gmster
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#1
The long-rumored takeover and rebranding of the children’s network is about to take place, The Wall Street Journal reports. Discovery would acquire some of Hasbro’s share in the struggling joint venture — but still leave the toymaker with a sizable stake — and then likely rename it Discovery Family. It would target parents as well as kids, and still enable Hasbro to program the channel from 9 AM to 3 PM.
https://deadline.com/2014/09/discovery-run-rebrand-hub-835759/
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Mandouga
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#2
Well, as the old saying goes: "There goes the neighborhood".

In all seriousness though, I don't like the ramifications of this; ramifications that I've brought up in the past, so I'll just leave it at that.
Cartoons aren't "just for kids"...but they're not just for adults either. They're for everyone.
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Trombone77
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#3
I was actually thinking what Hub would do if Hasbro's stake in it decreased or was overtaken by Hasbro. While it seems as though it could lose a little bit of the fun that Hub started with, I look forward to seeing what Discovery plans to make of it. I hope that not only the programs that made Hub stay on it, but that more original programming (scripted preferably) comes to the network. However, I am wondering if it will be like Discovery Familia, which airs preschooler programming during the day and light reality shows and programming at night.
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Looney Tunes Fan
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#4
I have a feeling Hasbro will throw in the towel altogether eventually. Overall though, sad news. Even sadder when you think that Discovery Kids outlasted The Hub.
Stay gold, Toonami Faithful.

After Nick and More shut down the first time, I continued writing Toonami articles on my own blog! It'd mean a lot to me if you stopped by and checked it out: toonamiabsolution.blogspot.com
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Goldstar!
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#5
Well, this is unexpected. I can't say that I'm sad to read this news, seeing as how the only shows that I'm currently watching on The Hub (Now that The Aquabats Super Show! was given the boot) are My Littlle Pony: Friendship is Magic and Littlest Pet Shop, and even then, that's only when it's a new episode. However, if a re-braning means that the channel will finally get some decent programming at night and offer more than just forgettable family movies and nostalgic family sitcoms, then I'm all for it. I just really hope that Discovery Family won't go the reality TV route the way that A&E, TLC, ABC Family and Syfy have.
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Mandouga
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#6
I should also mention that most of the Deadline article is speculation, but still should be "taken with a grain of salt" as they say.
Cartoons aren't "just for kids"...but they're not just for adults either. They're for everyone.
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Goldstar!
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#7
If the article is accurate, then this means that Hasbro will be in control of the channel from 8 AM to 3 PM, so the daytime schedule will likely remain the same, for the most part. I've been saying that the channel needs to expand it's horizons beyond ponies, pets and nostalgia. Perhaps this could lead to a better lineup with some more potential breakout hits which don't have the word "pony" in the title. Of course, that's being optimistic.
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Silverstar
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#8
Eh, it was to be expected. The channel was hemorrhaging money, and yes, the kids' entertainment market is indeed crowded right now with the Big Three (Nickelodeon, Disney Channel and Cartoon Network) but they still could've managed to cut a swath or at least carved a niche for themselves had they not chosen to rely solely on My Little Pony and 80's nostalgia to carry them along. Hasbro really needed to step out of its' comfort zone and step their game up with new, innovative and original programming that appealed to more people than just Pony fans and broadcast network sitcom enthusiasts. A breakout cross-culture hit like a Mighty Morphin Power Rangers or a Pee-Wee's Playhouse or some quality original productions like the Nicktoons or the Cartoon-Cartoons would have truly helped The Hub, had they dared to try anything like that. It's truly a shame: The Hub was more diverse and offered more of a variety when it launched 4 years ago.

Oh, well, according to that article, Hasbro is likely to keep hold of the channel's daytime schedule. If Hasbro wasn't able or willing to put anything original or high-quality on during the prime time (the hours that make or break a channel) then they really don't need to retain control beyond that. I just hope the rebranded channel has more to offer in prime time besides just 2 steps above public access shows like Kid President and Parents Just Don't Understand and old domcoms. They never should have dropped Dan VS or The Aquabats' Super Show!. Hopefully we'll get more scripted shows instead of this channel becoming yet another reality show dumping ground.
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aegisrawks
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#9
This is so very sad. I know the channel was nothing but MLP at this point but DANG. I was hoping more upcoming varied programming could save it.
Like Quote Reply. Write a continuation forum conversation asking what state the channel is in right now as of Sep 2014, a user says it's mostly cutesy shows and toyetic shows (and a LOT of Yu Gi Oh)

CartoonFanatic
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#10
With all this speculation about the takeover and rebranding, I'm really curious to know what the current state of the channel is as of now. I've heard mixed opinions, but it would be nice to get a clear picture. Are there any notable changes in the programming lineup, or is it still pretty much the same?

