Tag: Cartoon Network »

Sure, every TV network under the sun has an app for watching video clips and full-length episodes, but what about actual live streaming? Well, Cartoon Network is about to take a big step forward by offering live streaming of their content on their website as well as through their iOS app. What this hopefully means is that viewers will be able to watch their favorite shows as they air on TV, even while away from a TV.

Cartoon Network may be in a unique position to take advantage of this. Shows on most networks are caught in a quagmire of licensing between the TV networks and the studios that produce them. Wonder why Hulu Plus is required to watch shows on the go, and why some shows are still not available on mobile after subscribing? Licensing issues between the many entities with a hand in ownership of the shows.

However, Cartoon Network produces and owns a lot of the content that it airs, which may make live streaming to mobile much easier. This has the potential of making new episodes of shows like Adventure Time and Regular Show watchable from anywhere. There's no word as to the specifics, but it is likely that these will require a pay TV subscription to access, just as their "Gold" episodes do. While no mention was made, the possibility does exist that their late-night network [adult swim] could also see this live-streaming, given that it has an app with identical features, but we should know more after their upfront on May 16th.

Gamania Digital Entertainment this week released Hero: 108 for iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad. The app is based on the popular Cartoon Network animated series by the same name.

Hero: 108 brings six mini-games to iOS, allowing fans to take on the High Roller and Zebra Brothers. In the app, you get to play as several characters from the show, including Lin Chung, Mighty Ray, Mystique Sonia, Jumpy Ghostface and Mr. No Hands.

In one mini-game, you have to protect Jumpy from arrows by tapping them to knock them down before they hit him. Another mini-game has you beating up the Rhino King by furiously tapping him as he approaches your character. If you don't tap fast enough, it's game over. One of my favorite mini-games takes on the form of air hockey – it's Lin Chung versus Mighty Ray in a game of, well, air hockey.

Hero 108 is now available on the iTunes App Store for download. Until March 25, the app is available for free as a special promotion. Its publisher has yet to announce the price of the app for when the promotion ends, however.