Loesch to exit The Hub

Margaret Loesch, president and CEO of US kids’ network The Hub, is leaving the Discovery Communications and Hasbro joint venture at the end of the year.

The children’s entertainment veteran will step down from her role when her contract expires, she said yesterday.

Loesch has been at the helm of the cable and satellite network since it replaced Discovery Kids in 2010. The Hub has not yet announced her successor.

Available in nearly 71 million US households, The Hub airs programming based on numerous Hasbro brands, such as My Little Pony and Transformers. Its rivals include Disney, Nickelodeon and Cartoon Network in the US.

Loesch, a former exec VP at Hanna-Barbera and CEO of Marvel Production, has previously worked on series such as Smurfs, Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers, Jim Henson’s Muppet Babies and Animaniacs.