Hasbro has officially announced the rebranding of the Hasbro-Discovery Hub Network to the new Discovery Family.
We received a press release from Hasbro and they have announced several changes to the program lineup.
The Hub Network will become Discovery Family Channel effective October 13, 2014. The network will broaden its programming focus to serve families in primetime and continue to showcase Hasbro Studios award-winning children’s content in daytime.During the daytime, Discovery Family Channel will offer a robust line up of brand new Hasbro Studios’ series as well as beloved library programming, including MY LITTLE PONY, LITTLEST PET SHOP and TRANSFORMERS RESCUE BOTS, while during primetime, the network will serve a growing family audience that began to develop under The Hub Network. Primetime programming will draw from Discovery’s three decades of leadership in creating the highest-quality, real-world content that appeals to the entire family in the Natural History, Adventure, Animals and Science genres. Initial series will include SUPERHUMAN, TIME WARP, FLYING WILD ALASKA, AFRICA and EXTREME ENGINEERING: BIGGEST REVEALS.
Also, Hasbro’s ownership stake in the channel will drop from 50% to 40% as the programming focus shifts to Hasbro-produced children’s fare in the daytime hours and family-friendly fare in primetime.
Variety reports that Hasbro may turn towards Video-On-Demand or Digital Distribution of their shows in the future:
“Hasbro, meanwhile, gains more flexibility to sell new and existing shows to digital outlets such as Netflix and Amazon. Kidvid is a huge component of overall viewing for the SVOD heavyweights, even though it doesn’t get nearly as much attention in pop culture as original series aimed at adults.”
Hasbro also commented on their future activities for Movies and TV Shows:
“The toymaker is investing big in production through its Burbank-based Hasbro Studios arm. “We are continuing to develop partnerships with the big studios for some of our biggest brands,” [Hasbro CEO Brian] Goldner said. “And you’ll see us developing movies with smaller budgets and strong filmmakers.””
Read the entire Press Release, after the jump.
— Discovery Communications and Kids Television Veteran Tom Cosgrove Named GM of Discovery Family Channel Under the Leadership of Group President Henry Schleiff —
SILVER SPRING, Md. & PAWTUCKET, R.I.–(BUSINESS WIRE)– Discovery Communications (NASDAQ:DISCA, DISCB, DISCK) and Hasbro, Inc. (NASDAQ:HAS) today announced The Hub Network will become Discovery Family Channel effective October 13, 2014. The network will broaden its programming focus to serve families in primetime and continue to showcase Hasbro Studios award-winning children’s content in daytime.
During the daytime, Discovery Family Channel will offer a robust line up of brand new Hasbro Studios’ series as well as beloved library programming, including MY LITTLE PONY, LITTLEST PET SHOP and TRANSFORMERS RESCUE BOTS, while during primetime, the network will serve a growing family audience that began to develop under The Hub Network. Primetime programming will draw from Discovery’s three decades of leadership in creating the highest-quality, real-world content that appeals to the entire family in the Natural History, Adventure, Animals and Science genres. Initial series will include SUPERHUMAN, TIME WARP, FLYING WILD ALASKA, AFRICA and EXTREME ENGINEERING: BIGGEST REVEALS.
“The next chapter of our collaboration will harness the incredible content strengths of both Discovery and Hasbro to program Discovery Family Channel with highly-rated award-winning storytelling around Hasbro’s brands and Discovery’s most popular non-fiction shows that appeal to both children and families alike,” said Hasbro President & CEO Brian Goldner. “Discovery Communications has a nearly 30-year track record of building television brands that create maximum value for advertisers and distributors through their world-class raft of programming and we look forward to evolving this network together.”
Under the executive management of Group President Henry Schleiff, Tom Cosgrove will assume the role of general manager of Discovery Family Channel and will manage all network operations and programming, working closely with the Hasbro Studios team as the new channel will prominently feature Hasbro Studios-produced content in daytime. Schleiff has overseen the successful turnaround and growth of several networks within the Discovery portfolio. Previously, Cosgrove served as executive vice president and chief operating officer of Discovery Channel and Science Channel and has held senior leadership positions at ABC Family, Fox Family, Fox Kids and TV Guide Channel prior to his time at Discovery. Most recently, he led 3net and 3net Studios.
