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HIT Entertainment

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HiT Entertainment Limited
Formerly
  • Henson International Television (1982[1]–89)
  • Gainbase PLC (1989)
  • HIT Communications PLC (1989–92)
  • HIT Entertainment PLC (1992–2005)[2]
TypeSubsidiary
IndustryTelevision production
GenreEntertainment, Children's programming
PredecessorsGullane Entertainment
Lyrick Studios
Founded1982; 43 years ago (1982)
Founders
  • Jim Henson
  • Peter Orton
  • Sophie Turner Laing
Defunct31 March 2016; 8 years ago (31 March 2016)
FateAbsorbed into Mattel Creations
Headquarters
London, United Kingdom
Number of locations
1
Key people
Peter Orton
Products
Services
Owner
  • Jim Henson Productions (1982–1989)
  • Independent (1989–2005)
  • Apax Partners (2005–2012)
  • Mattel (2012–present)
Number of employees
188+
ParentMattel Television (Mattel)
DivisionsHiT Video
HiT Customer Products
Gullane (Thomas) Limited
SubsidiariesLudgate Ltd.
Prism Art & Design Limited
WebsiteOfficial website (Archived)

HIT Entertainment Limited (commonly written as HIT or HiT) was a British-American children's entertainment company founded in 1982 as Henson International Television, the international distribution arm of The Jim Henson Company, by Jim Henson, Peter Orton and Sophie Turner Laing. Peter Orton alone took over the company in 1989 upon learning Henson's intent to sell the company to The Walt Disney Company. HIT owned and distributed children's television series such as Thomas & Friends, Fireman Sam, Bob the Builder, Pingu, Barney & Friends, and Angelina Ballerina.[3]

HIT Entertainment was one of several partner companies, alongside NBCUniversal, PBS and Sesame Workshop, that founded the PBS Kids Sprout TV channel (now Universal Kids), with many of HIT's shows airing on the channel as a result at the time.

On 1 February 2012, HIT Entertainment was acquired by Mattel, as Mattel was initially only interested in the Thomas & Friends brand in its acquisition, according to Deadline Hollywood.[4] Mattel absorbed the company on 31 March 2016 into its then newly created division, Mattel Creations (now Mattel Television).[5]

History[]

1982–1990: Beginning and early years[]

Peter Orton had met Jim Henson when he was at the Children's Television Workshop (now Sesame Workshop) handling distribution of Sesame Street. As a result, he became close friends with Henson and went to work with him in 1981.[6] Together, they set up Henson International Television, which was the international distribution arm of Jim Henson Productions the following year, with Orton becoming the company's CEO.[1]

Jim Henson Productions started negotiations with The Walt Disney Company regarding a possible purchase of the company in the late 1980s. Because of these negotiations, the company head, Peter Orton and other employees at Henson International Television convinced Jim Henson to allow them to spin off the distribution arm as an independent distribution company. Henson agreed, and Orton led a management buyout of the Henson International Television division from Henson in 1989, forming a new company named HiT Communications PLC.[7]

1990–1999 : Becoming independent[]

HiT continued distributing programming by initially signing popular British series Postman Pat and the long-running Alvin and the Chipmunks series. The company then financed and distributed animated feature films based on the Wind in the Willows and Peter Rabbit books. Helping to fund the company was an investment by British satellite and cable TV operator Flextech took a 23% share in HiT for about £600,000. The HiT Wildlife division was set up to produce nature and wildlife programming which provided the company with 35% of its revenue by the mid-1990s.[7]

HiT also handled international distribution for Barney & Friends, produced by Allen, Texas-based Lyrick Studios (historically and originally known as The Lyons Partnership, L.P.). With the success of Barney, HiT began to develop its own programming. In 1996, HiT was listed on the AIM to raise funding; it used the funding to launch HiT Video that produced direct-to-video programming in the UK.

