Discovery Taking Control over The Hub

[EquestriaGuy 1,074]

http://variety.com/2014/tv/news/discovery-to-take-control-of-kiddie-focused-hub-cable-outlet-report-1201307833/

 

"Discovery Communications and toymaker Hasbro will rework their ownership of cable’s kid-focused Hub outlet so that Discovery will take more control of the property and rework it into a broader outlet focused on family entertainment, according to a report in The Wall Street Journal.

The report said Discovery would take a controlling interest in the property, which had been a joint venture, leaving Hasbro with a smaller stake and the ability to control six hours of programming during the day, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The news outlet cited “people close to the talks” as the source of the information."

Looks like pony might not be affected, but this is still pretty huge. Might this mean we won't see Equestria Girls 2 debuting in primetime? Could this actually mean the whole channel is adopting a mindset similar to MLP's, in that even if a show is targeted to kids, it should appeal to the entire family?

 

edit: more added to the article

 

“We don’t comment on speculation,” said Julie Duffy, a Hasbro spokeswoman, via email.  ” Discovery and Hasbro have enjoyed a successful relationship over the past four years and we look forward to continuing to work together to bring entertaining and award winning programming to children and families.”

A spokeswoman for Hub declined to comment, referring an inquiry to Discovery Communications. A spokeswoman for the Silver Spring, Md., concern did not respond immediately for comment.

The network has seemed troubled in recent months. Margaret Loesch, the kidvid veteran who worked for legendary animator Hanna-Barbera and ran Fox Kids for a time, announced in June that she intended to step down as CEO of Hub by the end of 2014. She did so after unveiling a plan that would reshape the network’s primetime schedule to appeal to parents and kids, abandoning repeats of old sitcoms in favor of originals.

Despite making headway with “My Little Pony,” a cartoon based on the popular Hasbro toy, The Hubhad trouble making a dent in Viacom’s Nickelodeon empire and Walt Disney’s suite of kid-and-tweens-focused networks.

Henry Schlieff, a Discovery executive who supervises a suite of “emerging” properties such as Destination America,  Investigation Discovery and American Heroes Channel, will supervise the reworked outlet, which is expected to be renamed Discovery Family, according to The Wall Street Journal report."

Edited September 17, 2014 by EquestriaGuy

[rainbowsmash13 53]

Well with the stuff Discovery gets away with and calls education like Ancient aliens and Ice road truckers.

 

I don't see why they can make a documentary series about the history of Equestria it would be just as educational as the Ancient aliens

[EquestriaGuy 1,074]

Biggest thing out of that is that The Hub is to be renamed Discovery Family.

[Shift 4,272]

What a keen discovery!
 

honestly though i'm neutral on this. i won't judge anything until a major negative change in mlp's quality or something else because of discovery.

[Banul 3,831]

I'm pretty sure MLP was one of the Hub's most successful shows. As such, I would think that Discovery would keep it around.

 

Well with the stuff Discovery gets away with and calls education like Ancient aliens and Ice road truckers.

 

I don't see why they can make a documentary series about the history of Equestria it would be just as educational as the Ancient aliens

I love Ancient Aliens. Don't get me wrong, its full of shit, but I find it pretty entertaining anyway. 

[takai 1,060]

I think I speak for everyone when I say, as long as it doesn't affect MLP, who cares.

 

An odd development to say the least though. It'd be hard to imagine MLP on Cartoon Network if they do decide to shop it elsewhere.

[Shadowking58 1,137]

DISCOVERY! Keep your grubby hands off MLP! I don't want you fucking it up!

[M'aiq the Liar 5,804]

As long as this doesn't effect FiM I do not really care,as that is the only show I watch the hub for anyway (like BBCA and top gear and Doctor who, besides those two shows I don't really care what they do with their programing) so as long as it does not end up with "my little shark week" or "my little junior mythbusters" in the place of a normal FiM episode, then I don't really care.

 

 

And as for the adverts, we all know that Discovery is gunna try to pull more pony referential adverts for their shark week junior and mini mythbusters (who of course only solve the most mundane of the mundane urban myths). 

