G4 TV is collaborating with Hasbro on a new one-hour programming block to air at 8 a.m. ET/PT daily.  On weekdays the block, called Action Blast, will feature series based on Hasbro brands, including G.I. Joe, Transformers:  Cybertron, Transformers:  Beastwars, and B-Daman. 

 

Interstitial programming will feature Kaiju-Big Battel, the kaiju-meets-wrestling bouts that have been previously only been available live or on DVD; and the zaftig Dr. Susan Physics and one-minute collages of animated battles. 

 

On weekends, Action Blast will feature best-of collections with digest versions of the week's episodes. 

 

Hasbro and G4 are also developing programming for G4's weeknight late night block, which airs at midnight ET/PT. 

 

With the addition of the Action Blast block, G4, which has become an important venue for anime directed at older viewers via its Anime Unleashed block, will be even more important for pop culture retailers.  The network's young male audience has responded to Anime Unleashed programming by increasing its purchases of anime DVDs (the block is currently airing Cromartie High and Colorful), and sales of products featured in the Action Blast block can be expected to follow.  Kaiju-Big Battel may see the biggest effects, since its exposure to date has been so underground.