HIT Entertainment Digital Newsroom

Thomas & Friends™ Nominated For 2011 Toy Industry Association (TIA) Toy Property Of The Year

In a year marking his 65th Anniversary, TIA nomination is the latest honor for Thomas the Tank Engine™

New York, NY

In time for the holiday season, the Toy Industry Association announced today that Thomas & Friends™ has been nominated for 2011's Toy Property of the Year.  Thomas & Friends is one of six properties nominated for the award that honors a property that had the greatest success in spreading its brand throughout the industry.  The 2011 winner will be announced at an awards ceremony to be held before the start of American International Toy Fair on Saturday, February 12, 2011 at Jazz at Lincoln Center in New York City.  This is the first time voting for TIA's "Toy of the Year" categories will be open to the public. 

"The fact that Thomas & Friends is considered one of the most successful properties by the Toy Industry Association speaks to the timeless nature and longevity of this brand," said Pam Westman, Executive Vice President, Thomas Division, The Americas, HIT Entertainment.  "In a banner 65th Anniversary year for Thomas, the nomination is a testament to our great partners and how Thomas & Friends is constantly innovating while maintaining its position as a classic staple toy property for generations of kids. We are thrilled and proud that Thomas was selected as a nominee."

The TIA nomination is the latest accolade in what has been an award-winning 65th anniversary year for Thomas.  In 2010, Thomas continues to be the number-one Preschool Toy Property¹ for nearly 10 consecutive years and number-one Preschool Home Entertainment Property² in the US.  Thomas & Friends products have also been selected for the 2010 Hot Holiday Toy List released by Toys 'R' Us, for 2010 Oppenheimer Platinum Awards, and 2010 Parents' Choice Awards.

In 2010, Thomas & Friends also launched new toy lines with global partners Fisher-Price, Mega, and Learning Curve; a new website launched that was recognized for a 2010 Webby Award; and a new television series on in CG-animation launched on PBS KIDS® in Fall 2010.  The annual Day Out With Thomas tour at heritage railroad stations around the U.S. and Canada saw over 1 million visitors.

Finalists for the 2011 Toy Property of the Year were selected by a committee including retail buyers, journalists, bloggers, and toy specialists.  Voting will commence this afternoon at www.TOTYawards.org web site.  There will be five ballots including consumers, mass retailers, specialty retailers, media, and toy industry, which will each be weighted and used to determine the TOTY 2011 winners.  HIT Entertainment, rights owner of the successful Thomas & Friends property, will launch a consumer campaign in the weeks following today's announcement to encourage Thomas fans to support the #1 blue engine.

About HIT Entertainment

HIT Entertainment 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, as well as Wallace & Gromit™, Shaun the Sheep™, Timmy Time™ and Aardman Classics from Aardman Animations.  HIT also acts 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 and live events and has operations in the UK, US, Canada, Hong Kong and Japan.  HIT is a part-owner of US-based preschool channel, PBS KIDS SproutSM. For more information, visit www.hitentertainment.com.

¹ Source: NPD Q3 YTD 2010

² Source: NIELSEN, YTD 7/4/2010