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
IndustryEntertainment
GenreEntertainment, Children’s programming
PredecessorsGullane Entertainment
Lyrick Studios
Founded1982; 40 years ago (1982)
FoundersJim Henson
Peter Orton
Sophie Turner Laing
Defunct31 March 2016; 6 years ago (31 March 2016)
FateAbsorbed into Mattel Creations
Headquarters
Number of locations
1
Key people
Peter Orton
Production output
Television Production, Children's Animation, Production
ServicesDistribution
Licensing
OwnerJim 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
Websitefind-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/02341947

HIT Entertainment Limited (commonly known as HIT) was a British-American entertainment company and a label of Mattel Television. The company was founded in 1982 as Henson International Television, the international distribution arm of The Jim Henson Company, but later sold to Peter Orton in 1989. It was co-founded by Jim Henson, Peter Orton, and Sophie Turner Laing. HIT owned and distributed children's television series such as Thomas & Friends, Fireman Sam, Bob the Builder, Pingu, Barney & Friends, and Angelina Ballerina.[3] In February 2012, the company was acquired by Mattel; since 2018, the company serves as a subsidiary of Mattel Television, managing its home media library.

History

1980s

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 Jim Henson and went to work with him in 1981.[4] Together, they set up Henson International Television, which was the international distribution arm of Jim Henson Productions, in the following year of 1982. Orton became CEO of the company.[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, Henson International Television head 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 Orion led a management buyout of the Henson International Television division from Henson in 1989, forming a new company named HiT Communications PLC.[5]

1990s

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.[5]

HiT also handled international distribution for Barney & Friends, produced by Lyrick Studios. 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.[5]

With another offering in 1997, HiT increased its capitalization and move to the primary London Stock Exchange. HIT used this funding to develop some of its first original series, including Brambly Hedge, Percy the Park Keeper, and Kipper, which became its first hit on ITV.[5]

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 (Brambly Hedge and Percy the Park Keeper series), HBO Family (Anthony Ant cartoon series) and Animal Planet channel (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.[5]

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 series.[5]

2000–2004

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.[5]

Bob the Builder continued its success with the number one record in December.[5]

In order to expand the international presence of its characters, such as Kipper the Dog, Angelina Ballerina and Bob the Builder, the company announced in February 2001 that it would acquire Lyrick Coporation for $275 million.[6] Lyrick held the rights to Barney, which was a big property in North America. In turn the deal gave 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 something that Lyrick needed.[7] Chief Executive of HIT, Rob Lawes, was the driving force of the acquisition.[8] The Lyrick acquisition put HIT Entertainment on the world map and the company was now interested in pursuing new acquisitions.

In May, the first Bob the Builder video 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.[5] In October 2001, HiT's bid for Pingu BV was accepted.[9]

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, Carl Hall. 30 hours of programming in production and its 300-hour library was transferred in the Management buyout agreement.[10]

After two years of bids from HiT, Gullane Entertainment's board agreed to be purchased for £139million.[11] The television shows owned by Gullane included, Thomas & Friends, Magic Adventures of Mumfie, and Fireman Sam (brought the rights from Bumper Films, in 2002). August 2002, HIT Entertainment Canada, Inc. official opened its office in Toronto.[12]

In March 2003, CCI Entertainment acquired HiT's stake in CCI (part of the Gullane Purchase) and Gullane library rights in Canada.[13] HiT's next TV-show Rubbadubbers aired in September.

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 the Henson Company'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.[14] While firing its chief executive Rob Lawes in October 2004, the company announced its launching of PBS Kids Sprout with partners PBS, Comcast and Sesame Workshop.[15]

2005–2011

On 22 March 2005, Apax Partners purchased HiT for £489.4 million,[16] taking it private,[17] with former BBC director general Greg Dyke becoming chairman.[18][19] In the same year, PBS Kids Sprout launched.

