Discovery Networks International grew ratings to new heights in the third quarter, reaching more than 643 million homes in the period and reporting its highest ever average audience – 3 million, up 8% year-over-year – in the period.

“Discovery’s international business continues to grow organically and reach new heights, as evidenced by another record-breaking quarter,” said DNI president JB Perrette in a statement. “With solid global brands, immersive programming and multi-platform fan engagement spanning more than 220 countries and territories around the world, Discovery continues to satisfy viewers’ curiosity and be a valued destination for compelling storytelling, larger-than-life characters and must-have content that is second to none.”

DNI attributed the average audience growth to its Discovery Kids network, which grew 23% in the period led by its Brazilian and Indian markets; and a strong showing by its Discovery Home & Health network in Brazil and Argentina.

DNI’s free-to-air networks -- including DMAX Germany, DMAX Italy, Real Time Italy and Discovery MAX, Spain – delivered double-digit overall growth. Global brands like Animal Planet (8%), Investigation Discovery (7%) and TLC (7%) also reported healthy quarters.

On the digital front, DNI attracted 10 million unique visitors (up about 11%) to its non-U.S. websites and grew its international Facebook footprint to 42 million fans (up about 217%) this quarter.

In its first full quarter since DNI purchased a controlling stake in May, Eurosport delivered an additional average of 209K audience, reached an additional 16 million television viewers, saw 58 million monthly unique Eurosport website users, and grew its Facebook footprint to 4 million fans.

Sources confirmed reports that Discovery Communications and toy maker Hasbro are modifying their four-year partnership in The Hub kids’ channel, with Discovery taking a controlling interest in the network and renaming the channel Discovery Family to include programming for parents as well as kids.

News that Discovery and Hasbro were ending their partnership was first reported by The Wall Street Journal.

Discovery launched the Hub in 2010. The Hub, which linked programming from Discovery Kids channel like Adventure Camp and Flight 29 Down with Hasbro properties like Transformers and My Little Pony, was supposed to be the perfect marriage between commerce and entertainment. But the network, which competed against kids’ programming juggernauts Nickelodeon and The Disney Channel, never was able to carve out a proper niche. And it came under fire early on because of its close association with a toymaker and for what some critics called violent programming.

A spokeswoman for the Hub declined to comment.

Signs that the channel was under pressure surfaced in June, when Hub president Margaret Loesch, who had steered the network form its inception, said she would step down by the end of the year, and no replacement was named. Sources confirmed the Journal report that Discovery group president Henry Schleiff, who already oversees Investigation Discovery, Destination America, American Heroes Channel and Discovery Fit & Health, will add oversight of Discovery Family. According to those same sources, Hasbro will still own a piece of the network and will contribute programming to the channel in the mornings. The evenings will be filled at least initially with science and nature programming from other Discovery Networks.

Discovery has made a business out of repurposing channels and with 70 million homes, The Hub is what Discovery CEO David Zaslav has called “beachfront real estate.”  The programmer has had success in the past converting Discovery Health into the Oprah Winfrey Network,Planet Green into Destination America and The Military Channel into American Heroes Channel.