Wild Hare, and the library will continue to be broadcast on TCM.
- Upcoming films indicate a broader strategy to keep the franchise relevant across media.
The deal underscores a commitment to preserving classic animation while leveraging modern distribution platforms. By placing Looney Tunes in a curated, classic-film environment, Warner Bros. Discovery aims to keep the beloved characters in the public eye for generations to come.
