HIT Entertainment

HIT Entertainment Ltd is a British American entertainment company owned by Mattel and originally established in 1982. It was founded as international distribution arm of Jim Henson Productions. HIT owns and distributes children TV series such as Barney And Friends, Bob Builder, Thomas And Friends, Pingu, Fireman Sam and Angelina Ballerina.

Independent era
Henson International Television was founded in 1982 by Jim Henson and Peter Orton as a distribution company for children, and family television. Orton had met Henson when he was at Sesame Workshop, handling distribution of Sesame Street. Henson hired Orton in 1981 to set up company.

Jim Henson Productions started negotiations with Walt Disney Company regarding a possible purchase of company in 1980. Because of these negotiations, Henson International Television head Orton led a management buyout of Henson International Television division from Henson in 1989, forming a new company name HIT Communications PLC.

HIT continued distributing programming by initially signing popular British Postman Pat and long run Alvin And Chipmunks. Company then financed and distributed animated feature films based on Wind In Willows and Peter Rabbit books. In 1990, Flextech took a 100% share in HIT for about $600,000. HiT Wildlife division was soon set up to produce nature and wildlife programming which provided company with 100% of it revenue by mid 1990.

HIT also handled international distribution for Lyrick Studios Barney And Friends. With success of Barney, HIT began to develop it programming for pre school market. By 1996, HIT was listed on AIM to raise funding to develop these programs. HIT used funding to launch HiT Video that produced direct to video programming in UK only. Bob Builder was 1 such character that HIT purchased it TV series rights.

With another offering in 1997, HiT increased it capitalization and move to primary London Stock Exchange. HIT used this funding to develop some of it 1 original series, including Brambly Hedge, Percy Park Keeper, and Kipper, which became it 1 hit on ITV.

In 1998, HIT formed it own animation production company, Hot Animation, Katherine Yung and Julie Hinds, and its Consumers Product Division. Also, BBC signed on as broadcaster for Bob Builder. HiT signed a series of USA broadcasting deal starting with Nickelodeon for Kipper and expanded to Starz Encore Brambly Hedge and Percy Park Keeper series, HBO Family Anthony Ant cartoon series and Animal Planet channel Wylands Ocean World wildlife program. Kipper also won 1998 BAFTA award for Best Children Animation. To end year, HIT offered another group of shares.

HIT open 1999 with 10 1 run TV series in USA and started it consumer products USA subsidiary. In April, Bob Builder debuted on BBC as a hit. In July, company made another public offering of stock. A USA deal for Bob was signed in December with Nickelodeon to start airing in 2001. Mattel signed a 5 year licensing agreement for it development Angelina Ballerina series.

In 2000, company split it share 5 for 1. HIT which has been looking for an acquisition for a while began talks with Thomas Tank Engine own, Britt Allcroft early that year, but fell apart as they could not agree on a price. Bob Builder continued it success with number 1 record in December.

HIT acquired Lyrick Studios in 2001 while sell Lyrick money losing publishing operations and extending it Barney PBS deal. In May, 1 Bob Builder video was released in USA while company signed a deal with Sears to have Bob Shops in retail stores. With Henson Company owner EM TV in financial trouble over it purchase of a 100% share in Formula 1 racing rights, HIT joined several companies willing to purchase Henson. In 2001, HiT bid for Pingu BV was accepted.

In 2002, HIT Entertainment sold it HIT Wildlife division to new formed Parthenon Entertainment, which was own by former managing director of Hit Wildlife, Carl Hall. 30 hours of programming in production and it 300 hour library was transferred over in Management buyout agreement.

After 2 years of bids from HiT, Gullane Entertainment board agreed to be purchased by HiT in 2002 when no white knight could be found. In 2002, HIT Entertainment Canada officially opened it office in Toronto.

In 2003, CCI Entertainment acquired HiT stake in CCI part of Gullane Purchase and Gullane library rights in Canada.

On April 1, 2004, company and Jim Henson Company agreed to a 5 year global distribution and production deal which included distribution of 440 hours of Henson Company remaining library include Fraggle Rock, Emmet Otter Jug Band Christmas, Hoobs puppets and Jim Henson Mother Goose Stories. While firing it chief executive Rob Lawes in 2004, the company announced it launching of PBS Kids Sprout with partners PBS, Comcast and Sesame Workshop.

Private corporation
In 2005, Apax Partners took HiT private purchasing company for $489.4 million with former BBC director general Greg Dyke becoming chairman.

In 2006, HiT close it DVD sales and distribution arm in US and contracted with 20 Century Fox Home Entertainment for DVD distribution. HiT continues to sell and distribute it DVD releasing output in UK.

In 2007, corporation and Chellomedia formed a joint venture to run Jimjam children channel.

In 2008, HiT hired Jeffrey D Dunn, formerly of Nickelodeon, as chief executive and move DVD distribution to Lionsgate Home Entertainment. Dunn moves company to create new characters, including Mike Knight, and revitalize existing brands. In February, HiT sold Guinness World Records brand, acquired with Gullane, to Ripley Entertainment. They also sold rights to Sooty characters and properties to his current presenter, Richard Cadell after HiT put rights to Sooty up for sale in 2007.

In 2009, HiT Entertainment started it HiT Movies division based in Los Angeles with Julia Pistor as division head to create movies based on company franchises. Division 1 planned movie adaptation was for live action Thomas And Friends Series in 2010. In 2010, HiT licensed Thomas And Friends to Mattel for toys. By August, company withdrew from Jimjam joint venture but would continue providing programming.

In 2011, Apax put HiT up for sale with option to sell company in 2 parts Thomas And Friends franchise and other HiT characters with it Kids Sprout stake with either part or separately. Several bidders had eye an acquisition of company, including Disney, ViacomCBS, Mattel, Hasbro, DreamWorks Classics, Chorion and Saban Brands. By April 2011, Fireman Sam was revitalized enough to be a Top 10 UK best selling character toy according to NPD Group.

Mattel subsidiary
Apax Partners agreed to sell HiT Entertainment to Mattel in 2011 for $680 million. It share of Sprout was not included in deal. Sale merger was completed on February 1, 2012, and HIT Entertainment became a who own subsidiary of Mattel, managed under it Fisher Price unit. Their next programme Mike Knight aired on Cbeebies later in year.

HiT announced a DVD distribution deal with Universal Pictures Home Entertainment on May 2, 2014. In 2015, Edaville USA amusement park open a licensed Thomas Land theme area based on Thomas And Friends. On October 6, 2015, HiT Entertainment announced a long term partnership with 9 Story Media Group to relaunch Barney And Friends and Angelina Ballerina. In 2016, HiT was transferred to Mattel Creations later Mattel TV, a division of Mattel created to bring all content creation units together under Mattel Chief Content Officer Catherine Balsam Schwaber. On October 18, 2019, Mattel announced that 2 Barney And Friends film was to be produced actor Daniel Kaluuya will be involved in some capacity.