SunnyDays
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#11
From what I've seen lately, the channel's programming is mostly focused on cutesy shows and toyetic series. As expected, My Little Pony is still holding strong (it seems like that show isn't going anywhere soon), but beyond that, a lot of it feels like filler meant to drive toy sales. And yes, there's A LOT of Yu-Gi-Oh, it's almost like the channel’s dependent on it! It's kind of overwhelming because it feels like it's on every time I tune in.

What do you all think? Could this blend of content be part of the reason why the channel was struggling financially?

ToonEnthusiast
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#12
I must agree with SunnyDays. It seems like they've gone for a very niche approach that's heavily reliant on brands like Yu-Gi-Oh! and other similar properties to fill in the gaps. I think the lack of variety—especially in primetime when viewers expect something more diverse or engaging—is a big part of the problem. I miss the days when the channel showed more unique content like Dan Vs. and The Aquabats Super Show! Those really brought something different to the table.

I’m hoping with the possible rebrand to Discovery Family, they might finally branch out and target a broader audience. We need more than just a toy commercial lineup, don’t you think?

RetroRanger
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#13
I agree, ToonEnthusiast. The reliance on toy-based shows might work for daytime during kids' programming blocks, but it's not doing them any favors the rest of the time. The nostalgia factor with 80s shows was a good call initially, but that can only sustain interest for so long.

A broader range of programming, perhaps with some educational or informative family-friendly content, could help balance things out. I'm just hoping Discovery Family doesn’t just become another reality TV station. We've already got plenty of those; fingers crossed they avoid going down that route.

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Oct 3, 2014
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#141
Predicting failure isn't the same as wishing for it, though I see your point.
"Even if we can't solve the problem, we should at least understand it."
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Zanneck
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#142
ILDC said:
Amazing, everyone seems to almost want the educational programming to fail. And not just fail, but fail against toyetic stuff. Personal MLP backlash aside, I find this a little discouraging.

The problem is that most of this educational programming doesn't look or sound all that good... Or worse, good at what it needs to be. I'd rather see the toyetic stuff fail first, honestly... Especially if it means this channel can get some more intelligent programming - but not like this. Otherwise, all people are going to want is more toyetic stuff like there was in the first place.
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Silverstar
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#143
I don't want the DiscFam shows to fail by any means, from day 1 I've wanted this channel to succeed because I saw so much potential in it; it's just that based on what I've seen and read so far, these shows just don't sound very good, original, innovative or fun, and it seems like Discovery is handling this in the most half-assed way possible, like they're just glue-sticking some leftover docudramas they had sitting around onto this channel and they're really not interested in this venture anymore. Even the Discovery Family logo looks rushed, dull, generic and uninspiring.

I'm all for the idea of shows about science, nature, animals and all that good stuff, I've got nothing against edutainment, but it still has to be entertaining. The better Discovery Kids shows like Kenny the Shark, Growing Up Creepie, Time Warp Trio and some of the Scholastic acquisitions at least had some creativity behind them and there was a genuine effort there to make some entertaining programming. If DiscFam were going to feature some scripted or animated programs like Magic School Bus or Cosmic Quantum Ray (anybody remember that show?) then I'd be a tad more optimistic, but just sticking on a bunch of documentary and reality type shows just reeks of laziness and apathy on Discovery's part. Like Goldstar Neo said a while back, Heaven forbid Discovery actually put something on that kids would find fun to watch.
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Trombone77
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#144
ILDC said:
Amazing, everyone seems to almost want the educational programming to fail. And not just fail, but fail against toyetic stuff. Personal MLP backlash aside, I find this a little discouraging.

Yeah, maybe I should have been clearer for my explanation. I do want intelligent documentaries as well, but I hope that they are interesting enough to draw a crowd and that they are original, not just drawn from Discovery's library.
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Goldstar!
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#145
ILDC said:
Amazing, everyone seems to almost want the educational programming to fail. And not just fail, but fail against toyetic stuff. Personal MLP backlash aside, I find this a little discouraging.

JoeMabbon said:
Predicting failure isn't the same as wishing for it, though I see your point.

:^:What he said.:^:

There's nothing wrong with educational programming, but if Discovery expects said programs to succeed, they have to be entertaining as well as educational, and not just a bunch of boring documentaries. Kids don't want to hear a lecture outside of school. If kids think DisFam's shows are boring, they'll abandon the channel in droves. You have to make the shows fun and entertaining so the kids can have a good time and don't feel like they're being talked down to. The toyetic stuff was at least fun to watch.
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Gear3dGryph0n
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#146
I see this new lineup, and it just reads like one giant ad for the other Discovery networks. Other than the Hub block, I do not see this being successful in any way, and that's especially pitiful for a company that has rebranded its networks more times in the last decade than all of its competitors combined. Discovery will be much better off just selling the channel.

