HIT Entertainment (stylised as HiT) was a British-American entertainment company owned by Mattel and originally established in 1982 as Henson International Television. It was founded as the international distribution arm of Jim Henson Productions. They acquired Gullane Entertainment in 2003 for approximately £144 million. The company produced the seventh to the twentieth series.

In February 2012, the company was acquired by Mattel for $680 million, and in March 2016, Mattel absorbed the company into its newly formed division, Mattel Creations, later Mattel Television. The company is still around as a legal entity owned by Mattel, but as an In-Credit-Only unit and copyright holder for the Thomas & Friends property.

In addition, by early 2020, HiT Entertainment moved from Maple House in London to the Porter Building in Slough, Berkshire.

History

Henson International Television

HiT was originally formed as Henson International Television (hit!) in 1982 as a branch of the Jim Henson Company in order to coordinate the co-production of Fraggle Rock in London, England, United Kingdom. This subsidiary was later sold and retains none of the original Henson company architecture except for the name. It later rebranded itself as "HIT Entertainment", dropping the abbreviation.

HIT Entertainment

HiT Entertainment first began negotiating with Britt Allcroft to buy The Britt Allcroft Company in March 2000, offering $363 million USD ($682.9 million in 2025)^[1] for a merger,^[2] these negotiations continued on-and-off until HiT agreed to purchase Gullane Entertainment (formerly The Britt Allcroft Company) on 5 July 2002,^[3] with Gullane becoming a subsidiary of HiT in early 2003, after the airing of the sixth series and during the filming of the seventh series, renaming the series to Thomas & Friends. Britt Allcroft was a board director of HiT Entertainment until January 2003.^[4] The company continued production on the show until Series 20, with Series 8 being the first series wholly produced by HiT Entertainment, and the only series produced entirely by HiT while it was independent.

Apax Partners, a private^[5] British venture capital firm announced they were purchasing HiT on 22 March 2005 for £489.4 million^[6] (£873.7 million in October 2025) through Sunshine Acquisition Limited,^[7] which was completed by late May,^[8] during production of the ninth series, and Calling All Engines!. Greg Dyke, former Director-General of the BBC, was appointed as chairman of HiT Entertainment.^[9][10] Thomas & Friends episodes began airing on PBS Kids Sprout in 2005, the channel being inaugurated that year as a result of an agreement between HiT, NBCUniversal, PBS, and the Sesame Workshop.^[11] Though plans for this channel had been in motion since 2004.^[12] HiT signed a distribution deal with 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment in early 2006, resulting in HiT closing its home media division for the US,^[13] but allowing HiT properties, including Thomas & Friends, to retail in over 70,000 stores across the US.^[14] HiT continued to distribute its own home media in the UK.^[15] HiT launched the HIT Toy Company in 2006^[16] (using Lyrick Studios, Inc, which was acquired in 2001).^[17]

On 22 March 2007 gained S4C International's 50% stake in Fireman Sam, the other half having previously been acquired by Gullane, thus giving HiT full control of the franchise.^[18] Together with Chellomedia, HiT formed a joint venture to run JimJam in September 2007, which broadcasts Thomas & Friends in Eastern, and Central Europe.^[19]

Bridgefilms, used to administer the rights to Magic Adventures of Mumfie,^[20] along with Sooty Limited were put up for sale in October 2007,^[21] the former being bought by Britt Allcroft in March 2008,^[20] with Guinness World Records sold earlier in February to Ripley International for £60 million^[22] (£98.7 million in October 2025).^[23] Also in 2008, former Nickelodeon executive, Jeffrey D. Dunn, was appointed CEO,^[24] during production of Series 12, and The Great Discovery, additionally, Lionsgate took over from 20th Century Fox as US distributor for HiT properties.^[15]

In late 2008, HiT Entertainment decided to start animating Thomas & Friends in full CGI and cease using live-action models, partially due to British tax incentives which made production cheaper. With Nitrogen Studios in Canada using the Series 11 episode, Thomas and the Stinky Cheese as a test animation, production on Series 13 began in late 2008, as well as pre-production on Hero of the Rails in September 2008, with Nitrogen selected to produce the animation.

