LOS ANGELES – Fans of the popular TRANSFORMERS brand from Hasbro will have a chance to experience the storied franchise in several communities as The HubTV Network, a destination for kids and their families, collaborates with some of the biggest names in entertainment for the nationwide “The Hub of TRANSFORMERS: Great American Tour,” celebrating the heritage of the successful entertainment property. The eight-city touring exhibit kicks off September 30 in New York and California.

The tour brings together entertainment leaders Hasbro, Inc., Blockbuster L.L.C., Paramount Home Entertainment, and Universal Studios Hollywood with The Hub in an event that engages consumers and brings the AUTOBOTS and DECEPTICONS to life through a highly interactive brand experience for the whole family.

“The Hub of TRANSFORMERS: Great American Tour” will celebrate the franchise in all its iterations including this summer’s hit film from Paramount Pictures Transformers: Dark of the Moon, as well as the all-new CGI animated television series “Transformers Prime” from Hasbro Studios, and the original 1980s animated television series -- both of which can currently be seen on The Hub.

The tour will coincide with the three-part first season finale of the Emmy®-winning “Transformers Prime” on The Hub beginning on Saturday, October 1 (8:30p.m. ET) as well as Paramount Home Entertainment’s Blu-ray™ and DVD release of Transformers: Dark of the Moon on Friday, September 30.

Eight Blockbuster retail locations will host spectacular dome-shaped “Transformers Prime”-themed tents that will feature photo opportunities, behind-the-scenes content, exclusive artifacts and authentic props from both television series as well as Transformers: Dark of the Moon.  Additionally, fans can see the authentic Camaro (BUMBLEBEE) or Corvette (SIDESWIPE) movie vehicles from this summer’s mega-successful film and win special TRANSFORMERS prizes. Universal Studios Hollywood will also offer a special sneak peek of its new cutting- edge mega attraction, “Transformers:  The Ride-3D,” opening in Spring 2012.  The dynamic, motion-based thrill ride will tell an original “TRANSFORMERS” story using original, photo-realistic 3D-HD media, sophisticated special effects and one of the most elaborate roaming flight simulator ride systems ever created.

“The Hub of TRANSFORMERS: Great American Tour” dates and Blockbuster store locations:


·        (9/30 - 10/1) - 256 E Route 59, NANUET, NEW YORK, 10954
·        (9/30 - 10/1) - 10338 Sepulveda, MISSION HILLS, CALIFORNIA, 91345
·        (10/8)  - 4640 W Irving Park Road, CHICAGO, ILLINIOIS, 60641
·        (10/8) - 1375 Blossom Hill Road, SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA, 95118
·        (10/15) - 827 S.E. Green Oaks Blvd., ARLINGTON, TEXAS, 76017
·        (10/15) - 5365 S. Wadsworth, LITTLETON, COLORADO, 80123
·        (10/22) - 588 Sawdust, SPRING, TEXAS, 77380
·        (10/22) - 624 W. Hwy. 40, BLUE SPRINGS, MISSOURI, 64014

In addition, fans can participate in a month-long Facebook sweepstakes promoted in 1,500 Blockbuster retail locations beginning Monday, September 26.  One Grand Prize is a trip to Los Angeles to be amongst the first to experienceTRANSFORMERS: THE RIDE – 3D, the all-new attraction coming to Universal Studios Hollywood in Spring 2012.  Combined with a gift pack featuring Hasbro, Blockbuster and Paramount Home Entertainment prizes, the Grand Prize is valued at more than $5,500.  100 secondary winners will each receive “The Ultimate TRANSFORMERS Fan Gift Pack” which includes subscriptions, gift cards, toys, and DVDs from the participating sponsors. The promotion will be simultaneously hosted on all six promotional partners’ Facebook pages where more details can be found:

The Hub - http://www.facebook.com/hubtvnetwork <http://www.facebook.com/hubtvnetwork>
Hasbro  - http://www.facebook.com/transformers <http://www.facebook.com/transformers>
Paramount  - http://www.facebook.com/transformersmovie <http://www.facebook.com/transformersmovie>
Blockbuster  - http://www.facebook.com/blockbusterinc <http://www.facebook.com/blockbusterinc>
Universal Studios Hollywood  -http://www.facebook.com/UniversalStudiosHollywood <http://www.facebook.com/UniversalStudiosHollywood>

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, as well as specials, game shows, and family-favorite movies.  The network extends its content through a robust and engaging online presence at www.hubworld.com.  The Hub rebranded from Discovery Kids on October 10, 2010, and reaches approximately 61 million U.S. households.  The Hub logo and name are trademarks of Hub Television Networks, LLC.  All rights reserved.

About Hasbro, Inc.
Hasbro(NASDAQ: HAS) is a branded play company providing children and families around the world with a wide-range of immersive entertainment offerings based on the Company’s world class brand portfolio. From toys and games, to television programming, motion pictures, video games and a comprehensive licensing program, Hasbro strives to delight its customers through the strategic leveraging of well-known and beloved brands such as TRANSFORMERS, LITTLEST PET SHOP, NERF, PLAYSKOOL, MY LITTLE PONY, G.I. JOE, MAGIC: THE GATHERING and MONOPOLY. The Hub, Hasbro’s multi-platform joint venture with Discovery Communications (NASDAQ: DISCA, DISCB, DISCK) launched on October 10, 2010. The online home of The Hub is www.hubworld.com. The Hub logo and name are trademarks of Hub Television Networks, LLC. All rights reserved.  Come see how we inspire play through our brands at http://www.hasbro.com. © 2011 Hasbro, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

About Blockbuster
Blockbuster L.L.C., a subsidiary of DISH Network Corporation (NASDAQ: DISH), is a leading global provider of movie and game rentals and is synonymous with family entertainment. The company provides customers with convenient access to media entertainment anywhere, any way – whether in-store, by-mail, or digitally to homes and mobile devices. With a highly recognized brand and a library of more than 100,000 movies, TV shows and game titles, Blockbuster’s multichannel presence serves millions of customers around the world annually. Visit www.blockbuster.com.

About Paramount Home Entertainment
Paramount Home Entertainment (PHE) is part of Paramount Pictures Corporation (PPC), a global producer and distributor of filmed entertainment.  PPC is a unit of Viacom (NYSE: VIA, VIA.B), a leading content company with prominent and respected film, television and digital entertainment brands.  PHE is responsible for the sales, marketing and distribution of home entertainment products on behalf of various parties including: Paramount Pictures, Paramount Vantage, Paramount Classics, Insurge Pictures, Paramount Famous Productions, Nickelodeon, MTV, Comedy Central, CBS and PBS and for providing home entertainment fulfillment services for DreamWorks Animation Home Entertainment.

About Universal Studios Hollywood
Universal Studios HollywoodSM The Entertainment Capital of L.A.SM, includes a full-day, movie-based theme park and Studio Tour; the CityWalk entertainment, shopping and dining complex, the Universal CityWalk Cinemas, the “5 Towers” state-of-the-art outdoor concert arena, and the Gibson Amphitheatre concert and special event venue.  World-class rides and attractions include the blockbuster ride, “King Kong 360 3-D” on the famed behind-the-scenes Studio Tour, “The Simpsons RideTM,” “Revenge of the MummySM —The Ride”, “Jurassic Park® – The Ride” and the highly anticipated new thrill-ride,“Transformers: The Ride - 3D” opening in Spring 2012.   Universal Studios Hollywood is a unit of the Universal Parks & Resorts division of NBCUniversal.  NBCUniversal is one of the world’s leading media and entertainment companies in the development, production, and marketing of entertainment, news, and information to a global audience.  NBCUniversal owns and operates a valuable portfolio of news and entertainment television networks, a premier motion picture company, significant television production operations, a leading television stations group, and world-renowned theme parks.  Comcast Corporation owns a controlling 51% interest in NBCUniversal, with GE holding a 49% stake.