“Hasbro is a world-class company with franchises and characters that appeal to kids and families around the world. They have been terrific partners over the past several years as we developed our kids television audience in the U.S., and we look forward to a continued strong collaboration as we evolve to the Discovery Family Channel together,” said Discovery Communications President & CEO, David Zaslav. “Henry’s proficiency in developing and growing strong brands combined with Tom’s experience on Discovery’s flagship brand and deep background in family programming make for a perfect leadership team to drive the network toward future growth.”
The repositioning to Discovery Family Channel builds upon Discovery’s ongoing strategy to maximize its portfolio of channels to satisfy viewers and drive value for distributors and advertisers, while working alongside quality content partners to create long-term value. The Hub Network has grown from nearly 56 million homes in 2010 to approximately 70 million U.S. homes today. Since launch, the strong performance of Hasbro children’s content helped lift the network’s total day P2-11 delivery by +89% and for the past three years, The Hub Network has consistently been the most co-viewed children’s cable network among kids 2-11 watching with adults 18-49–a trend the partners plan to continue with Discovery Family.
“Brian and I want to thank the entire team at The Hub Network for their passion and dedication in building this brand over the past five years,” added Zaslav. “They are a fantastic group of executives, guided by a tremendously creative and inspiring leader in Margaret Loesch. We are grateful for their work in creating a channel of which Discovery and Hasbro have been incredibly proud.”
Discovery Family Channel will continue as a joint venture of Discovery Communications and Hasbro, with Discovery Communications taking a 60% ownership position in the new channel and Hasbro’s stake decreasing to 40%. The network will be consolidated and managed under the Discovery portfolio of networks.
About Discovery Communications
Discovery Communications (Nasdaq: DISCA, DISCB, DISCK) is the world’s #1 pay-TV programmer reaching 2.7 billion cumulative subscribers in more than 220 countries and territories. Discovery is dedicated to satisfying curiosity, engaging and entertaining viewers with high-quality content on worldwide television networks, led by Discovery Channel, TLC, Animal Planet, Investigation Discovery and Science, as well as U.S. joint venture network OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network. Discovery also controls Eurosport International, a premier sports entertainment group, including six pay-TV network brands across Europe and Asia. Discovery also is a leading provider of educational products and services to schools, including an award-winning series of K-12 digital textbooks, through Discovery Education, and a digital leader with a diversified online portfolio, including Discovery Digital Networks. For more information, please visit www.discoverycommunications.com.
About Hasbro
Hasbro, Inc. (NASDAQ:HAS) is a branded play company dedicated to fulfilling the fundamental need for play for children and families through the creative expression of the Company’s world class brand portfolio, including TRANSFORMERS, MONOPOLY, PLAY-DOH, MY LITTLE PONY, MAGIC: THE GATHERING, NERF and LITTLEST PET SHOP. From toys and games, to television programming, motion pictures, digital gaming and a comprehensive licensing program, Hasbro strives to delight its global customers with innovative play and entertainment experiences, in a variety of forms and formats, anytime and anywhere. The Company’s Hasbro Studios is responsible for entertainment brand-driven storytelling around Hasbro brands across television, film, commercial productions and short-form. Through the company’s deep commitment to corporate social responsibility, including philanthropy, Hasbro is helping to build a safe and sustainable world for future generations and to positively impact the lives of millions of children and families every year. It has been recognized for its efforts by being named one of the “World’s Most Ethical Companies” and is ranked as one of Corporate Responsibility Magazine’s “100 Best Corporate Citizens.” Learn more at www.hasbro.com.
Autovolt 127
As someone who lives in Canada I never had the luxury to watch new episodes of cartoons in the night they premiered unless they aired on a major network.
Honestly this is a good thing. They'll just have to advertise even harder for it.
flatline72
They have been playing ALF lately.
If they would start airing episodes of Beast Wars, Beast Machines, something….Got tired of the endless reruns of G1….
Since the Hub did not make the splash that Hasbro/Discovery were wanting to happen,
It seems like a standard, we will invest X amount of $ for X amount of ownership in the venture…..and if it does not pay out X amount of $ in the agreed amount of time into the venture…then the ownership %'s get adjusted accordingly to account for loss of $$$ sunk into the venture…
And just for notation purposes….Discovery Earnings: Oprah Winfrey's OWN Network Turns Profitable – WSJ
The Oprah Winfrey Network (OWN TV ) just went cash positive for the first time in 2013 since it launched almost 3 years ago….so it's not just the HUB sucking hind tit right now…
Feralstorm
Where shall I turn now for my 1990s Warner Bros. animated fare?
