Another network that will become a clone of something else....


http://variety.com/2014/tv/news/hub-network-taps-joey-fatone-to-build-primetime-family-block-1201145564/#article-comments

:brent
Hub Network Taps Joey Fatone To Build Primetime Family Block.

I wonder when there will be a day when a network discovers you don't need predictable, tiresome reality shows in their lineup.

I wonder when there will be a day when a network discovers you don't need predictable, tiresome reality shows in their lineup.

Agree...

I feel Reality Shows are cheap and Cash Cows at the same time!

i haven't watched the Hub in months - since they got rid of the sitcoms and Dan VS anyways.

absolutely no interest in whatever reality crap they are going to try and fill their schedule with to save money.

The Hub started out as a promising network airing sitcoms from 8-11:30PM. When they removed the 8-10PM sitcoms for a movie is when they started going downhill. Some of them were shows that hadn't aired anywhere else in a long time like The Facts of Life and Doogie Howser, M.D.

That doesnt shock me at all. What a disgrace. Did they say they are trying to market it like ABC's TGIF? Fat chance. I dont think the Hub will sniff what TGIF used to be.

Just as I predicted in another thread (http://www.sitcomsonline.com/boards/showpost.php?p=4868348&postcount=9) earlier this year.

Why am I not surprised? :rolleyes:

Oooooooh boy! Another decent network "selling out" for the sake of the ratings and almighty dollar? Go figure! :rolleyes:

I won't be interested in this station at all, I don't think. I'm just not a fan of so called "reality" programs.:(

What ratings they do have will go into the toilet. Their fault.

Good thing I taped every episode of SBS.

More useless reality TV. So sick of this crap.

The ratings for the sitcom repeats aren't all that great, so I'm not surprised.

See the most recent data here: http://www.tvmediainsights.com/tvratings/43227/hub-network-ratings-scorecard-week-of-march-10-2014/

http://www.thewrap.com/joey-fatone-to-host-parents-just-dont-understand

The Hub network reality show will help parents and their children better understand each other.
Read more at http://www.hitfix.com/tv-tattle#HjTibKMbVbvYc2YM.99

http://www.thewrap.com/joey-fatone-to-host-parents-just-dont-understand

The Hub network reality show will help parents and their children better understand each other.
Read more at http://www.hitfix.com/tv-tattle#HjTibKMbVbvYc2YM.99

The tv-tattle link makes no sense, all it does it take you to their useless site and you have to scroll down till you find the article which is the same as the one you posted. Why not just post the link to the wrap article and forget the middleman? :confused:

The tv-tattle link makes no sense, all it does it take you to their useless site and you have to scroll down till you find the article which is the same as the one you posted. Why not just post the link to the wrap article and forget the middleman? :confused:

You do actually notice that the Wrap link is at the very top (thus you don't have to go through the other link at all)!? :crazy: :rolleyes:

Oooooooh boy! Another decent network "selling out" for the sake of the ratings and almighty dollar? Go figure! :rolleyes:


I so agree with this comment. My goodness!! Preach!

this sucks I thought hub was going be a good station we got enough reality shows

I agree i don't see why they can't show both i wish they would get ride of some of the cartoons maybe show more comedy's i enjoy cartoons much as the next guy but they show too many some aren't that good any way.

Does anybody remember the Anti Disco Movement of the early 1980s? We need to form an Anti-Reality Show Movement. During a Detroit Tigers vs Chicago White Sox Doubleheader there would be an "Anti Reality Show Night". Free Admission would be given to anyone bring a DVD of a "Reality" Show, and during the period between games the DVDs would be placed in a box and BLOWN UP!!! :crazy: :lol: :rofl: :rotflmao: :brent

^I'm Game!

Sooner or later, Reality Shows won't be on TV because everyone will be sick of them!

I don't understand why the Hub can't simply structure itself like Nickelodeon (during its better years) or the Disney Channel circa 1997-2002. What I mean is have the early day/morning block for preschoolers, have the afternoon block for tweens/teenagers, and then have the evening/late night block for adults (we're the old sitcoms would be a perfect fit). Then on weekends, the Hub could show a movie, instead of virtually one every single day.

It seems like for the past year and a half, the Hub doesn't know what sort of direction it's supposed to go. What I liked about the Hub when it first started, was that it had "something for everybody" (unlike for example the current Disney Channel, which is basically, MTV for tween girls), but was at it's core, a nostalgia type channel (w/ reruns of the old Adam West Batman TV series and the old G.I. Joe and Transformers animated series).

Oooooooh boy! Another decent network "selling out" for the sake of the ratings and almighty dollar? Go figure! :rolleyes:
Yep,that's all most channels care about.Needless to say, cable was so much better when channels were just content to get a few cents a month from subscribers..And when channels complain about less and less people watching them because of alternative methods of watching TV,I think the channels really only have themselves to blame.

I don't understand why the Hub can't simply structure itself like Nickelodeon (during its better years) or the Disney Channel circa 1997-2002. What I mean is have the early day/morning block for preschoolers, have the afternoon block for tweens/teenagers, and then have the evening/late night block for adults (we're the old sitcoms would be a perfect fit). Then on weekends, the Hub could show a movie, instead of virtually one every single day.

It seems like for the past year and a half, the Hub doesn't know what sort of direction it's supposed to go. What I liked about the Hub when it first started, was that it had "something for everybody" (unlike for example the current Disney Channel, which is basically, MTV for tween girls), but was at it's core, a nostalgia type channel (w/ reruns of the old Adam West Batman TV series and the old G.I. Joe and Transformers animated series).