In 2006, HiT closed its DVD sales and distribution arm in the US and contracted with 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment for DVD distribution.[18] Soon, the distribution deal ended and transferred to Lionsgate Home Entertainment who distributed HIT's videos from May 2008-2014.[18][20] HiT continued to sell and distribute its own DVD output in the UK.[citation needed]

In September 2007, the corporation and Chellomedia formed a joint venture to run the JimJam children's channel.[21] HiT Entertainment opened its own toy company called The HiT Toy Company.

In 2008, HiT hired Jeffrey D. Dunn, formerly of Nickelodeon, 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.[18] In February, HiT sold the Guinness World Records brand, acquired with Gullane Entertainment, to Ripley Entertainment.[22] 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.[23]

In March 2009, HiT Entertainment started its HiT Movies division based in Los Angeles, with Julia Pistor as division head. Its purpose was to create films based on the company's franchises.[24] The division's first planned film adaptation was a live-action Thomas & Friends film, scheduled for late 2010.[25]

In early 2010, HiT licensed Thomas & Friends to Mattel for toys.[26] By August, the company withdrew from the JimJam joint venture, but agreed to continue providing programming.[27]

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.[17] By April 2011, Fireman Sam was a Top 10 UK best-selling character toy according to NPD Group.[18] Their next programme Mike the Knight, a co-production between Nelvana aired on Treehouse TV and CBeebies later in the year.[18]

Mattel subsidiary

Main article: Mattel Television

Apax Partners agreed to sell HiT Entertainment to Mattel Inc on 24 October 2011 for $680 million.[28] Its share of Sprout was not included in the deal.[26][29] The sale/merger was completed on 1 February 2012, and HIT Entertainment became a wholly owned subsidiary of Mattel,[30] managed under its Fisher-Price unit.[31][32] Due to the success of the Thomas 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.[33] Mattel had already worked alongside Hit Entertainment and handled marketing for Thomas & Friends toys.[34] On July 3, 2012, It was reported that Mattel considered selling and seeked a buyer for the assets of Barney (alongside Angelina Ballerina).[35] They eventually decided to keep those brands.

HiT announced a DVD distribution deal with Universal Pictures Home Entertainment on 2 May 2014.[36] In which Universal started 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.[31] On 6 October 2015, HiT Entertainment announced a long-term partnership with 9 Story Media Group to relaunch Barney & Friends and Angelina Ballerina.[37][38]

On 31 March 2016 HiT was absorbed into a newly-created division called Mattel Creations.[39]

