Discovery to Take Control of Hub Children's Network

Discovery Communications and toy giant Hasbro are ending their equal partnership in the Hub, a cable network that hoped to become a force in children's television but made little headway against more-established competitors such as Nickelodeon and the Disney Channel.

Under the terms being completed, Discovery would take a controlling interest in the Hub and reposition the channel as a family network aimed at parents as well as children, people close to the talks said. Hasbro will retain a large stake in the service and control six hours of daytime programming on the network, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., these people said. The makeover could take place as early as the fourth quarter; the Hub is expected to be renamed Discovery Family.