I agree. You can have reality shows and classic sitcoms on. You just have to program it the right way. I think the Hub new what direction they were going to go for the past year and a half. You saw it over time. First it was getting rid of Happy Days, ALF, The Wonder Years etc. Then you saw them replace them with Hercules, Lois and Clark, Sliders etc. Then came the movie on every night which you wouldnt mind but they show those movies over and over again anyway.

I don't understand why the Hub can't simply structure itself like Nickelodeon (during its better years) or the Disney Channel circa 1997-2002. What I mean is have the early day/morning block for preschoolers, have the afternoon block for tweens/teenagers, and then have the evening/late night block for adults (we're the old sitcoms would be a perfect fit). Then on weekends, the Hub could show a movie, instead of virtually one every single day.

It seems like for the past year and a half, the Hub doesn't know what sort of direction it's supposed to go. What I liked about the Hub when it first started, was that it had "something for everybody" (unlike for example the current Disney Channel, which is basically, MTV for tween girls), but was at it's core, a nostalgia type channel (w/ reruns of the old Adam West Batman TV series and the old G.I. Joe and Transformers animated series).

The Hub won't use the structure Nickeledeon/Disney Channel had for the same reasons Nickelodeon/Disney Channel aren't using that structure any more.

It's not a profitable structure.

1. Aside from the Retro Junkies, the vast majority of people don't too much care to watch re-runs of old stuff.

2. Why pay distribution and production companies to air 100 different shows when you can air the same 5 shows all day and generate just as much (if not more) ad revenue?

I BEEN ENJOYING SISTER SISTER & STEP BY STEP ON THE HUB

Shocker :rolleyes: Another network that had hopes of airing reruns of shows we haven't seen in years has sold out. Well, all I can say is that Warner Bros. better get off their butts and release season sets of Step by Step (no more TV favorites). That's all I really watched on that network.

Another cable network drops its reruns of old network TV shows and will fall to the lowest common denominator. I hope they end up with low ratings, because The Hub network will end up a more boring network than anything else.

tell you the truth I don't care too much for the hub I enjoy watching step by step and some times sisiter sister some times I watch Hercules: The Legendary Journeys & Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman I used to watch it for batman with adam west family ties and the wonder years I usual don't watch the hub I think they should just show sitcoms but I think they should cut back on the cartoons I enjoy cartoons much as the next guy but we already got cartoon channel called cartoon network.

I know you could make the argument that showing classic sitcoms dont make money or pop ratings but you cant tell me that what they replace the classic sitcoms with, does any better.

Mets82, tell it like it T.I Is.

I also think Mets82 has a good point. No matter what most of these so-called TV channels show,they are only going to get a limited amount of viewers.They may as well air the older programs,at least they cost very little to air.

Thats what I'm saying. Dont be surprised that some of these channels have a master plan. Lure you in with shows you like and then pull the rug out from underneath you.

That's why I would make a TV Station that keeps its promise...no matter what! Shows from the 80's and 90's as well as some surprises!

Why can't stations combine the older shows with the new and stop selling-out to feed the cash cow?

I know you could make the argument that showing classic sitcoms dont make money or pop ratings but you cant tell me that what they replace the classic sitcoms with, does any better.
Check out the link I posted on page one of the thread. Their original programming does better than repeats of Step by Step.

In the long run, original programming will bring more viewers to the network. Older shows are a good way to bring people in, but eventually you have to put something else or people are going to leave. You can only watch a repeat of Step by Step so many times before you've seen 'em all. Original programming, especially reality, is a good way for networks to get their foot in the door. It's cheap and people like it. Once they have enough viewers watching, they can start creating their own original programming.

TV Land is a good example. You may not like its direction, but ratings are clearly higher than they were a few years ago. If they weren't, the network would have abandoned their original comedies already, not continue making new ones.

Well it was bound to happen, and the HUB executive is right when it came to reruns, the TV viewers can only watch a show for so much before it gets repetitive (no pun intended).

I do with they would at least devote couple of hours a day with classic sitcoms and maybe bring back cartoons like TF and G.I.Joe and other 80's classics but that's wishful thinking.

I BEEN ENJOYING SISTER SISTER & STEP BY STEP ON THE HUB
I was watching Step By Step at first but now I just stopped, the reptitiveness is getting to me and I can't even bother with Sister Sister since I never liked it back when it was on ABC.

It's funny because with MeTV and TVLand now airing Gilligan's Island that is one show I can never get tired of.

I know you could make the argument that showing classic sitcoms dont make money or pop ratings but you cant tell me that what they replace the classic sitcoms with, does any better.

Eh, apparently it does.

Otherwise, they'd be showing the classic sitcoms...

If the Hub wanted to introduce more original and dare I say, "reality" programming, then they done it gradually. What I mean is, mix it in w/ the sitcom reruns. If the viewers respond well to the original programming, then they could go from there. Instead, by the looks of it, it appears that the Hub is going to get rid of the "classic" programming in one fell swoop and replace it w/ whatever they're going to replace it involving Joey Fatone.

I was watching Step By Step at first but now I just stopped, the reptitiveness is getting to me and I can't even bother with Sister Sister since I never liked it back when it was on ABC.