References

  1. ^ a b "Peter Orton: Media entrepreneur who made a global success of Bob the Builder". The Independent. 12 December 2007. Retrieved 29 December 2017.
  2. ^ "HIT Entertainment PLC - Overview". beta.companieshouse.gov.uk. Companies House. Retrieved 22 January 2019.
  3. ^ "Our Brands". Corporate. HiT Entertainment. Retrieved 13 February 2014.
  4. ^ Forrest, Simon (12 December 2007). "Obituary: Peter Orton". The Guardian. Retrieved 29 December 2017.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h i "HIT Entertainment PLC History". Company Profiles. fundinguniverse.com. Retrieved 8 April 2013.
  6. ^ "HIT Entertainment Buys Barney". Associated Press.
  7. ^ "They're Not Just Playing Around". Los Angeles Times. 9 August 2002.
  8. ^ "HIT Entertainment Announcements | HIT Entertainment: Acquisition". Investegate.
  9. ^ "Pingu sold for £16m". Business. BBC News. 2001-10-29. Retrieved 2007-07-21.
  10. ^ Winstone, Keely (29 April 2002). "Ex-Hit Wildlife man firms up Parthenon". C21media. Retrieved December 23, 2016.
  11. ^ Cassy, John (6 July 2002). "Gullane gives in to Barney bid". Guardian. Retrieved 9 April 2013.
  12. ^ Godfrey, Leigh (August 22, 2002). "HIT Entertainment Canada Opens Its Doors". AWN. Retrieved 9 April 2013.
  13. ^ "CCI takes Gullane titles back from Hit". c21media.net. May 26, 2003. Retrieved 9 April 2013.
  14. ^ "The Jim Henson Company and HIT Entertainment Establish Worldwide Distribution And Production Venture" (PDF). The Jim Henson Company and HIT Entertainment. April 1, 2004.
  15. ^ Martinson, Jane (21 October 2004). "HIT fires chief who pulled off US deal". Guardian. Retrieved 9 April 2013.
  16. ^ "Apax to Buy HIT Entertainment for $934 Million".
  17. ^ a b Garside, Juliette (13 April 2011). "Thomas the Tank Engine and Bob the Builder may part company in HIT sale". Guardian. Retrieved 9 April 2013.
  18. ^ a b c d e f Garside, Juliette (April 18, 2011). "How to get Hit Entertainment back on track?". The Guardian. Retrieved 9 April 2013.
  19. ^ "Apax to buy HIT Entertainment". The New York Times. 22 March 2005.
  20. ^ "Lionsgate joins the HIT parade". The Hollywood Reporter. 25 March 2008.
  21. ^ Chala, Jean K. (February 28, 2009). Transnational Television in Europe: Reconfiguring Global Communications Networks. I.B.Tauris. pp. 123–124. ISBN 9780857717474.
  22. ^ Allen, Katie (14 February 2008). "Guinness world records brand sold to Ripley's for £60m". Guardian. Retrieved 9 April 2013.
  23. ^ Langsworthy, Billy (January 14, 2014). "Richard Cadell on saving Sooty, brand longevity and stage shows". Licensing.biz. NewBay Media. Retrieved April 25, 2018.
  24. ^ Afan, Emily Claire (March 4, 2009). "HIT goes to the movies with newly formed film division". kidscreen.com. Retrieved 9 April 2013.
  25. ^ Hayes, Dade (4 March 2009). "Hit Entertainment gets into movie biz". Variety. Retrieved February 23, 2017.
  26. ^ a b Kell, John (October 25, 2011). "Mattel to Buy HIT Entertainment". Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 8 April 2013.
  27. ^ "Hit pulls out of JimJam JV". Digital TV Europe. TBIvision. October 22, 2010. Retrieved April 25, 2014.
  28. ^ "Mattel buys Hit Entertainment for $680m cash". TheGuardian.com. 24 October 2011.
  29. ^ "Barbie maker Mattel to buy Thomas the Tank Engine owner". BBC News. 24 October 2011. Retrieved 25 October 2011.
  30. ^ Szalai, Georg (31 January 2012). "Mattel's Acquisition of 'Thomas & Friends' Maker HIT Entertainment to Close on Wednesday". Hollywoodreporter.com. Retrieved 8 April 2013.
  31. ^ a b "HIT Lays Tracks for Thomas Land". License! Global Magazine. UBM. June 17, 2014. Retrieved June 6, 2016.
  32. ^ "Mattel Completes Acquisition of HIT Entertainment". Business Wire (Press release). Mattel.
  33. ^ "Mattel Buys A $680M Ticket for Thomas the Tank Engine with HIT Entertainment Deal". 24 October 2011.
  34. ^ "Mattel acquires Thomas & Friends owner". 24 October 2011.
  35. ^ Rushton, Katherine (3 July 2012). "Mattel sounds out buyers for Hit Entertainment's Barney and Angelina Ballerina". The Telegraph. Archived from the original on 3 July 2012.
  36. ^ McLean, Thomas J. (May 2, 2014). "HIT Taps Universal for Home Entertainment Distribution". Animation Magazine. Retrieved May 7, 2014.
  37. ^ Vlessing, Etan (October 6, 2015). "MIPCOM: 'Barney & Friends' Set for Relaunch by Mattel, 9 Story". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved December 2, 2017.
  38. ^ "Mattel Inc Together with 9 Story Announce New Partnership to Relaunch Iconic Pre-School Brands 'Barney & Friends' and 'Angelina Ballerina'". 6 October 2015.
  39. ^ Tartaglione, Nancy (March 31, 2016). "Mattel Creations Formed To Centralize Toy Giant's Theatrical, TV & Digital Content". Deadline Hollywood. Penske Business Media, LLC. Archived from the original on June 5, 2016. Retrieved June 6, 2016.

External links

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