The Cartoon Network has announced that its late night sister service, Adult Swim, will add an additional half-hour of programming four nights per week by starting at 10:30 pm (ET, PT) Monday through Thursday.  Currently the Adult Swim block begins its programming at 11 pm (ET, PT) Monday-Thursday (and Saturday).  The expansion of the on-air Adult Swim schedule coincides with a major boost in online content at the Adult Swim.com Website, starting on Monday March 27 when the Adult Swim Fix will begin streaming full length episodes of original comedies and select anime series for viewing on high-speed Internet connections.  Each week seven episodes will be available and the shows available for viewing will be refreshed weekly.  The online outreach makes sense given the Adult Swim's computer savvy young male demographic.

Adult Swim continues to be among the most popular cable networks with young adult viewers -- it set an ad-supported basic cable record for delivery of men 18-34 and men 18-24 in February.  Adult Swim regularly tops broadcast network competition in its targeted young male demo.  The Adult Swim program mix includes animated favorites such as Futurama, Family Guy, and American Dad along with a number of Cartoon Network original comedy series such as The Boondocks, Robot Chicken, Harvey Birdman and Aqua Teen Hunger Force.  Adult Swim is also the top-rated venue for anime with series like Full Metal Alchemist, Samurai Champloo, and Inuyasha providing an action and adventure counterpoint to the sarcastic comedy generated by AS's American-made components.  With the increasing number of original Cartoon Network shows and the continuing popularity of AS staples such as Family Guy and Futurama, the expansion of the Adult Swim block makes perfect sense and should provide enough airtime to continue the Adult Swim's key role in presenting cutting edge anime series to the U.S. audience.