files/pictures/picture-35.jpgPress Release from HIT Ent.
29 March 2011, London: HIT Entertainment, one of the world’s leading independent children’s entertainment producers and rights owners, today announced that it has pre-sold the new CG-animated series of ‘Fireman Sam’ to both Turner Broadcasting and S4C. Turner Broadcasting has picked up the series for its popular preschool channel Cartoonito.
Both broadcasters have acquired 26 x 10’ episodes of the hugely successful pre-school programme, due to be delivered in Spring 2012. ‘Fireman Sam’ already enjoys strong ratings on both S4C and Cartoonito where it is consistently a top-rating show.
The new eighth series will be produced by China based digital animation company Xing Xing who also collaborated on the highly successful series’ six and seven.
Commenting on the latest acquisitions Alison Homewood, EVP of Worldwide Programming HIT Entertainment, said: “We are thrilled that both Cartoonito and S4C remain committed to Fireman Sam and have acquired the new CG-animated series eight. We are confident that their viewers will be gripped by these new episodes which introduce some new faces and locations, along with lots more excitement and adventure”.
Cecilia Persson, Vice President of Acquisitions and Co-Productions, EMEA, Turner Broadcasting, added: “Fireman Sam is a delightful show which continues to enthral audiences and we’re proud to have the series as one of our flagship shows on Cartoonito”.
S4C has aired every episode of Fireman Sam since the show began 24 years ago. Siân Eirian, S4C Head of Children’s Services, said, “Fireman Sam and S4C are almost synonymous as the series originated with us and has entertained many generations of Welsh pre-school children. The CG-animated series shows our hero in a format which will continue to thrill our younger viewers”.
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 .
About Cartoonito
Cartoonito is a preschool channel where young children can explore their world in a fun and imaginative way. Cartoonito airs an array of exciting preschool programmes including the new-look Fireman Sam, Strawberry Shortcake and Care Bears, a UK-made version of Hi-5; and exclusive UK commissions Cartoonito Karaoke, Go and Get a Grown Up and Go and Be a Grown Up. Six cute animated characters called the Cartoonitos introduce shows on the channel. Cartoonito broadcasts daily from 4am until 8pm, and includes day parted programming designed to reflect the lives of preschoolers and their parents. Cartoonito is operated by Turner Broadcasting System Europe, a Time Warner Company.
In the UK Cartoonito is available on Sky 619 and Virgin Media 706.
www.cartoonito.co.uk 