HIT Entertainment: Difference between revisions

HiT Entertainment is a British-American children's television company established in 1982 originally as the international distribution arm of Jim Henson Productions called "Henson International Television" (later reincorporated as "HiT Communications plc."). However, following the death of Jim Henson in 1990, the business was sold to several members of the company's management, led by Peter Orton, and reincorporated to its current name to prevent any future confusion between the two companies. Today, HiT Entertainment is owned by Mattel, Inc.

'''Logo:''' Same as the Henson Associates in-credit logo, only the "<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">'''ha!'''</span>" text is replaced with "<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">'''hit!'''</span>" and the lower text is replaced with "HENSON INTERNATIONAL TELEVISION" sandwiched between two lines. Copyright information for Henson International Television is listed below.

'''Availability:''' Rare. Seen on international prints of ''The Muppet Show'', it was also seen on ''Muppet Show'' UK broadcasts on BBC1 from 1986 until 1987.

'''Availability:''' Pretty common. The long version of the logo is available on most VHS and DVDs by HiT Entertainment, but only in the UK. The short version of the logo was used on the television series ''Anthony Ant'' and at the end of a ride on video optioned ''Bob the Builder'' kiddie rides from Jolly Roger, while the middle-length version is seen on said rides as well as ''Thomas & Friends'' ones while not in motion. This logo also appears on all VCI/2Entertain Thomas & Friends releases as well. Despite the logo being used all over the packaging, this logo is absent on VCI’s 2002 releases of the show - instead, the Gullane Entertainment logo would be used - this logo would eventually turn up starting with “The Chocolate Crunch” from 2003, and then releases of the show would use the logo beyond 2003. Inexplicably, later 2Entertain-distributed ''Thomas & Friends'' DVDs continued to use this logo until their distribution rights expired in 2008, despite the next logo being used all over the packaging. However, the reissues of those releases from HiT themselves plastered that and 2Entertain's logo with the next logo.

'''Availability:''' Very common. Seen on HiT shows from the period including ''Barney & Friends'' from the 2002-2006 seasons, ''Bob the Builder'', ''Angelina Ballerina'', ''Rubbadubbers'', 2003-2006 episodes of ''Thomas and Friends'', and ''Oswald''. It was also seen on the ''VeggieTales: The Ultimate Silly Song Countdown'' 2001 VHS. It also appears on the remastered versions of episodes from seasons 1-4 of ''Pingu''. The normal in-credit variant appears on seasons 5-6 of ''Pingu'', while the white background one appears on the 2003 series of ''Fireman Sam'' and at the end of games from the company. Both the “Entertainment” and “Consumer Products” white background variants appear on games of the company’s shows, and an “Entertainment PLC” version was seen on the remastered versions of the original ''Fireman Sam'' alongside the Bumper Films and S4C logos. One of the last releases to use this logo was the 2007 DVD of ''Barney & Friends: Let's Go to the Firehouse!''

'''Final Note:''' Starting in 2017, HiT Entertainment programming now has Mattel Creations' logo instead of the HiT logo. However, the HiT logo is still used on DVDs.