[RainbowMau 291]

So no more Hub but Discovery Family? Aaaah! My dream of seeing The Hub Latin America is officially ruined!

[chirox the pony 1,336]

The only way this could affect MLP is in terms of it's time slot and that's it, last time I checked the channel doesn't have much say(if any)over how the show is written, so no it shouldn't affect the show.

[TheJLeeTeam 914]

The Hub was a great network. It's only been around for 4 years. It's sad to see it go. And they're changing it back to a network with the name Discovery in it.

 

But does this mean MLP will move to another network or will it not air as much?

[EquestriaGuy 1,074]

At most, I figure it just means no more marathons like we saw last month. We'll probably still get an EQG 2 premiere in prime time, because they'd be insane to turn down the 700k ratings it would pull in. They seem to be protecting the time slot so it doesn't affect MLP. 

[Shadowking58 1,137]

I'm pretty sure MLP was one of the Hub's most successful shows. As such, I would think that Discovery would keep it around.

 

I love Ancient Aliens. Don't get me wrong, its full of shit, but I find it pretty entertaining anyway. 

So you mean that Discovery can force them to get rid of it!?

[Andaasonsan 3,205]

The Hub was a great network. It's only been around for 4 years. It's sad to see it go. And they're changing it back to a network with the name Discovery in it.

 

But does this mean MLP will move to another network or will it not air as much?

FiM is pretty much The Hub's most successful show, so it would be pretty dumb for them to marginalize it. I have a feeling we'll be seeing FiM episodes being shown outside the official Hasbro time slot as well.

[Moved to Elsewhere 11,331]

So what's the news here? The network changes it's name? Okay as long as it doesn't affect mlp.

[Jangocoolguy 433]

The bright side here is that MLP will be the LEAST affected show by this. Unless, of course, the Discovery Channel people really ARE stupid enough to mess with it...

 

I can't say I'm entirely surprised. Take away FiM and the Hub doesn't have much. Oh sure, the other toy based shows have their fans, but they aren't as many or as vocal as the Herd, and apparently ratings weren't good enough.

 

Heck, I actually liked the Hub for the older shows & occasional movie that let me relive my childhood

Edited October 8, 2014 by Jangobadass

[ggg-2 3,553]

this came from Equestria Daily, and no one is talking about it on twitter and facebook.....yeah, can you say "red flag"?

[Nuke87654 1,849]

this came from Equestria Daily, and no one is talking about it on twitter and facebook.....yeah, can you say "red flag"?

 

They have the link to a wall street news article discussing about it on their website so it's very much true.

[Andaasonsan 3,205]

this came from Equestria Daily, and no one is talking about it on twitter and facebook.....yeah, can you say "red flag"?

Equestria Daily by way of the Wall Street Journal.

[Zekromic 1,054]

I don't see it affecting MLP aside from a possible change of airing. the Hub is made by a partnership of Discovery and Hasbro, making tons of deals and legal stuff to each one air their stuff in the channel, but that doesn't mean Discovery owns FiM nor viceversa, so chill

[ShadowPirateX 600]

I don't have The Hub, but as long as it doesn't affect MLP AND Transformers I don't think I would mind.

[Moved to Elsewhere 11,331]

I looked at the comments for this on Equestria Daily, and a lot of people jumped to conclusions and said fim would air on another network. Just because it changes it's name, doesn't mean it will move to another network. Also, no where did it say in the article they were taking it off.

[Zekromic 1,054]

I looked at the comments for this on Equestria Daily, and a lot of people jumped to conclusions and said fim would air on another network. Just because it changes it's name, doesn't mean it will move to another network. Also, no where did it say in the article they were taking it off.

just the classic case of people over dramatizing a new because they'll like to make others freakout  

[remove p l e a s e ? 800]

Well, I watch MLP through Netflix.

 

 

Okay, maybe not just Netflix. (Get the hint?)

 

 

So, as long as it isn't interrupted in any way, I'm fine.

[Mantis01 19]

DISCOVERY! Keep your grubby hands off MLP! I don't want you fucking it up!

Discovery has always own the Hub.