A new character came to the company's attention in 1996, when advertising executive and would-be cartoonist Keith Chapman pitched his idea to HiT Entertainment. Chapman's character was a little builder named Bob the Builder. While a number of other producers had turned down the idea, HIT recognized its potential and bought the rights to developing the Bob the Builder character into a television series.[7]

With another offering in 1997, HiT increased its capitalization and move to the primary London Stock Exchange, whose funding HiT would use to develop some of its first original series, including Brambly Hedge, Percy the Park Keeper, and Kipper, which became its first hit on ITV.[7]

In 1998, HIT formed its own animation production company, Hot Animation, and its Consumers Product Division. The BBC agreed to broadcast Bob the Builder. HiT signed a series of American broadcasting deals starting with Nickelodeon for Kipper and expanded to Starz/Encore for the Brambly Hedge and Percy the Park Keeper TV series, HBO Family for the Anthony Ant cartoon series and Animal Planet for the Wylands Ocean World wildlife program. Kipper won the 1998 BAFTA award for Best Children's Animation. At the end of the year, HIT offered another group of shares.[7]

In 1999 HiT had 10 first-run TV series in the United States and started an American subsidiary. In April, Bob the Builder successfully debuted on the BBC, and in July the company made another public offering of stock. An American deal for Bob was signed in December with Nickelodeon to start airing in January 2001. Mattel signed a five-year licensing agreement for the development of the Angelina Ballerina TV series.[7]

2000–2004: Bob the Builder to final independent years[]

HIT, which had long been suggesting that it intended to expand its character stable through acquisitions, HIT, which had long been suggesting that it intended to expand its character stable through acquisitions, nearly found a partner in early 2000, when the company held talks with Britt Allcroft, the British company that held the licenses to such popular characters as Thomas the Tank Engine, Captain Pugwash, and Sooty. The two sides were unable to agree on a price, however, and the merger fell through.[7] Bob the Builder continued its success with the number one record in December that year.[7]

In order to expand the international presence of its characters, such as Kipper the Dog, Angelina Ballerina and Bob the Builder, the company announced on 9 February 2001 that it would acquire Lyrick Studios (historically and still known as the Lyons Partnership, L.P.), home and owner of Barney & Friends, for $275 million,[8] which would in turn give HiT a marketing and distribution network that it used to introduce its properties to US audiences. Vice versa, the deal would help expand Barney's international presence, which was what Lyrick needed at the time.[9] Chief Executive of HIT, Rob Lawes, was the driving force of the acquisition.[10] The Lyrick acquisition encouraged HiT Entertainment to pursue new acquisitions.

In May 2001, the first Bob the Builder production was released in the United States, while the company signed a deal with Sears to have "Bob Shops" in their retail stores. The Henson Company's owner EM.TV was in financial trouble over its purchase of 50% share in Formula One racing rights, and HiT joined a number of companies willing to purchase Henson.[7] In October 2001, HiT's bid for Pingu BV was accepted.[11]

In April 2002, HIT Entertainment sold their wildlife division to the newly formed Parthenon Entertainment, which was owned by the former managing director of Hit Wildlife, Carlos "Carl" Hall, with its 30 hours of programming in production and its 300-hour library was transferred in the management buyout agreement.[12]

The board of Gullane Entertainment agreed that their company be purchased by HiT for £139million.[13] The television shows owned by Gullane included Thomas & Friends, The Magic Adventures of Mumfie, and Fireman Sam (whose rights were bought from Bumper Films months before). On 22 August 2002, HIT Entertainment officially opened its Canadian office in Toronto.[14]

In March 2003, CCI Entertainment re-acquired its stake from HiT which was part of the purchase of Gullane and its library rights in Canada.[15] HiT's next TV-show Rubbadubbers aired in September that year. CCI would in a decade's time be acquired and folded into 9 Story Media Group.

On 1 April 2004, HiT and The Jim Henson Company agreed to a five-year global distribution and production deal which included distribution of 440 hours of JHC's remaining library, including Fraggle Rock, Emmet Otter's Jug-Band Christmas, The Hoobs and Jim Henson's Mother Goose Stories. In addition, the agreement also included the production of new properties, including Frances, in which both companies co-produced. Both companies co-owned the copyright to the series.[16] While firing its chief executive Rob Lawes in October 2004, the company announced its launching of a 24-hour pre-school channel known as PBS Kids Sprout (now Universal Kids) with PBS, Comcast and Sesame Workshop.[17]

2005–2011: Apax Partners ownership[]

On 22 March 2005, Apax Partners purchased HiT for £489.4 million,[18] taking it private,[19] with former BBC director general Greg Dyke becoming chairman.[20][21] On August 26, 2005, HiT announced an agreement with NBCUniversal, PBS and Sesame Workshop to launch the world's first 24-hour pre-school TV channel entitled PBS Kids Sprout (now Universal Kids), with HIT supplying programming for the channel as a result at the time.