It's funny because with MeTV and TVLand now airing Gilligan's Island that is one show I can never get tired of.

I could tell that the Hub was in trouble when they started to fill their line-up w/ virtually nothing but '90s era shows. I'm not necessarily saying that I don't personally like any of these shows, it's just that the Hub seemed to be narrowing their niche like other cable channels.

If the Hub wanted to introduce more original and dare I say, "reality" programming, then they done it gradually. What I mean is, mix it in w/ the sitcom reruns. If the viewers respond well to the original programming, then they could go from there. Instead, by the looks of it, it appears that the Hub is going to get rid of the "classic" programming in one fell swoop and replace it w/ whatever they're going to replace it involving Joey Fatone.


I agree!!! Let the fans decide what they want instead of deciding it for them.

I could tell that the Hub was in trouble when they started to fill their line-up w/ virtually nothing but '90s era shows. I'm not necessarily saying that I don't personally like any of these shows, it's just that the Hub seemed to be narrowing their niche like other cable channels.
They realized that shows like Family Ties and especially fluffy garbage like Mork & Mindy and ALF weren't even making dents in the ratings.

What they should've done is have one day a week devoted to 70's, 80's, 90's programming.

Check out the link I posted on page one of the thread. Their original programming does better than repeats of Step by Step.

In the long run, original programming will bring more viewers to the network. Older shows are a good way to bring people in, but eventually you have to put something else or people are going to leave. You can only watch a repeat of Step by Step so many times before you've seen 'em all. Original programming, especially reality, is a good way for networks to get their foot in the door. It's cheap and people like it. Once they have enough viewers watching, they can start creating their own original programming.

TV Land is a good example. You may not like its direction, but ratings are clearly higher than they were a few years ago. If they weren't, the network would have abandoned their original comedies already, not continue making new ones.

If they're worried about repetitiveness does that mean that they're gonna stop playing the same movies over and over again? Step By Step is only on its second cycle on the Hub. And how many times have they aired those Karate Kid movies?

We at least have The Quad Q4 2014.

I agree!!! Let the fans decide what they want instead of deciding it for them.
Fans kind of did decide though. If the ratings and revenue were there, the old sitcoms would stick around.

I already removed HUB so I am cool:wave:

Read this to know whats going on: www.nickandmore.com/2014/06/12/margaret-loesch-leaving-hub-network-future-of-network-unclear/

Yes, a combo of this news, Bad Ratings and cancellations of shows (Dan Vs) has put The Hub Network in HUGE Jeopardy (http://officialfan.proboards.com/thread/501576/leaving-future-network-shows-unclear).

I can not get the page to open can somebody help me please nevermind I read It shocking not sure what to say

I hope we get to see Blossom complete a full run before they turn out the lights.

Its too bad if the Hub changes its format or even shuts down. I will say that I think the Hub isnt drawing because of all the cartoon channels out there. I think there is about a dozen or so of those types of channels. No wonder the Hub couldnt compete.

it seems like all the Hub gives a crap about is shows that are advertisements for Hasbro toys.

- why didn't they just make a Dan Vs. action figure? :mad:

Okay, who in this forum watches The Hub Network for sitcom reruns and nothing else? Right now, I am only watching The Hub Network for Blossom (partially because Blossom has been extinct from syndicated reruns for so long, and partially because the star, Mayim Bialik, is currently on The Big Bang Theory).

Okay, who in this forum watches The Hub Network for sitcom reruns and nothing else? Right now, I am only watching The Hub Network for Blossom (partially because Blossom has been extinct from syndicated reruns for so long, and partially because the star, Mayim Bialik, is currently on The Big Bang Theory).
The only show on The Hub that I watch on a regular basis is "Blossom". I also watch "Step by Step" now and then. I wish they'd add more sitcoms like "Perfect Strangers" and "Mr. Belvedere"....classic "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles" would also be a treat.

Blossom and Step by Step for me. I watch Happy Days when its on during the weekend.

I like the addition of Blossom (Six is my favorite), just wish they had kept Family Ties after it at 11PM.

well if I was the hub I would get ride of the cartoons or at least cut back or show different cartoons more for older kids not like cartoon net work but maybe johnny quest swat kats, teange mutant ninja turtles batman animated series it used to come on not sure if it still does justice league justice league unlitmed spider-man animated series x-men animated series doug animated series

not cartoons I would show
mighty morphing power rangers
pee wee play house
are you afraid of the dark?

http://variety.com/2014/tv/news/hub-networks-bark-week-to-air-in-august-1201268357/

Inspired by Shark Week, Hub Network will air a week’s worth of dog-related programming from Aug. 17 to 22, including “It’s Me or the Dog” and “Scooby-Doo.”
Read more at http://www.hitfix.com/tv-tattle#cvcG3wOPBwAOljYt.99

The only original show I even watched on The Hub was Family Game Night and that show has been seemingly doing well for them. If the Hub does indeed shut down, wonder what the future will hold for this show?

The Hub should be this generation's USA...yet it isn't!

They should revamp their station, have it look like this....

Weekdays...

