The Hub (TV channel)

The Hub
Launched	October 10, 2010
Owned by	Discovery Communications Hasbro, Inc. (Both owning 50%)
Slogan	Where Everything Comes Together
Country	United States
Language	English
Headquarters	Silver Spring, Maryland
Formerly called	Discovery Kids
Sister channel(s)	Discovery Channel TLC Animal Planet OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network Science Channel Military Channel Discovery Fit & Health Investigation Discovery Planet Green
Website	http://www.hubworld.com
Availability
Satellite
DirecTV (US)	Channel 294 Channel 1294 (VOD)
Dish Network	Channel 179 (SD/HD) Channel 9494 (HD)
C-Band	AMC 11-Channel 610 (4DTV Digital) AMC 18-Channel 204 (H2H 4DTV)
SKY México	Channel 271
DirecTV (Latin America)	Channel 330
Cable
Available on most cable systems	Check local listings for details
IPTV
AT&T U-Verse	Channel 335 (SD) Channel 1335 (HD)
Verizon FiOS	Channel 259 (SD) Channel 789 (HD)
Sky Angel	Channel 314

The Hub is an American digital cable and satellite television channel 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]

In a recent debt filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission, Discovery Communications indicated that the channel may be worth less than previously believed, based on low viewership figures. The management of the Hub is currently undergoing a fair value analysis of the channel.^[3][4]

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.^[5][6][1] Discovery will oversee ad sales and distribution, while Hasbro will be responsible for programming.^[7][8] The channel 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 channels 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.^[9] The first program aired on the channel was The Twisted Whiskers Show.^[10]

Programming

Main article: List of programs broadcast by The Hub

Programming includes Pictureka!, The Adventures of Chuck and Friends, My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic, Transformers: Prime, G.I. Joe: Renegades, In the Night Garden, Dennis and Gnasher, R.L. Stine's The Haunting Hour, Clue and Hubworld.^{[11][12][13][14][15][16][17]}

Programming from Hasbro includes cartoons based on My Little Pony, Transformers, the Pound Puppies and Strawberry Shortcake. Additionally, the network airs Family Game Night, which features Hasbro's board game properties adapted into a game show form.^[18]

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 content from the Hasbro-acquired library of Sunbow Productions programs featuring Hasbro licenses, 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.^{[19][20][21][22]}

The Hub HD

Since the day The Hub launched, Dish Network, Verizon FiOS, and AT&T U-Verse carried the high-definition feed versions of the network on their channel lineups.^[23] Time Warner Cable recently added the channel as well.

Programming blocks

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

HubBub

HubBub is a daytime programming block for preschoolers, airing from 10:00 am–11:30 am ET (9:00 am–10:30 am CT).^[24] 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 The Adventures of Chuck and Friends, Maryoku Yummy and In the Night Garden. HubBub competes with two preschool program cable channels: Nick Jr. and PBS Kids Sprout, and the program block Disney Junior. It replaced the Ready Set Learn block when Discovery Kids was relaunched as The Hub.

Family Prime Time

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 CBS Television Distribution aimed at families and adults. Programs currently airing in this block include Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader?, 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.

Programming originally produced for The Hub such as Family Game Night, Discovery Kids produced programming 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).

HubBoom

A late night block of action-themed programming 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).

Saturday Mash Up

This programming block seems to be an all-day block. It has several sub-blocks (Crack Up, Smash Up, Team Up, Family Prime, and Family Movie Night). Crack Up is the sub-block that airs from 6:00 am Eastern/5:00 am Central to 10:00 am Eastern/9:00 am Central; it airs comedy cartoons. Smash Up airs after it from 10:00 am Eastern/9:00 am Central to 2:00 pm Eastern/1:00 pm Central with action shows. Team Up airs from 3:00 pm Eastern/2:00 pm Central to 5:00 pm Eastern/4:00 pm Central with two back-to-back episodes of Family Game Night. Family Prime airs from 7:00 pm Eastern/6:00 pm Central to 9:00 pm Eastern/8:00 pm Central; it airs The Hub's best shows. Finally, Family Movie Night airs from 9:00 pm Eastern/8:00 pm Central to 11:00 pm Eastern/10:00 pm Central.

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. http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/10283/1091189-67.stm. Retrieved October 10, 2010. "The Hub (Formerly Discovery Kids) Launches at 10:00AM Today." 
3. ^ Is THE HUB Due For A Writedown? Discovery Debt Filing Raises That Possibility, Deadline Hollywood, June 13, 2011
4. ^ Less Than Meets The Eye: Is The Hub In Trouble?, Benzinga, June 14, 2011
5. ^ Introducing "The Hub"—Discovery Communications and Hasbro Officially Unveil Children's Network Brand, Discovery Communications, January 14, 2010
6. ^ Discovery and Hasbro Name New Kids Channel "The Hub", Los Angeles Times, January 14, 2010
7. ^ Schneider, Michael (April 30, 2009). "Hasbro Nabs Discovery Kids Stake". Variety. http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118003029.html?categoryId=14&cs=1. Retrieved 2009-05-01. 
8. ^ 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
9. ^ Owens, Rob (October 10, 2010). "Tuned In: The Hub Network Offers Programs for Younger Children". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/10283/1091189-67.stm. Retrieved October 10, 2010. "The Hub (Formerly Discovery Kids) Launches at 10:00AM Today." 
10. ^ 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). http://www.boston.com/business/articles/2010/10/07/hasbro_joins_crowded_market_with_new_childrens_channel/. 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." 
11. ^ "G.I. Joe: Renegades" to Debut This Fall on the Hub Network, The Terror Drome, April 29, 2010
12. ^ The Hub Announces Additional Program Pick-Ups, Prepping Two New Original Series in Advance of Network's October Launch, MarketWatch.com, June 3, 2010
13. ^ Hub Network Lands Two Kids' Series, Hollywood Reporter, June 7, 2010
14. ^ The Hub Continues Rollout of Ambitious Slate of Original Series with "Clue", TV By the Numbers, August 6, 2010
15. ^ The Hub Taps Popular Talent for Upcoming Original Series, The Futon Critic, August 6, 2010
16. ^ Discovery/Hasbro's Hub Adds a Pop Culture Show, The Wrap, August 26, 2010
17. ^ The Hub Abbs New Pop Culture Series "Hubworld" to Network's Original Programming Line Up, MarketWatch, August 26, 2010
18. ^ The Hub Announces "Family Game Night" as First Game Show, Buzzer Blog, 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. ^ Verizon 1aunches The Hub HD on FiOS TV, HD Report October 11, 2010
24. ^ HubBub

External links

• Official website