Children's Television Pioneer Britt Allcroft Reacquires "Mumfie"

Business Wire, March 19, 2008

"Special Little Elephant with a Great Big Heart" Returning Home

SANTA MONICA, Calif. -- Children's entertainment pioneer Britt Allcroft, creator of the iconic "Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends" based on "The Railway Series" of books by the Rev. W. Awdry as well as "Shining Time Station," announced today she has reacquired the underlying rights to "Mumfie," the "special little elephant with a great big heart" whose adventures touched the hearts of children worldwide. Ms. Allcroft wrote and produced "Britt Allcroft's Magic Adventures of Mumfie" for worldwide broadcast in the 1990s.

Ms. Allcroft purchased the rights through her Santa Monica-based Britt Allcroft Productions from Bridgefilms Limited, a joint venture company in the HIT Entertainment Group, which has owned the property since 1999. Terms were not disclosed.

"Getting Mumfie back fulfils a dream I have had for years of getting a second chance to provide Mumfie the nurturing he needs," Ms. Allcroft said. "With the explosion in cable, satellite and digital technologies, there are exciting new opportunities to revitalize Mumfie to help satisfy the growing hunger for entertainment that families can grow up with."

Jim Weight, director of Bridgefilms and HIT Entertainment, said: "We are pleased to reach a satisfactory agreement that is in the interest of both our investors and Britt Allcroft. Britt's passion for the property gives us confidence 'Mumfie' remains in good hands."

Between 1994 and 1999, "Mumfie" aired on the Fox network in the U.S., ITV in Great Britain and in numerous other television markets worldwide. Ms. Allcroft was inspired to produce "Mumfie" by a book she owned as a child featuring the artistry of Katherine Tozer. Ms. Allcroft created a series of memorable stories and characters as Mumfie, joined by such friends as Scarecrow, Whale, Napoleon Jones and Pinkey the Flying Pig, sought to turn sadness into joy.

During the period in which it aired, "Britt Allcroft's Magic Adventures of Mumfie" regularly won its time slots and was acclaimed by critics from such publications as the Chicago Tribune ("Bound to capture the hearts and minds of children...a moving work of art.") and the New York Daily News ("An instant classic...It's gentle, smart, beautifully animated..."). Although it does not air widely on television today, "Mumfie" has developed a growing, passionate fan base over the Internet.

In the transaction, Ms. Allcroft acquired the following rights, among others:

* A 110-minute "Mumfie the Movie," which can be divided into five 30-minute episodes.

* The 30-minute "Mumfie's White Christmas" special...

* 33 half-hours that can be divided into 79 10-minute blocks.

* 26 original songs penned by acclaimed lyricist John Kane, Emmy-winning composer Larry Grossman and Emmy-nominated producer/arranger Steve Horelick.

* The right to produce and exploit new Mumfie productions.

* Merchandising and artwork rights for Mumfie.

(To view the original trailer for "Britt Allcroft's Magic Adventures of Mumfie" and for downloadable photos visit http://www.brittallcroftproductions.com)

About Britt Allcroft

Britt Allcroft first entered the public eye during the 1960s in Great Britain when she was a featured host on radio and television while still in her teens. After briefly working as a fashion model, Ms. Allcroft turned full time to writing and producing for television and the theater. She organized a number of successful charitable benefits, including working closely with her mentor, Lord Louis Mountbatten, to host an evening at the London Palladium honoring his great-nephew, Prince Charles. In 1984, Ms. Allcroft launched the wildly popular "Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends" in Great Britain based on "The Railway Series" of books by the Rev. W. Awdry and, later, its U.S. counterpart "Shining Time Station" for the Public Broadcasting System. Ms. Allcroft is the recipient of numerous awards honoring her work in providing meaningful entertainment for children.

About HIT Entertainment

HIT Entertainment, owned by private equity investment group Apax Partners since June 2005, 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(TM), Thomas & Friends(TM), Pingu(TM), Fireman Sam(TM), and Angelina Ballerina(TM). HIT acts as a representative for The Wiggles(R) in the UK, US and Canada and as worldwide representative for The Jim Henson Company's library of classic family brands. Launched in 1989, HIT's lines of business span television and video production (including studios in the US and the UK), publishing, consumer products licensing and live events. With a catalogue of more than 1,500 hours of young children's programming, HIT sells its shows to more than 240 countries worldwide, in more than 45 different languages and has operations in the UK, US, Canada, Hong Kong and Japan. In 2005, the Company joined Comcast Corporation, PBS and Sesame Workshop to launch PBS KIDS SproutSM, a 24-hour digital cable channel and VOD service for preschoolers. For more information, visit http://www.hitentertainment.com.