In 2006, HiT closed its DVD sales and distribution arm in the US and contracted with 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment for DVD distribution.[20] Soon, the distribution deal ended and was transferred to Lionsgate Home Entertainment who distributed HiT's videos from May 2008 to 2014.[20][22] HiT continued to sell and distribute its own DVD output in the UK.[citation needed]

In September 2007, the company and Chellomedia formed a joint venture to run the JimJam children's channel.[23] HiT Entertainment opened its own toy company; the HiT Toy Company'.

In 2008, HiT hired former Nickelodeon executive, Jeffrey D. Dunn, as chief executive and moved DVD distribution from 20th Century Fox to Lionsgate Home Entertainment. Dunn drove the company to create new characters, including Mike the Knight, and to revitalize existing brands.[20] In February, HiT sold the Guinness World Records brand, acquired through HiT's acquisition of Gullane Entertainment, to Ripley Entertainment.[24] They also sold the rights to the Sooty characters and properties to his current presenter, Richard Cadell. HiT had put the rights to Sooty up for sale in October 2007.[25]

HiT Movies
TypeDivision
IndustryFilm production
FoundedMarch 2009; 16 years ago (2009-03)
FounderJulia Pistor
Defunct2010; 15 years ago (2010)
FateClosed
Headquarters
Los Angeles, California
,
United States
OwnerHiT Entertainment
ParentHiT Entertainment

In March 2009, HiT Entertainment started its HiT Movies division in Los Angeles, with Julia Pistor as division head, to create films based on the company's franchises.[26] The division's first planned film adaptation was a live-action Thomas & Friends film, scheduled for late 2010.[27]

In early 2010, HiT licensed Thomas & Friends to Mattel for toys.[28] By August, the company withdrew from the JimJam joint venture, but agreed to continue providing programming for the channel until the absorption into Mattel.[29]

In April 2011, Apax put HiT up for sale, with the option to sell the company in two parts: Thomas & Friends franchise and the other HiT characters with its Kids Sprout stake, with either parts or separately. Several bidders came forward, including The Walt Disney Company, Viacom (now known as Paramount Global), Mattel, Hasbro, Classic Media (now known as DreamWorks Classics), Chorion and Saban Brands.[19] By April 2011, Fireman Sam was a Top 10 UK best-selling character toy according to NPD Group.[20] Their next programme Mike the Knight, a co-production between Nelvana aired on Treehouse TV and CBeebies later in the year.[20]

Mattel subsidiary[]

Main article: Mattel Television

Apax Partners agreed to sell HiT Entertainment to Mattel, Inc. on 24 October 2011 for $680 million[30][31] excluding its share of the PBS Kids Sprout TV channel.[28][32] The sale/merger was completed on 1 February 2012, and HIT Entertainment became a wholly owned subsidiary of Mattel,[33] which was managed under its Fisher-Price unit.[34][35] Due to the success of the Thomas & Friends brand, which accounted for 80% of HIT's revenues, there was talks of Mattel only wanting to purchase that franchise rather than the entire HIT library.[4] Mattel had already worked alongside Hit Entertainment and handled marketing for Thomas & Friends toys.[36] On July 3, 2012, it was reported that Mattel considered selling and sought a buyer for Barney and Angelina Ballerina, but they eventually kept them.[37]

HiT announced a DVD distribution deal with Universal Pictures Home Entertainment on 2 May 2014.[38] in which Universal began distributing their catalogue for Blu-ray & DVD Electronic Sell-Through and VOD platforms in the United States and Canada. In early summer 2015, the Edaville amusement park opened a licensed Thomas Land theme area based on Thomas & Friends.[34] On 6 October 2015, HiT Entertainment announced a long-term partnership with 9 Story Media Group to relaunch Barney & Friends and Angelina Ballerina.[39][40]