I'm sure Hasbro will be compelled to jump ship once Disney, Nick, or CN gives them an offer they can't refuse. Once that happens, you can pretty much consider this channel DoA.
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Zanneck
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#147
Gear3dGryph0n said:
I see this new lineup, and it just reads like one giant ad for the other Discovery networks. Other than the Hub block, I do not see this being successful in any way, and that's especially pitiful for a company that has rebranded its networks more times in the last decade than all of its competitors combined. Discovery will be much better off just selling the channel.

I'm sure Hasbro will be compelled to jump ship once Disney, Nick, or CN gives them an offer they can't refuse. Once that happens, you can pretty much consider this channel DoA.

Good riddance, then - other than LPS likely getting cancelled for nothing, there's too much pony on this schedule for me to care what happens next to this waste of space, at this point...
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mimitchi33
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#148
To me, this reminds me of the early years of ABC Family, where cartoons played in the morning and adult programs played at night. The schedule does look like a big ad for other Discovery Networks like others put it. I'd rather see acquired shows like Mumfie or any other Lionsgate kids show like Maryoku Yummy or other shows liked Bindi The Jungle Girls and Kenny the Shark. Heck, I'd even like to see cartoonsthat haven't aired in the US such as Sea Princesses or D'Ocon Films shows like Scruff and The Frutties!
I love the Pretty Series, Disney anything, and Animaniacs! :yakko::wakko::dot:
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Pac-Attack
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#149
At least Jem, Transformers, and Silver Age WB will still be there, but I wish they wouldn't take off Dan Vs.
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Goldstar!
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#150
Pac-Attack said:
At least Jem, Transformers, and Silver Age WB will still be there, but I wish they wouldn't take off Dan Vs.

Personally, I'd be willing to sacrifice Animaniacs and Tiny Toon Adventures if it meant getting some decent original programming in place of them. I already own the DVDs, so I don't need to see them on The Hub. If losing the Silver Age WB shows meant getting more episodes of The Aquabats Super Show, then I'd be fine with them not being there.
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Like Quote Reply. Write a conversation replying to mimiitch33 asking don't some of those shows returned a few weeks ago when they dropped Dan and Aquabats as part of their "it's either extremely cutesy, a 22 minute toy commercial or Yu Gi Oh" rule, he also worries those shows will be gone when Discovery add their realitt stuff

ToonCritic
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#151
mimitchi33 said:
To me, this reminds me of the early years of ABC Family, where cartoons played in the morning and adult programs played at night. The schedule does look like a big ad for other Discovery Networks like others put it. I'd rather see acquired shows like Mumfie or any other Lionsgate kids show like Maryoku Yummy or other shows liked Bindi The Jungle Girls and Kenny the Shark. Heck, I'd even like to see cartoonsthat haven't aired in the US such as Sea Princesses or D'Ocon Films shows like Scruff and The Frutties!

You make a good point about the comparison to early ABC Family days. But didn't some of those shows like Mumfie and Maryoku Yummy come back a few weeks ago when they dropped Dan Vs. and The Aquabats Super Show!? It seems like their current direction is sticking to shows that are either extremely cutesy, functioning as a 22-minute toy commercial, or, well, Yu-Gi-Oh, which is a totally different can of worms.

I’m with you in wanting more diverse programs, but I worry those shows will be the first to go once Discovery adds more of their reality stuff. It just feels like they’re setting up to push out anything that doesn’t fit the mold they’ve got planned.

AnimationBuff
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#152
ToonCritic, you’ve nailed it there. It feels like we’re stuck in a cycle where we get a glimpse of variety, only for it to be taken away by new management without much thought on the consequences. Those older, somewhat obscure shows did bring a bit of charm and an alternative to the usual lineup that could appeal to different audiences.

Let’s hope that if Discovery introduces reality stuff, they find a way to integrate it without completely axing the animated content. A balance of genres would make for a more engaging channel, in my opinion. But I guess that's too optimistic given their track record so far.

CartoonNostalgia
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#153
I definitely get your concerns, ToonCritic. It would be such a shame to lose the variety just as it was starting to show some potential. It's funny how when they announced they were dropping shows like Dan Vs., I thought, "Hey, maybe they'll bring back some old classics or underappreciated gems," but here we are, mostly just getting more of the same.

While the prospect of reality TV is looming, there’s still hope that they'll throw in some archival programming or even something fresh and innovative. However, given how swiftly things change, we'll have to wait and see how it all unfolds. Let's just hope they don't completely close the door on quality animated content.

Write a reply asking didn't one of those shows Mimi mentioned (along with GX and 5Ds) replace Dan's 1 hour slot recently