Hit Expands Its Broadcast, Home Entertainment And Digital Presence In Australia Through New Deal With ABC

HIT Entertainment, one of the world's leading independent children's entertainment producers and rights-owners, has today announced an extensive deal with the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) that gives the broadcaster additional TV rights to over 60 hours of programming from HIT’s vast catalogue of quality children’s shows. The deal also extends across Home Entertainment and Digital platforms as ABC TV exclusively acquire the rights to over 290 hours of HIT’s popular pre-school shows.

The comprehensive deal expands ABC TV’s portfolio by a further 350 TV episodes of HIT shows, meaning it now has the exclusive Australian broadcast rights to all available series of ‘Thomas & Friends’, ‘Bob the Builder’, ‘Fireman Sam’, ‘Angelina Ballerina’, ‘Pingu’ and new property ‘Mike the Knight’.

The deal also provides ABC TV with Home Entertainment and Digital rights to all the above series, plus a further 180 episodes of ‘Barney’.

“ABC TV’s significant commitment to HIT properties and to bringing quality children’s programming to kids and families in Australia is evident by the vast number of programming hours and episodes that they have acquired, and is testimony to the continued popularity of HIT’s beloved characters in the region,” said Antonio Huab, Senior Vice President, Thomas Asia-Pacific, HIT Entertainment.

“We’re thrilled with the performance to date of our series on ABC TV, including the most recent CG-animated Thomas series which enjoyed a ratings lift of 47%* and we are excited to expand HIT’s presence with the addition of other new properties, including the exciting Mike the Knight set to launch later this year.”

Barbara Uecker, Head of ABC TV’s Children’s Programming and Acquisitions, said “ABC TV has a long standing relationship with HIT Entertainment and we are thrilled to be the Australian home for Thomas & Friends, Bob the Builder, Fireman Sam, Angelina Ballerina, Pingu and Mike the Knight.”