On 31 March 2016, HiT was absorbed into a newly created division called Mattel Creations (currently known as Mattel Television).[5]

References[]

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Peter Orton: Media entrepreneur who made a global success of Bob the Builder". The Independent. 12 December 2007. https://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/peter-orton-media-entrepreneur-who-made-a-global-success-of-bob-the-builder-764554.html. 
  2. ↑ "HIT Entertainment PLC - Overview". Companies House. UK Government. Retrieved 22 January 2019. {{cite web}}:
  3. ↑ "Our Brands". HiT Entertainment. Archived from the original on 15 August 2002. Retrieved 13 February 2014. {{cite web}}:
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Adler, Tim (24 October 2011). "Mattel Buys A $680M Ticket for Thomas the Tank Engine with HIT Entertainment Deal". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 22 October 2015. {{cite web}}:
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Tartaglione, Nancy (31 March 2016). "Mattel Creations Formed To Centralize Toy Giant's Theatrical, TV & Digital Content". Deadline Hollywood (Penske Business Media, LLC). https://deadline.com/2016/03/mattel-creations-balsam-schwaber-keenan-new-division-barbie-1201729116. 
  6. ↑ Forrest, Simon (12 December 2007). "Obituary: Peter Orton". The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/news/2007/dec/12/guardianobituaries.television. 
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 7.4 7.5 7.6 7.7 7.8 "HIT Entertainment PLC History". Company Profiles. Funding Universe. Retrieved 8 April 2013. {{cite web}}:
  8. ↑ "HIT Entertainment Buys Barney". Associated Press. 9 February 2001. Retrieved 9 February 2012. {{cite web}}:
  9. ↑ "They're Not Just Playing Around". Los Angeles Times. 9 August 2002. {{cite web}}:
  10. ↑ "HIT Entertainment Announcements — HIT Entertainment: Acquisition". Investegate. {{cite web}}:
  11. ↑ "Pingu sold for £16m". 29 October 2001. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/1626014.stm. 
  12. ↑ Winstone, Keely (29 April 2002). "Ex-Hit Wildlife man firms up Parthenon". C21media. http://www.c21media.net/ex-hit-wildlife-man-firms-up-parthenon/. 
  13. ↑ Cassy, John (6 July 2002). "Gullane gives in to Barney bid". The Guardian. Retrieved 9 April 2013. {{cite web}}:
  14. ↑ Godfrey, Leigh (22 August 2002). "HIT Entertainment Canada Opens Its Doors". Animation World Network. Retrieved 9 April 2013. {{cite web}}:
  15. ↑ "CCI takes Gullane titles back from Hit". C21media.net. 26 May 2003. http://www.c21media.net/archives/12907. 
  16. ↑ "The Jim Henson Company and HIT Entertainment Establish Worldwide Distribution And Production Venture" (Press release). The Jim Henson Company. 1 April 2004. https://www.henson.com/press-releases/2004/2004-04-01.pdf. 
  17. ↑ Martinson, Jane (21 October 2004). "HIT fires chief who pulled off US deal". The Guardian. Retrieved 9 April 2013. {{cite web}}:
  18. ↑ "Apax to Buy HIT Entertainment for $934 Million". Animation World Network. 22 March 2005. Retrieved 1 July 2015. {{cite web}}:
  19. ↑ 19.0 19.1 Garside, Juliette (13 April 2011). "Thomas the Tank Engine and Bob the Builder may part company in HIT sale". The Guardian. Retrieved 9 April 2013. {{cite web}}:
  20. ↑ 20.0 20.1 20.2 20.3 20.4 20.5 Garside, Juliette (April 18, 2011). "How to get Hit Entertainment back on track?". The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/media/2011/apr/18/hit-entertainment-thomas-the-tank-engine. 
