About HIT Entertainment
HIT Entertainment, owned by private equity investment group Apax Partners, is one of the world's leading independent children's entertainment producers and rights-owners. HIT's portfolio includes properties, such as Barney™, Bob the Builder™, Thomas & Friends™, Pingu™, Fireman Sam™, Angelina Ballerina™ and Rainbow Magic™. HIT represents Chapman Entertainment's Fifi and the Flowertots™ and Roary the Racing Car™ in North America and Japan, as well as Wallace & Gromit™, Shaun the Sheep™, Timmy Time™ and Aardman Classics from Aardman Animations. HIT also acts as a worldwide representative for The Jim Henson Company's library of classic family brands and as representative for The Wiggles® in the UK.
Launched in 1989, HIT's lines of business span television and video production, content distribution, publishing, consumer products licensing, live events and attractions and has operations in the UK, US, Canada, Hong Kong and Japan. HIT is a part-owner of US preschool channel, PBS KIDS Sprout℠, and international preschool channel JimJam, (outside of the US, UK and China).
For more information, visit http://www.hitentertainment.com.
HIT Entertainment Secures Worldwide Distribution Rights For Children's Properties Picme And Twisted Tales
10/12/2006MIPCOM Cannes
HIT Entertainment, one of the world's leading pre-school children's entertainment producers and rights owners, has today announced an exclusive, worldwide distribution deal with Dublin-based production company Jam Media, for the award-winning children's TV properties Picme and Twisted Tales.
Picme, aimed at the pre-school market, uses proprietary software called 'Head-hunter' that allows interactivity between the broadcaster and the viewer. Developed by Jam Media, the
2-D Flash animation enables the user to scan in a simple digital photo or image of a face into the story. The end result: your child becomes the star of the show. Picme was first broadcast on Nick Jr. in the UK where there was an overwhelming response from viewers sending in their photographs and hoping to see their child on TV.
Twisted Tales is the next evolution of technology and programming and is aimed at 6-12 year olds and plays on classic fairytales with a twist. Twisted Tales has recently been commissioned by the BBC, the UK's public broadcaster, for 26 x 11 minute episodes. The series is scheduled for delivery in January 2008.
In 2005, Picme was awarded the Best Digital Storytelling Category at the Digital Media Awards and received first at the Kidscreen Pitch It Summit. Picme also picked up the award for Best Youth Programme at the Irish Film and Television Awards. In September, the RTE commissioned a further 52 x 5 minute episodes of Picme bringing the total number of episodes produced by Jam Media to 104. Picme is now the biggest animation commission by the RTE.
Bruce Steinberg, CEO HIT Entertainment commented, "With its unique and creative user software, Jam Media has enabled the TV viewer to interact directly with their favourite programmes. We are delighted to have acquired the worldwide distribution rights to Picme and Twisted Tales. Picme has already been sold into key territories including Teletoons (France), Ki.Ka (Germany), Hungama (India), and S4C (Wales) as well as a global deal with Nick Jr. into Asia Pacific, Scandinavia, Latin America and key territories in Europe.
John Rice CEO of Jam Media, commented, "We are absolutely thrilled to have HIT as our distribution partner. With their well established channels we feel very confident in these unique properties reaching a mass audience."
Michael Carrington, Creative Director CBeebies and Head of Programme Acquisitions BBC Children's commented, "We couldn't be more thrilled. Twisted Tales is a funny, unique and innovative concept that allows us to see our audience on screen and to interact with them online. What better way to engage with our audience. This is truly what 360 degree programming is all about."
Picme - You are the Star will be released on DVD in the UK on 23 October 2006.
For further information on PICME and Twisted Tales, please visit HIT at MIPCOM in the Riviera Suite Number R31.34.
About HIT Entertainment
HIT Entertainment, owned by private equity investment group Apax Partners since June 2005, is one of the world’s leading independent children’s entertainment producers and rights-owners. HIT’s portfolio includes internationally renowned children’s properties, such as Bob the Builder™, Barney™, Thomas & Friends™, Pingu™, Rubbadubbers™ and Angelina Ballerina™. HIT acts as a representative for The Wiggles® in the UK, US and Canada and as worldwide representative for The Jim Henson Company’s library of classic family brands, including Fraggle Rock™. HIT also owns the Guinness World Records™ publishing and television property and Fireman Sam™, a joint venture with S4C. Launched in 1989, HIT’s lines of business span television and video production (including studios in the US and the UK), publishing, consumer products licensing and live events. With a catalog of more than 1,000 hours of young children’s programming, HIT sells its shows to more than 240 countries worldwide, in more than 40 different languages and has operations in the UK, US, Canada, Hong Kong and Japan. In 2005, the Company joined Comcast Corporation, PBS and Sesame Workshop to launch PBS KIDS Sprout℠, a 24-hour digital cable channel and VOD service for preschoolers. For more information, visit www.hitentertainment.com.
About Jam Media
JAM MEDIA creates entertainment brands across all genres and platforms. Jam Media's software IP allows for a completely personalised and customisable experience. JAM has created a number of award winning short animations and TV series and continually strives for immersive stories, engaging characters and quality animation in all its productions. www.jammedia.ie.
