HIT Entertainment, one of the world’s leading pre-school entertainment companies, has announced sales of more than 120 hours for its portfolio including: Mike the Knight, Thomas & Friends and Fireman Sam. 

The deals significantly increase the global footprint of HIT’s brands with sales to TV and digital platforms across Europe, Australia, Latin America and Asia.

Fireman Sam Series 8 has been picked up by France 5, while Universal France has snapped up the home entertainment rights (for series 6 to 8). Also in France Lagardère Group has steamed ahead to secure the rights for series 13, 16 and 17 of Thomas & Friends. This move will see the programme rebranded for the group’s family network Gulli and preschool channel Tiji.

Thomas & Friends

Spanish broadcaster Boing has picked up series 15 to 17 of Thomas & Friends and will also be airing King of the Railway.

In addition, Canal+ SVoD platform CanalPlay Infinity has acquired Fireman Sam series 6 and 7 and Angelina Ballerina series 3 to 6, while 26 episodes of the first series of Mike the Knight charge onto Netflix Netherlands.

In the Nordic regions, AB Svensk Filmindustri (SF) has secured home entertainment and digital distribution rights for a range of HIT properties, including Bob the Builder, Thomas & Friends, Fireman Sam, Pingu, Mike the Knight and Angelina Ballerina. As well as being released on DVD, these properties will appear on its SVoD service, Children’s SF Favourites, which is available in Norway, Denmark, Sweden and Finland. 

In Australia, ABC continues its long-standing relationship with HIT Entertainment. The broadcaster has acquired series 17 of Thomas & Friends and the 60 minute special, King of the Railway. The channel has also picked up series 2 of Mike the Knight. 

Mike the Knight will also make its debut in Southeast Asia as MediaCorp picked-up the first series for Singapore television channel Okto. As part of the deal, MediaCorp also secured rights for series 17 of Thomas & Friends.

Thomas & Friends is also forging full steam ahead in Latin America, where Discovery Kids has acquired series 17, as well as rights to broadcast King of the Railway. 

Edward Catchpole SVP and General Manager, HIT Entertainment said: “HIT Entertainment has a fantastic reputation for brokering deals worldwide. These sales to prestigious broadcast partners are indicative of the enduring appeal and appetite for our quality portfolio of pre-school programming and solidify HIT’s position as one of the world’s greatest storytellers for pre-schoolers.”