Paramount have announced the release of Transformers Animated Vol 6 on DVD within Japan.  The DVD will be released on the 21st Jan 2011 for 3129yen.  The DVD includes the episode "Mix Master and Scrapper" which has never been shown on Japanese TV.  The episode was called "Rise of the Constructicons" in the original English language, for those who don't recognise the name.

You can view an image of the cover below.

First off we would like to thank Paramount for inviting us to their exclusive Transformers Movie footage screening which took place today at the Oden West End in Leicester Square. The event was organised by Paramount for key press and licensing partners and attendance was invitation only. A lot of security was in place to make sure that no footage was leaked out. This including removing of all cameras and phones, metal detectors as well as the event being filmed by at least two cameras.

The screening, consisted of the four uncut scene previous shown in America at ShowWest and after the US Toy Fair.

The screening was kicked off with a few comments by Lorenzo di Bonaventura, one of the producers on the Transformers Movie, this seemed to come as a nice surprise to those in attendance. Lorenzo joked that the movie was "not just about the US military" although they would feature heavily in the featured footage. He wanted to make it clear that the scenes were still un-finished, some including non-rendered CGI animation, they used raw footage and temporary music. Interestingly though, he made no direct mention to the sound effects specifically during Blackout's transformation sequence, during which the original Generation One sound effect was used (although only in mid-transformation). Although this was quiet cool to hear, it really didn't seem to fit.

Lorenzo also noted that the four scene which would be shown had not been picked because they were "there favourite scenes" or "the most important", but purely as they were the most complete.

We would estimate that there were over 400 people in attendance ranging from Paramount employees, Hasbro UK, Titan Books / Magazines, various journalist and other Transformers Movie license holders. Simon Furman was also in attendance, as was Steve White, one of Titans representative at the event. We'll come back to product licensing at the end of the report.

Possible Spoilers - Scroll down quickly if you do not want to read, there is more non-spoiler information at the end.

As far as the the footage goes, it was the same four scenes shown in America. Blackout's attack on the Qatar base including him releasing Scorponok.

Sam Witwicky's light-hearted character building scene with Mikaela in Bumblebee. This scene got a few laughs showing Bumblebee changing the radio and breaking down. The Bee-otch air freshener got a few 'pops' from the UK audience.

The third scene, another light-hearted scene, focused around the Witwicky residence, with the Autobots larking around in their back garden. This scene is where you first hear the Autobots speak (in order - Optimus Prime, Iron Hide and Ratchet. Bumblebee just beeped). The voices were partly synthesised and reminded us a bit of Small Soldiers. It will be interesting to see how the BBFC react to the sexual references and language in this scene when it comes to the final rating of the film.

The fourth and final scene returned back to Qatar and the aftermath of Blackout's attack. This is the famous Scorponok vs the Marines scene, in which Scorponok looses the end of his tail right at the end.

How Scorponok appears in this scene, and how he is 'ejected' by Blackout, is very reminiscent of the G1 cassettes, and adds more fuel to the thoughts that Blackout was originally intended to be Soundwave.

End of Spoilers

Back to licensing. We didn't get a chance to speak to most of the people in attendance, as everyone ran out at soon as the screening was over, however we do have a few bits of new licensing information to report.

First up, Top Trumps have purchased a Transformers Movie license and you can expect these to hit the shelves in the summer. It will be interesting to see who appears on the cards, as there are not enough on screen Transformers to make up a set.

On the Transformers apparel side, there are new Transformers Movie tie-in T-shirts on the way, but with a difference. These t-shirts have a light up panel on the front which use different transitions to display the name of a Transformer (we saw the Bumblebee and Barricade ones) or an image, such as the outline of Optimus Prime's header the Autobot symbol. These t-shirts got a lot of interested, most noticeably from Titan Book so it could be that they will feature as prizes in a competition in the new Transformers comic. The T-shirts will go on sale on the 20th June, although we are not sure on the price point or who will be selling them.

Don't forget to visit the official website at www.transformersmovie.com and that you can view all of the official movie images in our Transformers Movie official image gallery.