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Discovery Family

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The Hub
HeadquartersSilver Spring, Maryland
Ownership
OwnerDiscovery Communications
Hasbro, Inc.
(Both owning 50%)

The Hub is an American digital cable and satellite television network that launched on October 10, 2010.[1] The channel, which replaced Discovery Kids, is a joint venture of Discovery Communications, Inc. and Hasbro. The Hub airs programming primarily aimed at children ages 6-12, drawing largely on the libraries of both parent companies.

The Hub targets a dual audience, young children in the daytime with original and acquired children's programs, and families at night with reruns of older television sitcoms, dramas and feature films. Veteran television executive Margaret Loesch serves as president and chief executive officer of The Hub. The channel is available to approximately 60 million subscribers.[2]

History

On April 30, 2009, it was announced that Hasbro acquired a 50% stake in Discovery Kids, with the resulting joint-venture changing the channel's name to The Hub.[3][4][1] Discovery will oversee ad sales and distribution, while Hasbro will be responsible for programming.[5][6] The network continues to use the Discovery Kids strategy of tagging their educational programming as meeting FCC educational and informational programming guidelines with an on-screen logo to list it as such on electronic program guide listings despite the E/I policy being targeted wholly to broadcast stations with cable networks completely excluded from E/I regulations.

The channel launched at 10:00 am ET (9:00 am CT) on October 10, 2010, taking over the Discovery Kids channel space after a final marathon of Kenny the Shark.[7] The first program aired on the channel was the animated series The Twisted Whiskers Show.[8]

Programming

Main article: List of programs broadcast by The Hub

The Hub has announced the addition of nine new shows: Pictureka!, The Adventures of Chuck and Friends, Transformers: Prime, G.I. Joe: Renegades, In the Night Garden, Dennis and Gnasher, R.L. Stine's The Haunting Hour, Clue and Hubworld.[9][10][11][12][13][14][15]

New programming from Hasbro includes new cartoons based on My Little Pony, Transformers, the Pound Puppies and Strawberry Shortcake. Additionally, the network will air a family game show called Family Game Night, which features Hasbro's board game properties adapted into a game show form.[16]

A limited amount of original Discovery Kids programming remains including series such as Endurance, Adventure Camp and Scout's Safari, a contrast to other rebranded Discovery networks as of late which have taken on completely new schedules. In addition the network carries library content from Hasbro's defunct Claster Television and Sunbow Productions divisions, including The Transformers and G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero, though not any cartoons based on Hasbro properties (or forerunner toy companies such as Tonka that were eventually purchased by Hasbro) made by Hanna-Barbera or Ruby-Spears Productions, whose libraries are owned by Time Warner and air on Cartoon Network and Boomerang. Other library content includes Fraggle Rock, Atomic Betty, Batman Beyond and Honey, I Shrunk the Kids: The TV Show.[17][18][19][20][21][22]

Programming blocks

Various types of programs are broadcast on The Hub in programming blocks.

HubBub

The HubBub is a daytime programming block for preschoolers, airing from 9:00 am–1:00 pm ET (8:00 am–12:00 pm CT).[23] The block exists on account of The Hub's primary target audience of school-age children are usually in school during that time period. Programming in the HubBub block includes Animal Mechanicals, Maryoku Yummy, In the Night Garden, Strawberry Shortcake's Berry Bitty Adventures and The WotWots. The HubBub competes with three preschool program blocks on other cable channels: Nickelodeon's Nick Play Date, Disney Channel's Playhouse Disney and PBS Kids Sprout's The Sunny Side Up Show. It replaces Discovery Kids's Ready Set Learn block.

HubBoom

The Hub features a nighttime lineup on Monday-Thursdays from 7:00 pm–6:00 am ET (6:00 pm–5:00 am CT), Fridays from 2:00–4:00 am ET (1:00–3:00 am CT), Saturdays from 1:00–4:00 am ET (12:00–3:00 am CT) and Sundays from 12:00–4:00 am ET (11:00 pm–3:00 am CT). The nighttime schedule consists primarily of off-network syndicated sitcoms and dramas made prior to 2000, primarily from both 20th Century Fox Television and the former Paramount Television aimed at families and adults. Programs currently airing in this block include Honey, I Shrunk the Kids: The TV Show, Doogie Howser, M.D., Laverne & Shirley, The Wonder Years and Happy Days (the latter three of which had previously run on Nick at Nite); most of these sitcoms are mainly part of a package which was formerly aired by FamilyNet in 2008 and 2009 before their December 2009 purchase by another party. Married...With Children premieres 10:00pm & 10:30pm January 10, 2011.

