Did BBC America's promotion for WHO cancel The Hub?

[Doctorwhovian]

MLP and Transfans are livid at BBC America and Doctor Who. Why? Because HUB, also part of Discovery Networks, adapted an advertising strategy that was based on that of BBCA, which catered to fans with the Doctors Revisited specials, simaulcasts etc. Hub tried this for MLP and now the channel both channels are hurting.
HUB will be reorganized into Discovery family and Hasbro has been asked to leave. But the only place they can go is CartoonNetwork which they had problems with Transformers animated.
Lineup consists of Gordon Ramsay, Dr. Who, Top Gear, Sherlock, Torchwood and random airings of Star Trek: TNG for no bloody reason!

 

[Professor Zoom]

Wait, what?

I'm not sure I follow. Are people seriously blaming BBCA for the HUB's mistakes? Because they used someone else strategy and it didn't work? Or is it something else? I'm not sure what exactly are you saying.

And what's the problem with the BBCA's lineup? Is something going to BBCA?

 

[yenny]

This news report doesn't say anything about it. But it does mention a name change, from The Hub to The Discover Family Channel.

http://www.zacks.com/stock/news/148888/hasbro-partners-discovery-repositions-the-hub-network

 

[Alidar Jarok]

I see nothing BBCA did to the Hub. I really don't follow.

 

[StalwartUK]

I'm not seeing the connection here. There's a bit of an audience gap between MLP and Doctor Who and the two channels they are shown on in America.

Just for comparison's sake in the UK MLP airs on a channel called Tiny Pop, a channel aimed at small children (ages 4-6).

 

[Chris3123]

HUB will be reorganized into Discovery family

This is true.

and Hasbro has been asked to leave.

Not true. Hasbro's programming will still air on Discovery Family. From the official press release:

During the daytime, Discovery Family Channel will offer a robust line up of brand new Hasbro Studios’ series as well as beloved library programming, including MY LITTLE PONY, LITTLEST PET SHOP and TRANSFORMERS RESCUE BOTS, while during primetime, the network will serve a growing family audience that began to develop under The Hub Network. Primetime programming will draw from Discovery’s three decades of leadership in creating the highest-quality, real-world content that appeals to the entire family in the Natural History, Adventure, Animals and Science genres. Initial series will include SUPERHUMAN, TIME WARP, FLYING WILD ALASKA, AFRICA and EXTREME ENGINEERING: BIGGEST REVEALS.

 

[Saga]

 

[Mr. Adventure]

I blame My Little Pony. Curse you Twilight Sparkle or whatever you're called!

 

[Allyn Gibson]

MLP and Transfans are livid at BBC America and Doctor Who. Why? Because HUB, also part of Discovery Networks, adapted an advertising strategy that was based on that of BBCA, which catered to fans with the Doctors Revisited specials, simaulcasts etc. Hub tried this for MLP and now the channel both channels are hurting.

This isn't the first time than an American fandom is pissed off with Doctor Who. I remember when Battlestar fans were blaming Doctor Who for the show's cratering ratings on SyFy.

Seriously, it looks like the problem with The Hub is a weak advertising market and not their marketing strategy. From that linked article: "the children's TV market has become even more challenging of late. In addition, ever since the Hub's launch, increased restrictions on commercials that run in children's shows has reduced the ad dollars. Further, most parents nowadays prefer to have their youngsters watch cartoons and other programs streamed on networks that do not air commercial messages."

It seems to me that if The Hub were trying to cater to the MLP and Transformers fans in the same way that BBC America was catering to Doctor Who fans, they were doing so in an attempt to stem the bloodletting from a weak advertising market.

 

[Mark_Nguyen]

I'm willing to be that Hasbro makes more off of plastic toys than BBCA makes off of DVD and associated merchandise sales, so I'm wondering what the hubbub is? Each company will try to make a profit in whatever way they can. If the Hub doesn't work, then another network may have a chance.

I speak as a fan of all three properties, albeit for completely different reasons (i.e. I'm a late 30s hardcore sci-fi fan with a five year-old daughter AND a healthy 1980s nostalgia). Hasbro recently said that MLP and Transformers are part of some ten-year strategic plan they've laid out (reported on EQD a few months ago) so I doubt they're about to ditch either property. Likewise the Beeb maintains Doctor Who as a tentpole of its national AND international branding, so as far as they can manage it they will be acting independently to cater to their core audiences.

Mark