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PEEP! PEEP! It’s official! The world’s most popular and most recognised little blue steam engine and children’s television, publishing, home entertainment, live event, attractions and toy property has remained in the top preschool licensing spot for its 9th consecutive year according to NPD’s latest report* published this month. In December’s NPD report, Thomas & Friends is ranked as the number one preschool licensed property in the UK with almost 9% market share. The report also saw Golden Bear’s highly successful Talking Thomas range in the top 20 in NPD’s Top 50 Licensed Products for December 2008. Thomas & Friends is also the number one preschool property in the USA (boys’ preschool, Source: US NPD: June 2008), Germany and Australia. Thomas & Friends has also achieved record results in home entertainment sales with the autumn release of Thomas & Friends: The Great Discovery earning HIT Entertainment’s its best selling title of 2008 with over 80,000 units sold to date. Thomas & Friends: The Great Discovery was supported by an extensive marketing and licensing campaign throughout Q4 including a theatrical roll-out across VUE cinemas in the UK and is one of the BVA’s (British Video Association’s) top 20 best selling titles of 2008. The BVA now ranks HIT as the 5th largest children’s DVD distributor, just below Disney, Dreamworks, Warner and the BBC**. The Great Discovery also contributed to HIT’s increasing market share with DVD sales for the Company up 21% year on year. Further cementing his number 1 status, Thomas & Friends was also voted the UK’s favourite TV character by readers of a recent Times newspaper online poll, putting him just ahead of other HIT favourite Bob the Builder at number 2. These HIT stars beat out competition from Paddington Bear, Bagpuss and Danger Mouse to claim the top spot. Peter Byrne, EVP Consumer Products International HIT Entertainment commented, “Thomas & Friends continues to hold a unique place in the hearts and minds of children across the UK. Thomas’ rich heritage serves as a reminder that the brand’s intrinsic qualities of teamwork, tradition and engaging play patterns are timeless and enduring to generation after generation. As we approach Thomas’ 65th Anniversary, we have an exciting programme of activity ahead and we look forward to working with our licensing partners to continue building upon Thomas’ worldwide success.” Thomas & Friends is now broadcast in over 185 territories around the world and has recently made its debut in France on France 5’s preschool block Les ZouZous and launched in China on 21 January on the national broadcaster CCTV. Europe’s first Thomas Land was opened in 2008 and has attracted over a million visitors in its |