In addition, a late night block of action-themed programming airs advertised as "HubBoom", featuring Batman, The Transformers and G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero on Monday through Thursdays from 11:30 pm-1:00 am ET (10:30 pm–12:00 am CT). Programming originally produced for The Hub such as Family Game Night, Discovery Kids-produced programming such as Strange Days at Blake Holsey High and Adventure Camp and feature films aimed at family audiences also air in primetime in place of the classic television series on Fridays from 7:00 pm–2:00 am ET (6:00 pm–1:00 am CT), Saturdays from 7:00 pm–1:00 am ET (6:00 pm–12:00 am CT) and Sundays from 7:00 pm–1:00 am ET (6:00 pm–12:00 am CT).

References

  1. ^ a b Discovery, Hasbro Aim for Perfect 10s, Broadcasting & Cable, March 29, 2010
  2. ^ Owens, Rob (October 10, 2010). "Tuned In: The Hub Network Offers Programs for Younger Children". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved October 10, 2010. The Hub (Formerly Discovery Kids) Launches at 10:00AM Today.
  3. ^ Introducing "The Hub"—Discovery Communications and Hasbro Officially Unveil Children's Network Brand, Discovery Communications, January 14, 2010
  4. ^ Discovery and Hasbro Name New Kids Channel "The Hub", Los Angeles Times, January 14, 2010
  5. ^ Schneider, Michael (April 30, 2009). "Hasbro Nabs Discovery Kids Stake". Variety. Retrieved 2009-05-01.
  6. ^ Hasbro and Discovery Communications Announce Joint Venture to Create Television Network Dedicated to High-Quality Children's and Family Entertainment and Educational Content, Discovery Communications, April 30, 2009
  7. ^ Owens, Rob (October 10, 2010). "Tuned In: The Hub Network Offers Programs for Younger Children". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved October 10, 2010. The Hub (Formerly Discovery Kids) Launches at 10:00AM Today.
  8. ^ Steinberg, Brian (October 7, 2010). "From Toys to TV: Hasbro Joins Crowded Market with New Children's Channel". Boston Globe. The New York Times Company. Retrieved October 10, 2010. When Children's Cable Network The Hub Launches This Sunday, Viewers Will See An Animated Logo Known as "The Hubble" and the Start of The Twisted Whiskers Show, Which Features Funny-Looking Cats and Dogs. But If They Look Closer, They'll See Something Else: A New Effort by Pawtucket, R.I.-Based Hasbro to Be More Than a Toymaker.
  9. ^ "G.I. Joe: Renegades" to Debut This Fall on the Hub Network, The Terror Drome, April 29, 2010
  10. ^ The Hub Announces Additional Program Pick-Ups, Prepping Two New Original Series in Advance of Network's October Launch, MarketWatch.com, June 3, 2010
  11. ^ Hub Network Lands Two Kids' Series, Hollywood Reporter, June 7, 2010
  12. ^ The Hub Continues Rollout of Ambitious Slate of Original Series with "Clue", TV By the Numbers, August 6, 2010
  13. ^ The Hub Taps Popular Talent for Upcoming Original Series, The Futon Critic, August 6, 2010
  14. ^ Discovery/Hasbro's Hub Adds a Pop Culture Show, The Wrap, August 26, 2010
  15. ^ The Hub Abbs New Pop Culture Series "Hubworld" to Network's Original Programming Line Up, MarketWatch, August 26, 2010
  16. ^ The Hub Announces "Family Game Night" as First Game Show, Buzzer Blog, May 17, 2010
  17. ^ Discovery/Hasbro’s Joint Venture, The Hub, Goes On Air This Fall. Nick and More, January 14, 2010
  18. ^ The Hub Announces New Original and Acquired Series, Nick and More, May 17, 2010
  19. ^ "Doogie Howser, M.D.", "The Wonder Years" Among Iconic Series Added to The Hub's Launch Lineup, TV By the Numbers, August 6, 2010
  20. ^ Discovery and Hasbro's Hub Kids' Channel Gears Up for Launch, Los Angeles Times, August 6, 2010
  21. ^ The Hub Acquires More Sitcoms - "Happy Days", "Family Ties", "Laverne and Shirley"; Schedule for New Houston Classic TV Station, Sitcoms Online, September 28, 2010
  22. ^ Skywriter's "Betty" Joins The Hub, C21 Media, September 8, 2010
  23. ^ HubBub
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