6 AM-G.I. Joe
6:30 AM-Jem
7 AM-Tiny Toons
7:30 AM-Animaniacs
8 AM-Pinky and the Brain
8:30 AM-Freakazoid
9 AM-Care Bears
9:30 AM-Littlest Pet Shop
10 AM-My Little Pony
10:30 AM-Pound Puppies
11 AM-Strawberry Shortcake
11:30 AM-Hello Kitty
12 PM-$ale of the Century
12:30 PM-Scrabble
1 PM-Concentration
1:30 PM-Pyramid
2 PM-To Tell the Truth
2:30 PM-What's My Line?
3 PM-Garfield and Friends
3:30 PM-Super Mario Bros. Shows
4 PM-Adventures of Sonic
4:30 PM-New Woody Woodpecker
5 PM-Transformers
5:30 PM-Men in Black
6 PM-Batman
6:30 PM-Superman
7 PM-Gimme a Break
7:30 PM-Facts of Life
8 PM-Family Ties
8:30 PM-ALF
9 PM-Blossom
9:30 PM-Mr. Belvedere
10 PM-Wonder Years
10:30 PM-Doogie Howser
11 PM-Happy Days
11:30 PM-Laverne and Shirley
12 AM-Mork and Mindy
12:30 AM-Step by Step
1 AM-Transformers
1:30 AM-Dan vs.
2 AM-He-Man
2:30 AM-She-Ra
3 AM-Sister, Sister
3:30 AM-Mr. Cooper
4 AM-227
4:30 AM-Amen
5 AM-Fraggle Rock
5:30 AM-Sabrina, the Teenage Witch

Fridays...

7 PM-Family Game Night
8 PM-Game Shows inspired by a Hasbro Game
9 PM-Movie
11 PM-Honey, I Shrunk the Kids
12 AM-Action Shows like "G.I. Joe", "Transformers", "He-Man", "She-Ra"...

Saturdays...

6 AM-Fraggle Rock, the animated series
6:30 AM-Fraggle Rock
7 AM-Archie
7:30 AM-Sonic SatAM
8 AM-Garfield and Friends
8:30 AM-ALF Animated Series
9 AM-Tiny Toons
9:30 AM-Animaniacs
10 AM-Pinky and the Brain
10:30 AM-Freakazoid
11 AM-Transformers
11:30 AM-G.I. Joe
12 PM-He-Man
12:30 PM-She-Ra
1 PM-Show of the week
5 PM-Movie
7 PM-Goosebumps
7:30 PM-Haunting Hour
8 PM-Sliders
9 PM-Spooksville
9:30 PM-Aquabats
10 PM-Who's the Boss
10:30 PM-Newhart
11 PM-Happy Days
11:30 PM-Laverne and Shirley
12 AM-Movie
2 AM-Action Shows

Sunday...

6 AM-Care Bears
6:30 AM-Littlest Pet Shop
7 AM-Pound Puppies
7:30 AM-Hello Kitty
8 AM-Strawberry Shortcake
8:30 AM-My Little Pony
9 AM-Fraggle Rock: The Animated Series
9:30 AM-Fraggle Rock
10 AM-Movie
12 PM-Honey, I Shrunk the Kids
1 PM-Show of the week
5 PM-Movie
7 PM-AFV Bob Saget Version
7:30 PM-America's Funniest People
8 PM-Movie
10 PM-Who's the Boss?
10:30 PM-Newhart
11 PM-Family Ties
11:30 PM-ALF
12 AM-Action Shows

Well...I kinda cut corners with some, but I hope this is a better line-up than what you see on The Hub!

^That schedule looks awesome! Of course, like everyone, I would add a few shows like "The Torklesons" & "Perfect Strangers". I think both would fit nicely on The Hub.

Oh God, not another network trying to capitalize on Shark Week. Just end it already!!

^That schedule looks awesome! Of course, like everyone, I would add a few shows like "The Torklesons" & "Perfect Strangers". I think both would fit nicely on The Hub.

Good choices...

I even thought of having "Heathcliff", "Inspector Gadget", "Growing Pains", "My Two Dads", "Card Sharks", and "Blockbusters" as well.

There are no episodes of Step by Step or Blossom scheduled next week. I wonder if that's it for these sitcoms on The Hub.

There are no episodes of Step by Step or Blossom scheduled next week. I wonder if that's it for these sitcoms on The Hub.
Next week is "Bark Week". Everything goes back to normal on Monday, Aug. 25.

Next week is "Bark Week". Everything goes back to normal on Monday, Aug. 25.
Oh ok, great!! Then we have the shows a little longer then. I'm hoping at least until the new year.

http://api.viglink.com/api/click?format=go&jsonp=vglnk_jsonp_14110145913116&key=bbb516d91daee20498798694a42dd559&libId=7a233878-3faa-43d3-8c4b-618363ab7b54&loc=http%3A%2F%2Fofficialfan.proboards.com%2Fthread%2F508474%2Fdiscovery-hasbro-end-partnership-network%3Fpage%3D1&v=1&out=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.equestriadaily.com%2F2014%2F09%2Fdiscovery-and-hasbro-end-partnership-of.html&ref=http%3A%2F%2Fofficialfan.proboards.com%2Fboard%2F14%2Foff-topic-talk&title=Discovery%20and%20Hasbro%20End%20Partnership%20of%20Hub%20Network%20%7C%20Freakin%27%20Awesome%20Network%20Forums&txt=www.equestriadaily.com%2F2014%2F09%2Fdiscovery-and-hasbro-end-partnership-of.html

Hub to be renamed "Discovery Family Network" (https://deadline.com/2014/09/discovery-run-rebrand-hub-835759/)

News has come out from the Wall Street Journal of Hasbro ending it's partnership (http://officialfan.proboards.com/thread/508474/discovery-hasbro-end-partnership-network) with Discovery over The Hub network. Under the new agreements, Discovery will have controlling interests of The Hub (http://www.toonzone.net/forums/huburbia-hub-animation-forum/377351-discovery-take-full-control-rebrand-hub-channel.html#.VBpgt1dvbs0) and will rebrand the network the Discovery Family Network. This change can be expected as early as the 4th quarter. Hasbro will still have a large amount of influence over the company, controlling six hours of programming from 9am to 3pm.