In March 2009, HiT launched a motion-picture division, HIT Movies, headed by Julia Pistor,^[25] its first planned project was The Adventures of Thomas, which was planned to be released in 2010,^[26] this never came to fruition. HiT licensed Mattel subsidiary Fisher-Price to produce Thomas & Friends merchandise in early 2010, this excluded the Thomas Wooden Railway range, which remained with RC2,^[27][28][29] in August HiT withdrew from its JimJam joint venture, but agreed to continue to supply programming.^[30]

Apax Partners, the owners of HiT Entertainment, had been struggling with severe debts resulting from loans it made to cover the cost of acquiring HiT back in 2005, with loan repayments due in 2012 and Apax still owing $530 million USD ($763.3 million in 2025)^[31] to creditors,^[24] Apax announced in October 2010 that HiT was to be sold.^[32][33] Revenue from HiT had been £148 million (£238.4 million in October 2025)^[23] in 2004, just before being sold to Apax, and had risen slightly to £153 million (£246.4 million in October 2025)^[23] in 2009, but had fallen roughly 14.5%^[34] the previous year,^[24] partially due to the Global Financial Crisis. Essentially, there had been minimal financial growth of HiT properties while under private equity ownership. Additionally, by April 2011, when Apax officially listed HiT for sale, 80% of HiT's profits came from Thomas & Friends, and of that property, the majority was from merchandise, 50% of HiT's overall profits originated from the US, while only 20% came from the UK by this time.^[24] Art Attack was sold to The Walt Disney Company in 2011.

Apax agreed to sell HiT Entertainment to Mattel for $680 million USD ($979.3O million in 2025)^[35] on 24 October 2011,^[36][37] this was completed by 1 February 2012, when it was announced that Mattel had officially purchased HiT Entertainment,^[38] other bidders included Viacom, Disney, Chorion, Hasbro, Saban Brands, and Tomy.^[5] HiT became a subsidiary of Mattel's Fisher-Price subsidiary,^[39][40] although, Mattel had previously discussed solely purchasing Thomas & Friends^[41] which it cited as the main reason for its acquisition of HiT, and did consider selling some properties, such as Barney, and Angelina Ballerina in July 2012,^[42] but ultimately reneged. Series 16 was the last Thomas & Friends series released before HiT was acquired by Mattel.

HiT announced a DVD distribution deal with Universal Pictures Home Entertainment on 2 May 2014 for the distribution of HiT home media properties in North America.^[43] In early summer 2015, Edaville USA amusement park opened a licensed Thomas Land theme area based on Thomas & Friends.^[39] On 31 March 2016, HiT Entertainment was absorbed into Mattel Creations for business and distribution reasons.^[44]

Staff

• Jocelyn Stevenson, Lenora Hume, Christopher Skala, Karen Barnes, Marion Edwards, Michael Carrington, Christopher Keenan, and Edward Catchpole acted as executive producers.
• Ian McCue produced the series for HIT from the sixteenth to twentieth series. He also worked as a line producer for the fifteenth series.
• Sharon Miller and Jo Jordan served as creative producers. Jordan also served as a post-production producer for Hero of the Rails, while Miller worked as script editor of the ninth, tenth and eleventh series.
• Denise Green served as line producer for Hero of the Rails, Misty Island Rescue, the thirteenth, fourteenth and fifteenth series. Micaela Winter also served as line producer for The Great Race, Bubbling Boilers and the twentieth series.
• Claire Waxler and Sam Barlow served as supervising producers.
• Karen Davidsen served as head director of production for the nineteenth and twentieth series, Sodor's Legend of the Lost Treasure and The Great Race.
• Karen Davies is the director of content services.