  21. ↑ "Apax to buy HIT Entertainment". The New York Times. 22 March 2005. https://www.nytimes.com/2005/03/22/business/worldbusiness/apax-to-buy-hit-entertainment.html. 
  22. ↑ "Lionsgate joins the HIT parade". The Hollywood Reporter. 25 March 2008. Retrieved 4 August 2020. {{cite web}}:
  23. ↑ Chala, Jean K. (28 February 2009). Transnational Television in Europe: Reconfiguring Global Communications Networks. I.B.Tauris. pp. 123–124. ISBN 9780857717474. https://books.google.com/books?id=SoUAAwAAQBAJ&q=Jetix+Greece&pg=PA123. 
  24. ↑ Allen, Katie (14 February 2008). "Guinness world records brand sold to Ripley's for £60m". The Guardian. Retrieved 9 April 2013. {{cite web}}:
  25. ↑ Langsworthy, Billy (14 January 2014). "Richard Cadell on saving Sooty, brand longevity and stage shows". Licensing.biz (NewBay Media). http://www.licensing.biz/big-interviews/read/richard-cadell-on-saving-sooty-brand-longevity-and-stage-shows/039309. 
  26. ↑ Afan, Emily Claire (4 March 2009). "HIT goes to the movies with newly formed film division". Kidscreen. Brunico Communications. Retrieved 9 April 2013. {{cite web}}:
  27. ↑ Hayes, Dade (4 March 2009). "Hit Entertainment gets into movie biz". Variety. Retrieved 23 February 2017. {{cite web}}:
  28. ↑ 28.0 28.1 Kell, John (October 25, 2011). "Mattel to Buy HIT Entertainment". Wall Street Journal. https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052970204644504576650730957530252. 
  29. ↑ "Hit pulls out of JimJam JV". Digital TV Europe. TBIvision. 22 October 2010. http://www.digitaltveurope.net/2596/hit-pulls-out-of-jimjam-jv/. 
  30. ↑ "Mattel Announces Acquisition of HIT Entertainment" (Press release). Mattel Corporate. 24 October 2011. https://www.hitentertainment.com/corporate/newsdetail.aspx?nid=87. 
  31. ↑ "Mattel buys Hit Entertainment for $680m cash". The Guardian. 24 October 2011. {{cite web}}:
  32. ↑ "Barbie maker Mattel to buy Thomas the Tank Engine owner". BBC News. 24 October 2011. Retrieved 25 October 2011. {{cite web}}:
  33. ↑ Szalai, George (31 January 2012). "Mattel's Acquisition of 'Thomas & Friends' Maker HIT Entertainment to Close on Wednesday". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 8 April 2013. {{cite web}}:
  34. ↑ 34.0 34.1 "HIT Lays Tracks for Thomas Land". License! Global Magazine. UBM (now Informa). 17 June 2014. Archived from the original on 23 January 2015. Retrieved 6 June 2016. {{cite web}}: 6 August 2016;
  35. ↑ "Mattel Completes Acquisition of HIT Entertainment" (Press release). Mattel. https://mattel.gcs-web.com/static-files/c4b3014d-2833-4b7f-a625-287a619ea72a. 
  36. ↑ "Mattel acquires Thomas & Friends owner". Marketing Week. {{cite web}}:
  37. ↑ Rushton, Katherine (3 July 2012). "Mattel sounds out buyers for Hit Entertainment's Barney and Angelina Ballerina". The Telegraph. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/mediatechnologyandtelecoms/media/9371099/Mattel-sounds-out-buyers-for-Hit-Entertainments-Barney-and-Angelina-Ballerina.html. 
  38. ↑ McLean, Thomas J. (2 May 2014). "HIT Taps Universal for Home Entertainment Distribution". Animation Magazine. Retrieved 7 May 2014. {{cite web}}:
  39. ↑ Vlessing, Etan (6 October 2015). "MIPCOM: 'Barney & Friends' Set for Relaunch by Mattel, 9 Story". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved December 2, 2017. {{cite web}}:
  40. ↑ "Mattel Inc Together with 9 Story Announce New Partnership to Relaunch Iconic Pre-School Brands 'Barney & Friends' and 'Angelina Ballerina'". 6 October 2015. Retrieved 1 July 2020. {{cite web}}:

External links[]

Template:Mattel Template:The Jim Henson Company

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