The Wall Street Journal muses that while Hasbro's involvement with the network is expected to decline it is also possible that other outlets, like Cartoon Network, might be approached to host their programming.

We'll try to keep you all updated if more information arises.

http://api.viglink.com/api/click?format=go&jsonp=vglnk_jsonp_14110146216488&key=bbb516d91daee20498798694a42dd559&libId=7a233878-3faa-43d3-8c4b-618363ab7b54&loc=http%3A%2F%2Fofficialfan.proboards.com%2Fthread%2F508474%2Fdiscovery-hasbro-end-partnership-network%3Fpage%3D1&v=1&out=http%3A%2F%2Fonline.wsj.com%2Farticles%2Fdiscovery-to-take-control-of-the-hub-network-1410979842&ref=http%3A%2F%2Fofficialfan.proboards.com%2Fboard%2F14%2Foff-topic-talk&title=Discovery%20and%20Hasbro%20End%20Partnership%20of%20Hub%20Network%20%7C%20Freakin%27%20Awesome%20Network%20Forums&txt=online.wsj.com%2Farticles%2Fdiscovery-to-take-control-of-the-hub-network-1410979842

Oh God, not ANOTHER Discovery channel? Isnt there a Discovery Kids Channel or something that airs on NBC on Sat. morning? It took over what TNBC used to be?

When will these big stations learn?

Quality
Quantity

That's Quality over Quantity! Sooooo many stations, and all of them have nothing! Then it was one station with everything!

The good: The days of lazy programming with a reliance on a single franchise or show to carry a network is waning.

The bad: Nostalgic or aging programming is rarely successful unless it's new content based on it or something that has never left TV at all like Full House or Saved By The Bell. The barely remembered Blossom ain't going to cut the mustard in 2014.

Actually the Hub used to be Discovery Kids. So now they're returning to their roots and calling it Discovery Family. I've never care about anything on any of the Discovery Channels.

http://www.nickandmore.com/2014/09/18/opinion-the-end-of-the-hub-network/

October 10, 2010 at 10:00am Eastern Daylight Time Discovery Kids turned into The Hub and it all began. Now, just under four years later, it’s over. Discovery is taking a larger stake in the joint venture with Hasbro and renaming the network Discovery Family.

The original 50-50 ownership was set up to have Discovery provide the television business background (and the actual channel space) and have Hasbro provide the bulk of the programming content. The joint venture picked Margaret Loesch, well known for successfully running Marvel Productions in the 1980s and the popular Fox Kids block in the ‘90s, to run the network as Hub President and CEO. As an outsider from the two parent companies, her vision was to regain that 90s mentality that kids weren’t dumb and didn’t need to be talked down to.

When the network launched, it didn’t have much to work with in terms of Discovery Kids content. That network had basically been defunct for years, running repeats of the same series over and over each day. Therefore they had to acquire a large chunk of programming and make sure to have some original productions lined-up for launch as well.

When The Hub went live on 10-10-10 it featured a big mix of content. From original programming like My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Pound Puppies and Family Game Night (all from Hasbro) to new-to-America acquisitions like Deltora Quest, The Twisted Whiskers Show, Dennis and Gnasher, Cosmic Quantum Ray and more, to acquired American series like Happy Days, the 1960s Batman, Doogie Howser, Wonder Years and the Honey I Shrunk the Kids TV show.

Just a little over a month later, the marquee action franchise Transformers Prime launched along with the really good G.I. Joe Renegades series. One went on for 68 episodes while, sadly, the other ended after its first season of 26. Those were by Hasbro Studios as well.

The Hub had a problem though. They had to convince advertisers that Hasbro (a toy company) wasn’t going to be just producing 22-minute commercials for themselves. They needed other original content. Enter: The Haunting Hour and Dan Vs., two series from The Hatchery, a production company owned by Hub President Margaret Loesch. Haunting Hour launched as a preview that October before joining on Christmas Day no less. Dan Vs. rang in New Years 2011. While The Haunting Hour has been extremely successful (awards, notable guest stars, high production quality) and is about to premiere its fourth season this October, the animated Dan Vs. wasn’t as lucky. Though, it did at least get 53 episodes and is airing again on the network weekday mornings.

The Hub pleased action animated fans with repeats of shows like Batman Beyond and Men in Black: The Series to start with and Batman: The Animated Series and Superman: The Animated Series later on. More Warner Bros. Animation showed up like Tiny Toon Adventures and Animaniacs. The 90s were alive on The Hub for a while.

Of course, we all know which series made The Hub a recognizable name outside of the few who paid attention – My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic. I have no qualms with the show, though it’s not my thing. While very successful, the show has basically had the SpongeBob-effect on the network. Airing six or more times per day, it’s pretty much the only show airing today that gets respectable ratings (for both premieres and repeats). Not that it’s the ponies fault… but it’ll likely be the “mane” thing The Hub is remembered for.