Releases

UK VHS and DVD Releases

The Fogman and Other Stories The Chocolate Crunch and Other Stories Brave Little Engines The Very Best of Thomas & Friends (DVD only) Happy Little Helpers All Aboard! Engines to the Rescue All Aboard with the Steam Team Pulling Together! It's Great to Be an Engine! The Complete First Series The Complete Second Series The Complete Third Series The Complete Fourth Series The Complete Fifth Series Peep! Peep! Hurray! Three Cheers for Thomas Bumper Party Collection! Calling All Engines! Tales from the Tracks Little Engines Big Days Out Thomas' Trusty Friends Together on the Tracks On Track for Adventure The Complete Sixth Series Engines and Escapades The Complete Seventh Series The Spirit of Sodor The Complete Eighth Series The Great Discovery The Complete Ninth Series Carnival Capers Songs from Sodor Heave Ho! Hero of the Rails Splish, Splash, Splosh! The Best of Thomas The Complete Series 10 The Complete Series 11 Thomas and the Runaway Kite Creaky Cranky Misty Island Rescue Christmas Express Official DVD and Book (Gift Set) Wobbly Wheels and Whistles The Complete Series 12 The Lion of Sodor Pop Goes Thomas Day of the Diesels The Birthday Express Thomas in Charge! The Best of Percy The Best of James The Best of Friends The Complete Series 13 Up, Up and Away! Steam Team Collection Rescue on the Rails Curious Cargo Blue Mountain Mystery Merry Winter Wish A Close Shave Journey with Thomas Sticky Situations Go Go Thomas! Sodor's Heroes! Muddy Matters The Complete Series 14 King of the Railway Merry Christmas, Thomas! Big Bang Surprise The Thomas Way Spills and Thrills Really Useful Collection The Complete Series 15 Tale of the Brave Santa's Little Engine Dinos and Discoveries Trouble on the Tracks The Complete Series 16 Fantastic Friends Railway Mischief Friends Together The Adventure Begins 1st Class Stories Sodor's Legend of the Lost Treasure The Christmas Engines Signals Crossed Start Your Engines! Whale of a Tale and Other Sodor Adventures The Complete Series 17 The Great Race Full Steam to the Rescue! Thomas' Christmas Carol Tales from the Rails Extraordinary Engines The Complete Series 18 Team Up with Thomas Journey Beyond Sodor Christmas on Sodor Danger at the Docks On the Go with Thomas The Complete Series 19 Here Comes the Steam Team! Big World! Big Adventures! Monkey Trouble! The Complete Series 20 A Colourful World Digs & Discoveries Steam Team to the Rescue The Royal Engine Carnival Day! Marvellous Machinery The Super Engine Animal Adventures Race for the Sodor Cup The Complete Series 21 (cancelled)

HiT Favourites DVD Releases

Incredibubble Children's Favourites Sporty Children's Favourites Amazing Children's Favourites Happy Children's Favourites Playtime Children's Favourites Ultimate Children's Favourites Funtastic Children's Favourites Funshine Children's Favourites Party Time! Children's Favourites Spooky Collection The Groovy Collection The Musical Collection Winter Collection Active Collection Frosty Friends Snow Days Back to School Trick or Treat Tales Here Comes Spring! The Little Big Club: Watch and Play - Collection 1 The Little Big Club: Watch and Play - Collection Two Awesome Adventures: Mighty Messes Awesome Adventures: Party Surprise Awesome Adventures: Thrills and Chills Awesome Adventures: Races, Chases and Rescues Awesome Adventures: Favourite Friends

AUS VHS and DVD Releases

All Aboard October! Thomas and the Jet Engine Twin Trouble All Aboard! The Very Best of Thomas & Friends Engines to the Rescue All Aboard with the Steam Team Peep! Peep! Hurray! Three Cheers for Thomas Calling All Engines! Truck Loads of Fun Series One Series Two Series Three Series Four Series Five Happy Holidays Rusty Saves the Day Little Engines Big Days Out Thomas' Trusty Friends Together on the Tracks The Great Discovery Series Six Carnival Capers Series Seven Series Eight The Best of Thomas & Friends Volume 1 My First Thomas with Thomas My First Thomas with Percy My First Thomas with James Hero of the Rails Engines and Escapades Series Nine The Best of Thomas & Friends Volume 2 Series Ten Heave Ho! My First Thomas with Henry and Gordon My First Thomas with Toby and Edward My First Thomas with Bertie and Harold Misty Island Rescue Songs from Sodor My First Thomas with the Twin Engines My First Thomas with the Fat Controller My First Thomas with Diesel The Party Surprise Series Eleven Splish, Splash, Splosh! Day of the Diesels Merry Winter Wish The Lion of Sodor The Complete Series 12 Wobbly Wheels and Whistles Blue Mountain Mystery Curious Cargo Go Go Thomas! Rescue on the Rails King of the Railway Sticky Situations Spills and Thrills Thomas in Charge! Tale of the Brave Santa's Little Engine Dinos and Discoveries Trouble on the Tracks Sodor's Legend of the Lost Treasure The Adventure Begins Start Your Engines! Railway Mischief The Great Race The Christmas Engines Signals Crossed Whale of a Tale and Other Sodor Adventures Journey Beyond Sodor Thomas' Christmas Carol Extraordinary Engines Team Up with Thomas Big World! Big Adventures! Christmas on Sodor Here Comes the Steam Team! Monkey Trouble! Digs and Discoveries Steam Team to the Rescue The Royal Engine A Colourful World The Super Engine Animal Adventures Race for the Sodor Cup Marvellous Machinery

NZ VHS Release

• Thomas Train Set Compilation Video Volume 6

US and Canadian VHS and DVD Releases

References

External links

• Official Website (archived)
  • Thomas & Friends on the Official Website
• HIT Entertainment at Wikipedia