Locomotion (TV Channel) - Acquisition, Shutdown and Aftermath

Acquisition, Shutdown and Aftermath

Locomotion was bought by Sony Pictures Entertainment Latin America on January 2005 from Liberty Media. During the time since the bought of the network and until the shutdown, they start to drop the non-anime shows from their programming and focus on anime shows. The network officially ceased to exist at 11:00 a.m. of July 31 of the same year (however, the broadcast of Locomotion stops on the night of July 30 and was replaced by a countdown clock). From then on, the network has been transformed into the Latin American branch of Animax. Of all the programming broadcast previously in Locomotion, only Saber Marionette J, Saber Marionette J to X, Soul Hunter/Senkai-den Hōshin Engi, Serial Experiments Lain, The Candidate for Goddess and Earth Girl Arjuna were picked and broadcast by Animax on their early programming. As of February 2006, all those series were off the air. Neon Genesis Evangelion, which has aired on Locomotion, has also aired on Animax Latin America, although 3 years after Locomotion's shutdown.

The non-anime shows produced by MTV Networks and broadcast on Locomotion (like South Park, The Ren and Stimpy Show and Æon Flux) were picked and shown on a weekend animation block by MTV Latin America, but in November 2006, this block was replaced with Animatosis (a Sic 'Em Friday-alike block) and all the shows (with the exception of South Park) were cancelled, and South Park continues to air as of present day, and recently now airs on a localized version of its home network. Bob and Margaret is shown (as of January 2006) in the now-defunct Latin American version of Adult Swim. The Critic broadcasted in the Latin American version of HBO Family. Other shows, like Duckman hasn't been show again on Latin America since the Locomotion shutdown.