The network has had a few other really good originals, like The Aquabats! Super Show, Kaijudo and Spooksville. Even a very likeable Clue miniseries. They’ve also aired fun classics like Goosebumps, Jem and Lois & Clark. They’ve had big misses, like the ill-fated launch of UK series Wizards vs. Aliens which was gone weeks after it started. They also tried initially with preschool programming, even having a Hasbro original with Chuck & Friends, but that too didn’t last.

From “Where Everything Comes Together” to “It Could Happen, Only on The Hub” to “Making Family Fun” – The Hub (now Hub Network) has always had a family approach. The Discovery Family name makes that point even clearer.

My main fear with the new Discovery overloads, I mean rulers… I mean programmers, is that they’ll take the network down the course of the other Discovery Communications networks. Reality shows plague each Discovery network and the new name for The Hub is a candidate to fall in line with recent unscripted fare like Kid President and Parent’s Just Don’t Understand. From understandable science and nature reality shows on Discovery Channel and Animal Planet to odd and disturbing family reality on TLC to horribly, horribly acted hospital recreations on Discovery Fit & Health, I can only hope the new Discovery Family stays away from this format.

Giving Hasbro a chunk of the daytime is understandable. It’ll also mean a scaled back Pony saturation and the ability to direct the afternoon and evening line-up to a more family-friendly schedule.

Still, we don’t know what the new network will look like yet. Will they pretty much keep things status quo? Likely not. Why else go through all this change if they plan to keep things as is? Things are going to change, it’s just a matter of what exactly and to what degree.

As it was in 2010, I look forwarding to seeing where things go from here. But unlike 2010, I’m not holding my breath in anticipation of a network I’ll like very much.

http://www.nickandmore.com/2014/09/18/opinion-the-end-of-the-hub-network/

Well I guess I'll to go with the mute button instead then...

The good: The days of lazy programming with a reliance on a single franchise or show to carry a network is waning.

The bad: Nostalgic or aging programming is rarely successful unless it's new content based on it or something that has never left TV at all like Full House or Saved By The Bell. The barely remembered Blossom ain't going to cut the mustard in 2014.

If Blossom is indeed dropped (then it will become extinct from syndication again), then I am boycotting that channel.

Does the Hub strike anybody else as essentially, being this generation (http://www.toonzone.net/forums/huburbia-hub-animation-forum/377351-discovery-take-full-control-rebrand-hub-channel-6.html#post4577411)'s or decade's equivalent to the Fox Family Channel (http://www.toonzone.net/forums/huburbia-hub-animation-forum/377351-discovery-take-full-control-rebrand-hub-channel-6.html#post4577901)?

Well I guess I'll to go with the mute button instead then...

http://geekalabama.com/2014/09/19/hub-network-about-to-re-brand-to-discovery-family-my-thoughts-on-this/

Hub Network launched replacing Discovery Kids in October 2010, and Discovery Kids was pretty much on a loop and replaying old programs over and over again. When Hasbro bought half the channel space, they were going to be responsible for programming, while Discovery runs the TV aspect of the channel. Hasbro hired Margaret Loesch, who ran the popular Fox Kids block in the 1990’s, which I loved. Hub Network’s early mission after watching their first shows was to not dumb down kids and provide shows that kids would enjoy watching, and they might learn something.

The network launched with mostly original and acquired programming, with some classic Discovery Kids shows mixed in. With Discovery Kids being in an endless loop, the network needed a new library of shows. Original shows like My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic, Family Game Night, Pound Puppies, The Twisted Whiskers Show, Dennis and Gnasher, and others were good shows, but most of them failed to attract an audience, except for MLP:FIM of course. The network made their primetime lineup with all classic sitcoms and dramas, and I think that was a big mistake!

I mean, most people have seen Happy Days, Batman, Doogie Howser, Wonder Years, and other classic shows. Soon, Hub Network acquired even more classic sitcoms like Alf, Lois & Clark, Hercules, Sliders, and others. For the rest of their primetime lineup, they relied on an older movie every night. Yeah, Hub Network tweaked the schedule by adding the sitcom Blossom, and adding more mature movies like Spaceballs, but here is something every network you see on TV needs, original programming in primetime, when the most people are watching!

Hub Network did try some original shows in the primetime slot. But most shows have not lasted. They ran a really good Clue mini-series that should have been a full series. They got the UK series Wizards vs. Aliens, that was soon quickly pulled off the channel for some reason. The Haunting Hour has done well on the channel, even though its future is uncertain after the re-brand. And other originals like Spooksville, The Aquabats Super Show, Dan Vs., Transformers Prime, G.I. Joe Renegades, and others have come and gone. I felt like Hub Network did a poor job scheduling shows like Dan Vs. and Spooksville. Seriously, who watches a new episode on Saturday afternoon, when people are out doing things?

Hub Network acquired a lot of shows from the 1990’s like Tiny Toon Adventures, Animaniacs, Batman Beyond, Batman: The Animated Series, Superman: The Animated Series, and other classic cartoons. Even though the people liked watching the classic cartoons, there’s one problem. Soon, the nostalgia factor wears off, and people quit watching the classic cartoons. Other than the classic cartoons during the daytime, you mostly saw many repeats of MLP:FIM, which has become a pop culture phenomenon. If one channel can only rely on a show about colorful ponies learning the lessons of friendship to deliver ratings, so advertisers can pay money, you have a problem.

