[Via deadline.com...]
Discovery Communications and Hasbro have poached Disney Channel/Disney XD executive Nikki Reed as head of programming for their joint venture, rival children’s cable network The Hub,
which is looking to expand into live-action programming. Reed, named
SVP Programming & Development for The Hub, replaces Donna Ebbs, who
served as the first programming chief for The Hub since its October 2010
launch. Ebbs is now transitioning to a consultant and executive
producer role. “Our goal is to utilize my relationships with writers,
producers and talent to grow The Hub’s existing slate of programming and
enhance it with more live-action series,” said Reed, who reports to The
Hub president and CEO Margaret Loesch. Hub’s current lineup is
dominated by animated shows, while Reed’s background is in primarily
live-action programing. For the past three years, she was VP Original
Series, overseeing live-action development for Disney Channel and Disney
XD where she developed Jessie, Austin And Ally, Dog With A Blog, Lab Rats, and Crash & Bernstein.
Before that, Reed, who has 15 years experience as an executive and
producer, was VP Current and Development at Universal Cable Prods. She
also spent five years as a development executive for executive producer
Barry Kemp’s Bungalow 78 Prods while it was based at Touchstone TV and
served as VP Development at Jon Turteltaub’s Junction Entertainment for
Disney Studios.