ChibiGingi
I'll be honest and say the only thing I am worried about/care about right now is the fate of RiD, but I'll be hunting down streams when the time comes anyway, so…
Afterburner
Strong filmmakers…yeah right. They have yet to have one single movie with strong filmmakers. I'll be astonished if it ever happens. There's a reason they got demoted here.
MachSabre
It's not like they're being shoved out… They're still heavily involved with the network. All this really means is that Hasbro is still going to be running shows during the daytime, which is basically when they're the strongest. Saturday mornings and weekdays tend to be the ideal place for Hasbro's properties. You're not going to run My Little Pony, Littlest Pet Shop or the Transformers during Prime Time. (And yes, I know they ran TF: Prime during that time slot. But I recall TF: Prime having some ratings issues, which resulted in a shortened third season.) And instead of running reruns during prime time, they're going to run some educational shows. Which holy crap, REGULAR Discovery Channel rarely does that anymore!
All that we're losing is Blossom, Step by Step and whatever edited for television movie they're going to run at 8 o'clock. (I can go a long time without seeing Family Game Night again.) As for Hasbro going to VOD… A lot of companies have been looking at Netflix and the like for their shows lately. It's kind of the way the future is going to go here. Marvel has a Daredevil show, followed up with a Luke Cage, Jessica Jones and Iron Fist show coming out on Netflix in 2015, and a Defenders miniseries to follow. House of Cards, Orange is the new Black, Hemlock Grove… And that's just Netflix.
This is a change, but it's not bad at all.
Sumner Sturgeon
I don't think just yet– the article DID say that there would be new Hasbro shows in daytime in addition to the older "library" stuff. I think the most sensible and likely option would probably be a Saturday morning timeslot for RiD.
harveydent
So RiD's going straight to Netflix?
Dormamu
I love a network you can call Dis Family.
Also applicable meme – Combiner Wars killed the video star.
There are about five other avenues of content distribution that they could choose. I don't even know at this point if keeping a premium tier cable network is worth it for the broadcast fees.
On the trickle down side, perhaps Hasbro having a smaller share means they'll have more funds to put toward mold plastic for future figures.
Fare thee well Pound Puppies, GI Joe Renegades, Transformers Prime, Transformers Rescue Bots, Care Bears: WTC, MLP:FIM, SheZow, and the other shows that were Hasbro Studios produced. You did just slightly better than Stan Lee Studios. (I know they'll still 'be shown', but it won't be the same)
YoungPrime
Okay we need some REAL animated G1/IDW TF direct to video movies made like yesterday!
COME ON HASBRO, WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR?!!!!!!
Trailbreaker77
The HUB failed for me when I found out I had to change my TV package to get it and pay more money for a bunch of stations I was never going to use.
The success from the movies got to their own heads thinking something like this was going to work.
Ash from Carolina
That is the interesting bit that I took away from the story. With Netflix already having G1, GI Joe A Real American Hero, Beast Wars, My Little Pony Friendship is Magic, and Transformers Prime it seems like new Hasbro cartoon series would be a natural fit.
We've already seen some Netflix and Hulu exclusive cartoons so if Hasbro went something like Netflix then they might actually be getting the jump on an expanding new field instead of attempting to play catch up when the cable market isn't as kind towards the sort of cartoons Hasbro wants to put out.
I'm actually interested to see what Hasbro can do now that they have some of the learning curve out of the way.
Infosaur
No "Young Mythbusters?" such wasted potential.
I could go two ways with this:
1.) a science show for kids in the Mythbusters format,,, with less guns and explosives.
2.) a cartoon like Dexter's Lab with a pre-teen Jamie and Adam blowing stuff up.
TFW10
October 13, 2014 (Monday) isn't that far away, including today its only 19 days away.
Should be interesting if the old shows will be on G1, Animated, or GI Renegades.
It would be neat if the new channel would bring back Beast Wars and the others. We'll see.
NotRamjet97
Discovery family channel is the dumbest channel name ever, but at least it looks like they're still sticking with Hasbro.
That name sucks sooooooo bad though…
Kenai
"Hasbro may turn towards Video-On-Demand or Digital Distribution of their shows in the future"
As a family who dropped cable years ago this is good news to hear.
excelhedge
http://www.tfw2005.com/boards/trans…k-majority-joint-venture-21.html#post11639009
SilverOptimus
News Post: Hub Network Rebranding Official Info And New Hasbro Program Times