Hub Network also tried some major events like the Halloween Bash, and Bark Week. But all major events on the channel have not brought in the ratings. And ratings is everything in the TV business. Hub Network did find some success in the daytime lineup, but the primetime lineup fell flat, and the channel was hemorrhaging money. Hub Network has been the worst performing network in Discovery Communication’s family of channels. And Discovery finally had enough, so here they come for a rescue, of sorts.

Hasbro will still control most of the daytime lineup, getting to program the 8 am – 2 pm Central lineup every day. The rest of the schedule will be programmed by Discovery. At first, programming will consist of science and nature programming from other Discovery Networks. Shows with a TV-PG or TV-G rating will most likely be seen on Discovery Family, like Cake Boss, Mythbusters, 19 Kids and Counting, and others. The problem is Discovery does not have many “family type” shows they could put on the channel, at first. What many people are concerned about the re-branded channel, is if the channel will become another reality show dumping ground. And will Discovery try to re-air some of those very old Discovery Kids shows, that are too old today.

Discovery has had some great success repurposing other channels like the Oprah Winfrey Network, Velocity, and Destination America. But on those channels, you can show just about anything you want. To keep Hub Network/Discovery Family on those family tiers on the cable and satellite systems, they can’t air anything above TV-PG. So, I am afraid you are going to see a few shows, with a lot of repeats at first. And if Discovery is thinking about letting Hasbro take their shows to other networks like Cartoon Network or Disney, think again!

Discovery, you need My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic, Littlest Pet Shop, Transformers: Robots In Disguise, Transformers: Rescue Bots, Family Game Night, and other popular Hub Network shows to help the new Discovery Family. If Hasbro takes their more popular shows to another network, Discovery Family is going to fall flat, and fast! So Discovery, I would play nice with Hasbro. Let Hasbro run a My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic marathon starting very early on Saturday morning when season five premieres. Heck, let Hasbro do a live show talking about MLP:FIM after the season premiere. If Discovery can do live shows after Naked and Afraid, and Shark Week, and after the premiere of Doctor Who, which Discovery owns a stake in BBC America, I would do something big to promote Discovery Family.

Discovery CEO David Zaslav has called Hub Network “beachfront real estate.” And the new Discovery Family will be managed by Discovery group president Henry Schleiff, who already oversees Investigation Discovery, Destination America, American Heroes Channel, and Discovery Fit & Health. For now, I have little confidence that Discovery Family will succeed. Hub Network struggled because you Discovery failed to promote the network. I rarely saw commercials for Hub Network on Discovery Channel, TLC, Animal Planet, or your other networks. And you often cross promote shows on other networks on your channels. And as for web ads, print promotions, and other ways of marketing, I barely saw it! If Discovery promoted Hub Network more, this situation might not be happening right now!

Hub Network was not in many homes because it was a digital tier channel. Meaning some subscribers had to pay extra to get the channel. If other networks like Disney and Turner can cross promote their shows, like a Disney Channel show airing on DisneyXD, or a Cartoon Network show airing on TBS, for example. Discovery could have shown My Little Pony on Animal Planet, with plenty of Hub Network promotions! I wonder if Discovery will try this now with Discovery Family?

And Hub Network had some struggles with their scheduling. I would have done some original shows several nights a week during primetime. It would have been great to see a primetime lineup one night a week consisting of Dan Vs., Spooksvile, The Aquabats Super Show, and The Haunting Hour, but these shows were all mostly scheduled for Saturday afternoon, usually a time where shows go to die. Discovery thinks they can run a “family” type network. Discovery’s CFO Andrew Warren acknowledged that increasing competition in the children’s media landscape—especially by subscription video-on-demand services, had an effect on the overall performance of the network. In re-launching Hub Network, there will be a larger emphasis on programming of interest to both children and their parents. I hope so!

Today, reuns and shows based on nostalgia will not cut it. Cutting popular shows for “cost efficient” shows will also not cut it. Lots of people are afraid that Discovery Family will become the next TLC, which has shows like Here Comes Honey Boo Boo, which my mother hates. If Discovery thinks that they can turn Discovery Family into another network about Amish lawbreakers, crab “nuts” fisherman, and people who go all in for little gold, think again! I am going to give Discovery an example of a show I would like to see on Discovery Family. I would like to see a show that is smart, a show where kids might learn something, and a show kids and adults can watch together. There’s a show like that on YouTube already called SmarterEveryDay, based here in Alabama! If a video like this one below can get close to 14 million views, a 30 minute show like this would work!

So at the end, I am sad to see Hub Network go. I am glad that Margaret Loesch and Hub Network gave us four years of good stuff! I am sure Geek Alabama will still be media partners with Hasbro and Discovery Communications. And I am sure I will be talking about shows coming soon to Hub Network and Discovery Family. Look for a post about the upcoming season premiere of R.L. Stine: The Haunting Hour very soon! And Discovery, us here at Geek Alabama would like to be considered to be a part of Discovery Family too! We could help to make a good TV show!

I liked it better with the classic tv lineups. Maybe the reason why the Hub is failing is because the children shows are competing with up to a dozen other children channels out there. Disney Jr. is one example. Dont compete with an already saturated market.

I liked it better with the classic tv lineups. Maybe the reason why the Hub is failing is because the children shows are competing with up to a dozen other children channels out there. Disney Jr. is one example. Dont compete with an already saturated market.

