Hasbro Studios Developing 25 Productions for 'The Hub'

In an interview published April 26th on Broadcastingcable.com, Hasbro Studios president Stephen Davis reveals that they have "approximately 25 productions underway" for "The Hub," Hasbro's new joint TV network venture with Discovery launching October 10th, 2010.

Mentioned again are the three previously-announced properties in development as TV series -- Transformers, G.I. Joe and My Little Pony -- confirming that these are being developed exclusively for broadcast on "The Hub" and are expected to premiere with the network's launch.

Davis says he has assembled what he calls "A-Teams" for each production, which includes a "showrunner with a genrespecific development head at the studio, someone from the original Hasbro product being adapted and a development exec from The Hub":

The A-Team works to support the showrunner so “[the showrunner] has everything necessary to re-imagine that brand into television in the best possible way,” he says, citing aspects from the mythology of a product to support for a creative vision. “Our responsibility is to protect the brand and everything Hasbro has spent considerable effort and money to build, and to be sure that translates first and foremost into great FifthEstater: Stephen Davis TV. If you have a terrific brand and a crummy television show—that doesn’t serve anybody.”

Davis also discusses the new Transformers series (believed to be titled Transformers: Prime although this has not yet been officially announced):

Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci (Star Trek feature, Fringe, Alias), who wrote the Transformer movies, are also helming the animated Transformers TV series for Hasbro and The Hub. Davis’ A-Team approach is working “remarkably brilliantly,” Kurtzman tells B&C. “There is a stigma about things being done by committee creatively, but there is so much to be done, so much of a well to draw from,” Kurtzman says. “Everyone feels protected to do their best work because the message from the top down is that you’re supported in your vision.” Kurtzman adds that he and Orci would “like to work with [Davis] forever.”

Elsewhere, AdAge.com reported April 12th that "The Hub is also looking to pry open Hasbro's vaults and those of other production companies to program at least an hour's worth of vintage content from the 1980s to attract the parents of its target viewers."

And in potentially related news, HISSTank.com reported April 25th that Hasbro has filed a trademark for "G.I. Joe Renegades" under the categories of both "Toys and Sporting Goods Products" and "Education and Entertainment Services."

Additional source: TFW2005.com