Discovery to take over the Hub

The new network will become "Discovery Family". But Hasbro will still hold a major stake in the network, controlling its lineup from 9 AM to 3 PM.

http://m.us.wsj.com/articles/discovery-to-take-control-of-the-hub-network-1410979842?mobile=y

I have a feeling that Tiny Toon Adventures, Blossom, Alf, and Fraggle Rock will be going bye-bye. Well, it was fun reliving my childhood for a little while...

edited 19th Sep '14 11:52:00 AM by redhed311

I thought they weren't airing fraggle rock anymore?

It's a shame that so many new live action shows on the hub like "Parents just don't understand" won't have a proper chance to air now.

My Little Pony should still be on the air until the 2019-2020 season. And Blossom only joined the schedule this July.

http://www.equestriadaily.com/2014/02/hasbro-investor-webcast-information-eqg.html

edited 19th Sep '14 1:39:31 PM by BigBertha

MLP's episodes average well over 100,000 viewers. http://www.tvmediainsights.com/hub-network-ratings-scorecard-week-may-5-2014/

edited 19th Sep '14 2:50:27 PM by BigBertha

In Latin America, Discovery Kids has been the one to always air FIM, but... they treat it like crap. They take their sweet-arse time on premiering episodes, often without any warning, and often they will announce new episodes and won't show them when promised. They show the episodes out of order, heavily favoring a few over the rest, and they only show 2 episodes a day, in the rather disadventagerous 10:30 AM-11:30 AM slot, while airing Backyardigans, Curious George and a few other darlings of the network four times a day.

So, if your local Discovery is going to treat the show the same way... just start praying, folks.

edited 19th Sep '14 3:19:41 PM by NapoleonDeCheese

Folks do know The HUB is part of Discovery's family, and can easily do what ever the Hell they want with it, right?

As long as they still treat it like regular HUB now, I don't see such a big deal here, unless they replace ponies with "Naked and afraid" marathons in the damn afternoon.

I didn't know that. I'm new to that particular network and only watch it for the 80s and 90s nostalgia. Ponies aren't even on my radar, but I think you fans are safe, because it looks like the Hasbro stuff isn't even going to be affected. Those of us who watch the network for the reruns of old shows might be screwed if Discovery wants to air some original educational shows, however. I was also looking forward to seeing if any other 80s and 90s (or even earlier) shows were going to be added to the line-up. Oh well, at least I have four volumes of Animaniacs DV Ds to tide me over.

I think it comes on at like, 3AM on weekends. I keep forgetting to record it.

Agreed. I'm no fan of reality TV, but this was actually a pretty cute and clever concept. Then again, doesn't the regular Discovery Channel show reality TV? I could see this staying. I feel bad for that poor Kid President, though.

Of course, I could be jumping the gun about this. We'll just have to wait and see.

edited 20th Sep '14 12:16:48 PM by redhed311

Hopefully this change will give the network the chance for more variety outside of 80s-90s nostalgia and ponies. I like the idea of a family friendly channel everyone can enjoy.

edited 20th Sep '14 12:29:43 PM by teddy

Meanwhile, I see this as Discovery getting too big for their britches after letting Hasbro have a stake in the channel to its betterment.

Yes, Discovery Kids ran for several years, but there were only a handful of programs, IIRC.

edited 20th Sep '14 12:50:26 PM by Grounder

Plus, there really wasn't much to Discovery kids to actually call watchable except Tutenstine and Kenny The Shark.

Eh. I liked it when I was younger. It had a good mix of live action shows and cartoons. I was sorta sad to see it go.

The following shows have been on The Hub since week one:

• My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic
• Happy Days
• Family Game Night
• The Adventures of Chuck & Friends
• Pound Puppies (2010)
• Strawberry Shortcake's Berry Bitty Adventures
• G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero
• Family Ties
• Fraggle Rock
  • and, of course, movie night.

The August telethon of MLP pulled in over 4 million viewers total (not average), whereas The Simpsons on FXX averaged 1.3 million viewers.

edited 20th Sep '14 2:38:01 PM by BigBertha

No it didnt. Where did you get that it scored 4 million? Wikipedia has it all wrong, The Hub has NEVER gotten past a million and that's with a MOVIE. They've NEVER score that high when Nick struggles to score 3 million.

WAIT THIS IS THE FUTON CRITIC!? ITS TRUE. NO WAY.

http://www.thefutoncritic.com/ratings/2014/08/12/43-million-viewers-tune-in-for-my-little-pony-mega-mare-athon-on-the-hub-network-934314/20140812hub01/

I really can't believe that the hub was able to get over 4 million. I know lots of people like ponies, but hub isn't a network that's available as much as nick or cn. I don't even it's on basic cable..

edited 20th Sep '14 6:13:58 PM by teddy

Its not VERY available but its STILL on 60 million homes. And 4 million of those homes tuned into the Mare-a-thon. God Im still in shock.

Really? Wow. That's crazy.

I could kinda understand the Simpsons since it's pretty nice to see the classic/famous episodes on tv again, but ponies? I always assumed that bronies mostly watched it online. Like livestream or something. Seems more fun :/

I'm surprised as well(and this is coming from a brony),I wouldn't have thought a marathon like that could rake that many fucking viewers,esp. since the entire series is up everywhere,EG 1 included.

I'm not concerned. Hasbro still controls 6 hours of programming, so no big.

Six hours of progragramming... which are during the time kids are at school.

Well think, what could Discovery actually replace with all the other times? I doubt this would be a lasting idea since most of Discovery's output is crappy reality series, so they could easily return to the old formula right after the first six months if it sucks.

Only if ratings are lower and enough people complain, that is... Otherwise, that's a lot of optimism there.

Did you read the part where they scored 4 MILLION. Not even Disney scores that high anymore.

Im pretty sure that Sponge Bob rarely gets that high also nowadays.

Are kids honestly watching the hub more often than Nick and Disney now? HTB if you ask me o.O Mainly because the channel isn't old.

edited 21st Sep '14 4:10:13 PM by teddy