I'm trying to compile a list of the "biggest mistakes (http://www.toonzone.net/forums/huburbia-hub-animation-forum/377351-discovery-take-full-control-rebrand-hub-channel-7.html#post4583211)" that Hasbro made regarding the Hub (http://thetwin-factor.blogspot.com/2014/09/happy-trails-to-hub.html). Here's (w/o going all the way back into this particular thread) what I have so far:
*Thinking they could take on the Disney (and Nickelodeon for that matter) juggernaut and putting the network on what's essentially a pay tier.

*Gutting GI JOE: Renegades was arguably a huge mistake because they banked on Transformers, which the success of remains debatable since it's been overshadowed so heavily by Ponies.

*Poor scheduling of original series like Dan Vs. and Spooksville.

*Airing the same 10-20 family movies endlessly on the network and running these same movies every single night.

*Becoming FAR too reliant on My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic and to a lesser extent Littlest Pet Shop.

*Cancelling The Aquabats Super Show! at the height of the shows' popularity in favor of more "cost efficient" programming such as Parents Just Don't Understand.

*Not having any original programming in prime time on weeknights or on weekends.

*Not launching a weekend premiere block for kid friendly programming.

*Abandoning program blocks which gave a variety to the network such as Hub-Bub and Huboom in favor of yet more LPS and MLP encores.

*Having the night time lineup consist of nothing but reruns of domestic sitcoms reruns from the 1970s to the 1990s. I thought that was a bad idea from the start and I knew that that decision would come back to bite the network in the butt later on. I was hoping that the sitcoms reruns were just placeholders until the network had some original shows to air on the network, but that never happened.

*Becoming complacent and thinking they could just coast (http://www.toonzone.net/forums/huburbia-hub-animation-forum/377351-discovery-take-full-control-rebrand-hub-channel-7.html#post4583391) on MLP's huge success rather than continuing to innovate and develop new shows which could have become their equivalent to the Nicktoons and Cartoon-Cartoons. Hasbro figured, "Hey, this Pony show is huge! Why should we bother making anything new when we can just ram Ponies down everyone's throats?" It would be like if Nickelodeon decided to stop creating new shows after Rugrats became a phenomenon. It just made no sense for one of the biggest toy and game companies in the world which has several properties under their umbrella and a TV network to spotlight them on to only try to capitalize on 2 or 3 of them. Even if they had opted to go the route of most Disney Channel shows and not go beyond 2 seasons or do like many WB toons and only make enough episodes for a weekly or daily run of about 52 episodes in total, that would've been better than nothing, as they still could have accrued a sizable amount of reruns to fill those gaps in the daily schedule.

http://thetwin-factor.blogspot.com/2014/10/the-hub-what-could-have-been.html

It makes me wish that Hasbro (https://www.facebook.com/pages/What-the-Hell-Happened-to-the-Hub-Network/1665732533654320) had partnered with some other company to launch it's family oriented family cable channel and Discovery wasn't involved at all. This leads me to ponder what things may have been like had Hasbro hitched it's wagon to another company besides Discovery. Here are a few choices. Before I start, I'm going to say that the Big 3 (Disney, Warner Brothers and Viacom) are already off of the table, since they already have active family oriented cable channels, so we don't have to imagine what their family channels would be like. That said, to borrow DiscFam's tagline, Let's go!

HASBRO AND DREAMWORKS

Dreamworks wouldn't want to do this, and they have no reason to do it, but imagine if Hasbro and DreamWorks had partnered up and launched a family oriented cable channel. Not only would said channel be able to air all of the movies from the Shrek, Madagascar and Kung Fu Panda franchises as well as How To Train Your Dragon, but they'd also be able to air the DreamWorks series such as Monsters VS Aliens, Penguins of Madagascar, Dragons: Riders/Defenders of Berk, Kung-Fu Panda: Legends of Awesomeness and the upcoming animated series based on The Croods. Also Dreamworks currently owns the Classic Media library, which includes the UPA TV catalogue, Harvey Entertainment, Big Idea Productions, Filmation and the license rights to Gumby, Voltron and the Jay Ward productions. This means that this hypothetical channel could also air reruns of Rocky & Bullwinkle and Felix the Cat, as well as any new adaptations of said projects. Add to that My Little Pony:Friendship is Magic, Transformers and Littlest Pet Shop, and it sounds like a winner to me.

HASBRO AND 20TH CENTURY FOX

I know that FOX wouldn't be interested in doing this, since their last attempt at a family friendly cable channel (Fox Family) didn't end well and they already have a couple of cable channels under their belt, but it would be pretty cool if FOX had a showcase for their Fox Kids library of shows, as well as any new series that the studio would want to produce. Furthermore, there wouldn't be the issue of what the channel would air at night after the kids have gone to bed, since this channel could air the FOX prime time shows and/or some of the FX or FXX programs. Plus, FOX owns The Simpsons lock, stock and barrel, so there wouldn't be any issues if they wanted to air reruns of that on this channel.

HASBRO AND NBC/UNIVERSAL

I think that Hasbro and Universal would get along pretty well. Partnered with Universal, this hypothetical channel could air the likes of Woody Woodpecker and some of Universal Studios movies. Plus, Universal owns Qubo and Sprout. ' Nuff said.

HASBRO AND COOKIE JAR

Under this partnership, we would have a channel that had access to all of the Hasbro properties as well of all of the shows on Cookie Jar TV and KEWLopolis.