The Hub has issued the following press release regarding Transformers Prime's return to The Hub this past week.

Highly Anticipated Series Premiere of TRANSFORMERS PRIME on The Hub Blasts Ratings

-- Episode is The Hub’s Best-Ever Series Premiere; Generates Quadruple Digit Percentage Gains Across Key Demographics --

(Los Angeles, Ca.) The lure of the ongoing battle between the Autobots and the Decepticons for control of the Earth, and the introduction of a new character drove huge ratings increases with the Friday, February 11, premiere of the series "Transformers Prime" on The Hub, a television network for children and their families. The Hub is a joint venture between Discovery Communications and Hasbro, Inc.

The strong performance of the eagerly awaited CGI-animated series from Hasbro Studios, which included the unveiling of the newest character, Skyquake, was the best-ever series premiere for The Hub among Households. The episode also generated massive time period increases versus prior four-week averages across virtually all of the network's key target demographics including Kids 2-11 (+1350%), Kids 6-11 (+1250%), Adults 18-49 (+2700%), Women 18-49 (+4000%), Persons 2+ (+1618%) and Households (+1333%). Also, Men 18-49 increased by +2050%.

In addition, the strong performance of "Transformers Prime" boosted significantly the audiences for its lead-in and lead-out series versus prior four-week averages. "G.I. Joe Renegades" (6 p.m. ET) delivered solid gains among Kids 2-11 (+51%), Kids 6-11 (+64%), Boys 2-11 (+86%), Boys 6-11 (+76%, 30,000), Adults 18-49 (+108%), Women 18-49 (+100%), Persons 2+ (+54%) and Households (+85%). "Family Game Night" (7 p.m. ET) saw increases in key demographics including Kids 2-11 (+23%).

Highlights for the week include:

Programming Highlights, "Transformers Prime":

* Friday's series premiere of "Transformers Prime" (6:30 p.m. ET) was The Hub's best-ever regular series premiere by delivery with Households (172,000).

* Quadruple-digit percentage time period (Fri, 6:30 p.m. ET) increases from the prior four-week average in virtually all key demos including: Kids 2-11 (+1350%, 145,000), Kids 6-11 (+1250%, 81,000), Adults 18-49 (+2700%, 84,000), Women 18-49 (+4000%, 41,000), Persons 2+ (+1618%, 292,000) and Households (+1333%, 172,000). Men 18-49 increased by +2050% (43,000).

* The same was true for boys, girls and pre-schoolers, as all these demos were up by huge gains in the time period: Boys 2-11 (+1650%, 105,000), Girls 2-11 (+1200%, 39,000), Boys 6-11 (+1600%, 68,000), Girls 6-11 (+550%, 13,000), Kids 2-5 (+1475%, 63,000), Boys 2-5 (+1750%, 37,000) and Girls 2-5 (+1200%, 26,000).

Other Programming Highlights:

* "G.I. Joe Renegades"(6 p.m. ET, the lead-in to "Transformers Prime"), gained from the prior four-week time period average among: Kids 2-11 (+51%, 56,000), Kids 6-11 (+64%, 36,000), Adults 18-49 (+108%, 50,000), Women 18-49 (+100%, 28,000), Persons 2+ (+54%, 128,000), Households (+85%, 74,000), Boys 2-11 (+86%, 39,000) and Boys 6-11 (+76%, 30,000).

* The strong premiere of "Transformers Prime" also boosted the lead-out, as "Family Game Night" (7 p.m. ET) saw gains among Kids 2-11 by +23%, (87,000) versus the prior four-week average.

* "Dan Vs." (Saturday, 8 p.m. ET) scored significant delivery increases against the prior four-week time period average among key demos, including Households (+28%, 68,000), Kids 2-11 (+169%, 94,000), Kids 6-11 (+200%, 81,000), and Persons 2+ (+65%,119,000).

* "R.L. Stine's The Haunting Hour" (Saturday, 8:30 p.m. ET) earned delivery increases against the prior four-week time period average among key demos, including: Households (+30%, 82,000), Kids 2-11 (+100%, 82,000), Kids 6-11 (+68%, 57,000), Adults 18-49 (+12%, 38,000), and Persons 2+ (+45%,145,000).

Co-Viewing and Reach:

* For this week, The Hub was the top co-viewed network among all kid cable networks in Kids 2-11 and Adults 18-49. Thirty six percent (36%) of Kids 2-11 watched with an Adult 18-49, out-performing Nickelodeon (23%), Disney Channel (21%) and Cartoon Network (20%).

* This weekend (multiple telecasts), "Transformers Prime" reached more than 1 million unique, unduplicated Persons 2+.

Competitive Highlights:

* The series premiere of "Transformers Prime" beat nickToons head-to-head in delivery in the time period with several key demos, including Households (+35%), Persons 2+ (+64%), Kids 2-11 (+71%), Boys 2-11 (+228%), Kids 6-11 ( +113%), Boys 6-11 (+152%), Girls 6-11 (+18%), Adults 18-49 (+105%), Men 18-49 (+43%) and Women 18-49 (+273%).

Source: Nielsen Media Research; program based dayparts; most current; 2/11/11 vs. 2/4/11 or vs. 1/14/11-2/4/11, growth by (000). Co-viewing in NPower.

