What if HKO was founded in 1934?/HKO Animation Studios in 1985?/HKO at Nite

HKO at Nite is the adult-oriented nighttime programming block of the American children's subscription network HKO Network. It broadcasts every night from 9 p.m.- 5 a.m. (Eastern and Pacific Time). It is similar in format to Adult Swim, the late-night block on Cartoon Network, and Teletoon at Night, the former late-night block on Canadian TV channel Teletoon and features animated and live-action shows targeting a 13-21 audience.

Debuting in 1998, HKO at Nite serves as the nighttime identity of HKO at Nite, and it was established as alternative programming during late night hours when HKO Network's primary target audience, children between the ages of 6 and 12, would normally be sleeping. In 2009, HKO at Nite was granted its own Nielsen ratings report from HKO Network due to it targeting a separate demographic.

Origins
HKO at Nite's roots lie from former a program block that aired on HKO Network: HKO's TV Land. In February 1998, HKO at Nite debuted with Spy vs. Spy as its first program, as well as Space Ghost Coast to Coast and Woody and Buzz moving to HKO at Nite. Canadian Dad! debuted on the block on February 7, with the episode "Pilot". The block's initial runtime was from 10:00 pm to 5:00 am ET.

HKO at Nite had a disclaimer that read "Parents strongly cautioned: the following programs are intended for mature audiences over the age of 18. These programs may contain some material that many parents would not find suitable for children and may include intense violence, sexual situations, coarse language and suggestive dialog".

HKO at Nite's original bumpers shown in-between the shows featured footage of elderly people swimming in public pools, eating, exercising, and doing other pool-related activities. It would show signs all around the pool saying things like "Warning Potential Violence", "Warning Strong Language in use", "Caution Sexual Innuendo", "Caution Limited Animation", "No Diving", "No Kids", "Warning Adult Situations", and more. Some of these bumpers were narrated by a lifeguard who spoke through a megaphone. Most notably he would shout "All kids out of the pool". The HKO at Nite logo appears, shown after a freeze frame of the footage. Sometimes they were even shown in reverse.

On February 23, 2002, HKO at Nite launched Hnami, with various action programs displayed on the block from 11:00 pm to 2:00 am. On February 8, 2004, the senior citizen bumpers were replaced by animated safety manuals featuring HKO at Nite characters.

New bumpers debuted on January 29, 2005, along with Skeld Industries' rebranding to The Skeld, and feature black intertitle "cards" in white Helvetica Neue Condensed Heavy type. The cards discuss everything from programming news to personal staff opinions on unrelated subjects. In addition, the bumpers for the action shows include tilt-shift miniature and other abstract photos of Japan, often accompanied by clips of various Yesterdays New Quintet songs.

From March 2006-February 2011, the block was broadcast Monday to Thursday nights from 10:00 pm to 6:00 am and from 11:00 pm to 5:00 am on weekends. As of February 2011, it airs every night from 9:00 p.m to 5:00 a.m. On February 6, 2011, HKO at Nite bumped their sign-on time up to 9:00 p.m. ET, further extending the network's schedule back to every night.

On May 4, 2018, HKO at Nite refreshed their branding coniciding with the 20th anniversary of HKO at Nite and the 25th Anniversary of HKO Network. The new bumpers include live action pans of landscapes, signs, objects, and animals with the HKO at Nite logo embossed in them, sometimes hidden. The advisory sign-on bumper was also changed to feature various live action backgrounds.

From 1998-2006, the block was broadcast every night from 10:00 p.m to 5:00 a.m. From 2006-2011, the block was broadcast Monday to Thursday nights from 10:00 p.m to 6:00 a.m. and on Fridays and weekends from 11:00 p.m to 6:00 a.m on weekends. From 2011-2018, the block was broadcast from 10:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m. As of May 2018, it airs every night from 9:00 p.m to 5:00 a.m.

Controversy
TBA

Programming
Main article: List of programs broadcast by HKO at Nite

HKO at Nite primarily airs varied animated shows including original programming, syndicated series, short films, original video animation, and anime, generally with minimal or no editing for content. HKO at Nite also airs several of sister block Adult Swim's original series. The block also airs various movies occasionally.

Trivia

 * The HKO at Nite version of The Aliens on this block is very different from the Fox, Adult Swim, Freeform/FXX, DVD, and syndicated versions of the show. Not only does it include scenes and lines that both Fox and Cartoon Network's censors found offensive, but it also integrates deleted scenes (from season 4 to the present) into the episodes they were originally going to be in. In addition, all of the episodes from the series since season 4 are completely uncensored in this version, making most episodes from season 4 to present rated TV-MA.
 * HKO at Nite will still air The Aliens uncensored, even after Adult Swim and TBS lose the rights to the series.