Is it possible that My Little Pony could leave Discovery Family one day?

[SaburoDaimando 1,196]

Since October of 2014, the Hub has become no more, replaced with Discovery Family.  Even more so, one show intended for that channel has instead moved to Cartoon Network(Transformers: Robots in Disguise) with its alternative version still on there(Transformers: Rescue Bots) with Transformers G1 still available.  Also still on Discovery Family is Littlest Pet Shop and(Yep) My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic.

 

But I'm rather curious: How long will My Little Pony remain on Discovery Family before they decide to pack up and move to a more common cable channel like Cartoon Network, Nickelodeon or The Disney Channel?

[Ashen Pathfinder 16,161]

It will depend on how the ratings are and whether Hasbro feels the MLP franchise will benefit from a move to one of the bigger animation channels.

 

I think Hasbro might be best staying with Discovery Family for now. Considering that CN and Nick seemed to have been on a live-action binge from sometimes, I'm not sure how much creative freedom the team at DHX would have with the show on a bigger channel.

[Mesme Rize 15,683]

I could imagine if the fifth season dosen't get as much audience as the previous once, then Hasbro might consider moving to CN.

[chirox the pony 1,336]

I actually do see Hasbro (maybe) one day bringing MLP to a more widely viewed network. 

[Unikitty 1,212]

Everything is destined to one day show up on Boomerang. Eventually, MLPFiM will be no different. Right alongside re-runs of The Angry Beavers.

[epzik8 92]

They could if Discovery Family drops the rights to the show, or however that works.

[Mr. Mustang 647]

I'd be elated if Hasbro moved MLP to Cartoon Network. That way, I can catch Sonic Boom and have MLP right afterwards when I get home from work.

[Radiance64 7,053]

Hm, we'll see after Season 5 but I don't really think so. Gotta be the biggest thing they've got atm, they're not gonna give it up that easily.

[Spikey-Wikey 378]

Even though I don't live in the US, and MLP's original channel doesn't really bother me much, it would feel weird having MLP on Cartoon Network, Nickelodeon or The Disney Channel.

 

Especially Disney. MLP doesn't have a Disney feel.

[Pinkiest Pie 405]

It would just be strange. I don't believe it will, if they audience stop watching it, (probably won't happen) then they will keep it on there. If the audience level drops they could move it to another channel.

[Megas 27,622]

Nah, it's probably the only show bringing ratings for them atm

 

 

Even though I don't live in the US, and MLP's original channel doesn't really bother me much, it would feel weird having MLP on Cartoon Network, Nickelodeon or The Disney Channel.

Especially Disney. MLP doesn't have a Disney feel.

I actually feel the opposite, I think MLP could fit right at home with Disney. Heck it has plenty of Disney-Like songs

[Wind Chaser 4,768]

I believe that FiM will sooner end than go to another channel, regardless of whether the movie ends or not. Discovery Family would be completely lost without it, even though Discovery seems more intent on burning the channel off than actually developing content for it. Eventually, FiM will have to end and will be replaced by a new series. I have a feeling that Hasbro will have a better chance looking at a streaming service like Netflix. Most other networks have little regard for a series they didn't produce in-house. CN, Nick, and Disney would more likely stuff MLP in a bad timeslot and do a much worse job promoting it than Discovery Family does.

[Spikey-Wikey 378]

Nah, it's probably the only show bringing ratings for them atm

 

 

 

I actually feel the opposite, I think MLP could fit right at home with Disney. Heck it has plenty of Disney-Like songs

Sure, it does a few Disney-like songs. But it doesn't have a modern Disney feel. It doesn't have stuff like CGI animation.

 

I feel like Generation 1 has a non-modern Disney feel, though.

[EverEverOn 346]

I only think it'd need to be moved if it was no longer so successful. Since Discovery Family isn't a channel that everyone has (I don't have it, at least) if they moved it to CN, it might gain an even bigger audience than before. Then again, most people I know who watch the show use streams and YouTube/Dailymotion to watch it.

[cmarston1 5,959]

If it doesn't end after the movie, I think it is possible for it to leave Discovery Family as that channel is basically on it's last legs anyways.

[FirePuppy 735]

The show still hasn't left the channel as of July 2024, but they did remove all the Equestria Girls installments and Pony Life, despite still owning the broadcasting rights to them all. This is because the network renewed their contract with Hasbro until early 2025, which means no other service will be able to obtain the rights until then. Here's some sources:

"Beginning in 2021, the Company and the Network agreed that Hasbro would no longer provide the Network with new content."

— Source: 2021 Hasbro Annual Report, page 108

"Hasbro Inc. (“Hasbro”) had the right to put the entirety of its remaining 40% interest in Discovery Family to the Company at any time during the one-year period beginning December 31, 2021, or in the event the Company’s performance obligation related to Discovery Family is not met. Embedded in the redeemable noncontrolling interest is also a Warner Bros. Discovery call right that is exercisable for one year after December 31, 2021. Neither the put nor call was exercised in 2022. In December 2022, Hasbro and WBD signed an amendment to the previous agreement extending the put-call election to the period January 31, 2025 to March 31, 2025."

— Source: 2023 Warner Bros. Discovery Annual Report, page 110

I have no idea why both of the above happened.

Edited July 5 by FirePuppy

[KPackratt 275]

With Cable TV slowly dying out in favor of streaming, I really hope Hasbro decides to end their contract with Discovery Family, putting an end to their decade+ long run of broadcasting MLP:FIM and increasing the chances of the MLP G4 cartoons staying on streaming for good. They've been airing this show for far longer than they should have at this point and the effects of the Warner Bros. Discovery merger have been proven to be detrimental to the streaming availability of MLP G4 cartoons for quite some time.

[Magitronique 48]

It'd absolutely be for the best if it did! It's genuinely ridiculous how difficult it is to stream the show in its entirety. I imagine it'll finally be free once the Hasbro/Discovery contract expires in a few months. Clock's finally running out, and I don't see them extending the agreement any longer than they already have for the past few years.

Honestly I wonder if Discovery Family is even going to continue once that agreement ends. I'm sure someone out there would know better than I do, but as far as I can tell it's just a channel full of reruns and nothing else at this point lol. After the Warner Bros. merger it's just kind of... there? More than a little redundant! Not hard to imagine a massive ravamp if not an outright replacement on the horizon once the legal entanglement with Hasbro is over.