About The Hub
The Hub, is a multi-platform joint venture between Discovery Communications (NASDAQ: DISCA, DISCB, DISCK) and Hasbro, Inc., (NASDAQ: HAS) with a goal of entertaining, enlightening, empowering and educating children and their families. The cable and satellite television network features original programming as well as content from Discovery's library of award-winning children's educational programming; from Hasbro's rich portfolio of entertainment and educational properties built during the past 90 years; and from leading third-party producers worldwide. The Hub lineup includes animated and live-action series, specials and game shows, and the network extends its content through a robust and engaging online presence, www.hubworld.com. The Hub rebranded from Discovery Kids on October 10, 2010, and reaches approximately 60 million U.S. households. The Hub logo and name are trademarks of Hub Television Networks, LLC. All rights reserved.

“TRANSFORMERS: Dark of the Moon” Stars Josh Duhamel, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley and Director Michael Bay Serve as the Grand Marshals of the Daytona 500 NASCAR Stock Cars Featured as Characters in “TRANSFORMERS: Dark of the Moon” – First Official Appearance Anywhere (click for high and super high res)

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AYTONA BEACH, Fla. – The stars of “TRANSFORMERS: Dark of the Moon”– Josh Duhamel, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley and director Michael Bay – will serve as the Grand Marshals for 53rd running of the Daytona 500 on Sunday, Feb. 20, 2011, airing at 12 p.m. ET on FOX. As Grand Marshals, the TRANSFORMERS cast will deliver the four most famous words in motorsports – “Gentlemen, start your engines.”

In addition, the modified NASCAR stock cars featured in the movie will make their first public appearance by leading the 43-car field during the pace laps of “The Great American Race,” the kick-off event to the 2011 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season.

The Daytona 500 will not be Bay or TRANSFORMERS’ first introduction to the NASCAR world. In 2009, Bay piloted the official pace car at a NASCAR Sprint Cup race to promote the DVD release of “TRANSFORMERS: Revenge of the Fallen.” NASCAR drivers Jeff Gordon and Ryan Newman also took part, racing with branded images of opposing AUTOBOTS and DECEPTICONS on their cars and uniforms. Bay credits his vision to include NASCAR stock cars in the new TRANSFORMERS film to this experience.

“We’re honored to have the stars and director from this blockbuster film franchise “TRANSFORMERS: Dark of the Moon” serve as Grand Marshals of ‘The Great American Race,’” Daytona International Speedway President Joie Chitwood III said. “As an added bonus for our fans, three cars from the movie will be on location during Speedweeks and we all look forward to watching them lead the field for the 53rd running of the Daytona 500 on the newly paved racing surface.”

In the days leading up to the Daytona 500, race fans can view the TRANSFORMERS NASCAR stock cars at the Chevy Display located in the Midway outside Turn 4.

Tickets for Speedweeks 2011 events, including the 53rd annual Daytona 500, are available online at www.daytonainternationalspeedway.com or by calling 1-800-PITSHOP.

Fans can stay connected with Daytona International Speedway on Twitter (www.twitter.com/disupdates) and Facebook (www.facebook.com/DaytonaInternationalSpeedway)

­ HASBRO, TRANSFORMERS and all related characters are trademarks of Hasbro, Inc. © 2011 Hasbro. All Rights Reserved.

Fun Publications have revealed via the Botcon Twitter page that the Botcon 2011 Wildrider figure will use the Lockdown mold but with a new head sculpt designed by Derrick Wyatt.

"Thurs Stunticon reveal. Wildrider. Mold. LOCKDOWN. Amazing NEW head design by @DerrickJWyatt. That plus color scheme makes him look tot dif." they tweeted.

Roll on Thursday, that's all I can say

The Botcon twitter account was updated a lot yesterday evening with some comments on a 20 minute preview screening of Transformers: Dark of the Moon where they describe the 3D as amazing and the visuals as "like nothing we've seen before".

However in specific Botcon news they also the following comment "Want Some Stunticon news? ok. Will reveal mold choice in morning!".  So later today there should be the announcement of which mold, with a new head, will be used for Wildrider.  We at Transformers At The Moon are speculating that it will be Lockdown or Wildrider with the offroad truck being a play of the "Wild" part of the his name,

Derrick J Wyatt, father of Transformers Animated, has posted two images on TwitPic showing his vision of what an Transformers Animated Predaking and Transformers Animated Bruticus would look like.  You can view the original posts here and here as well as mirrored below.

I have added over 400 stills from Transformers Prime Episode 6 to a new image gallery entitled Masters and Students which you can find within the Cartoon area of the website.  All images are high-resolution.  My review of the episode will be added at a later date.

I'm having some troubles with my transformers-prime.com domain but that should be resolved within the next 24 hours after which you will also be able to find the image gallery on that site

During the US Toy Fair 2011 is has been announced that one of this years Comic-Con 2011 exclusives will be a G.I. Joe / Transformers crossover set featuring a Skystriker jet painted in Starscream's colours and packaged with Cobra Commander who will come with a mini Megatron gun.  No images of these set are available at the present time but you can be sure some will be leaked or released officially over the coming weeks.

The Transformers panels themselves, as expected, did not contain anything new as everything had either already been leaked or was shown and talked about after the UK Toy Fair

Well I called it.  BotCon 2011 DragStrip has been revealed as a recolour of Transformers Animated Arcee.  There were questions over which character would use the Arcee mold, though in my mind the name "Drag" Strip gave it away.