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I'm trying to find out the reason why cartoons are not consistent with their airing times.

E.g. I've gotten used to TMNT on a specific day, but then they started to skip a week, sometimes more - all in one season (as opposed to the gaps being between seasons which I would understand)

E.g. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Teenage_Mutant_Ninja_Turtles_(2012_TV_series)_episodes

Whereas with more adult series the scheduling is more consistent - every week for e.g. 12 episodes the show will air at the time it is expected.

Is this only applicable to specific networks? Is this only for cartoons?

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  • Here's a similar question about NCIS. The answer may apply here as well.
    – FredH
    Commented May 26, 2013 at 12:28
  • "with more adult series the scheduling is more consistent" Uhm, no. Network shows often skip one or more weeks, because their season of 20-odd shows is stretched over a period ranging from September to May. Even the likes of HBO shows occasionally skip broadcasts in the case of national holidays etc.
    – BCdotWEB
    Commented Jul 3, 2015 at 6:46

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Most cartoon have a minimal number of episodes per season (10-16 being the usual number) that means within the span of a year each episode can be shown at least three times or more if the cartoon is aired multiple times on the day which it airs. That means that within several months time, a more than casual viewer can see all of the episodes at least once. A frequent viewer can see them multiple times.

Given the brevity of animated series ( almost all 30 minutes (22 minutes + 8 minutes of advertising) and the need for networks to air multiple programs as well as films of varying lengths, there is often a need to adjust the schedules accordingly. A cartoon in heavy rotation or which is not carrying its usual air time ratings (cartoons, like live action programs are also affected by viewer ratings) are often pulled and replaced by a program which the network may think will attract viewers.

Finally, given the limited number of cartoons in existence and the fact that cartoons from the 1960s/1970s are no longer in many networks rotations,to keep viewers "interested" changes in the rotation have to be made. The network again has to program to make rating and attract advertisers, so airing the same cartoons all of the time may not be what will make this possible.

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