Variety is reporting that cable network IATV, formerly known as ImaginAsian, is revamping its programming and plans a three-hour Wednesday night (8-11pm ET, PT) programming showcase that will be called "The Block: Fueled by Bandai Enterainment" featuring  Bandai anime series Mai Hime,My Otome, Planetes, Scrapped Princess, Toward the Terra, Ghost Slayers  Ayashi, Mars Daybreak, and Rocket Girls as well as the live action series The Great Horror Family and Bloodhound.  In addition, on Thursday nights IATV is also broadcasting Johnny Sokko, the 1970s English dubbed version of the live action tokusatsu (special effects) Giant Robo series.

The addition of the Bandai anime series won’t necessarily mean that IATV will be showing any more anime any than it did  previously since the network has been airing a substantial number of anime previously released here by Geneon including Gankutsuou: The Count of Monte Cristo, Elemental Gelade, and Kya Kara Maoh.  The new programming changes, which feature a wide variety of offerings including a “Good Movie Night” on Mondays, some original comedy series on Thursday, and some hip novelties such as “minisodes,” 5-minute cut-down versions of old sitcoms and dramas, won't be complete until "The Block" debuts on August 6th, so it will be a while before the full scope of the changes take effect and it becomes apparent whether the amount of anime programming on the network is up or down.

While the IATV network is still targeting an Asian demographic, it appears that the network’s new emphasis will be on reaching the 80% or more of Asians living in the U.S. who are fluent in English and repositioning itself as a destination for Asian pop culture for a wider audience.  As new IATV President Adam Ware put it to Variety: “It's not about bringing in dramas from China with subtitles or Vietnamese news anymore. It's about trying to capture the Asian pop culture influence in the U.S. It's an element of urban youth culture.”