New York, NY – (Oct. 14, 2009)

Screenvision Programming Services to Release Barney™, Thomas & Friends™ and Bob the Builder™ Features

New York, NY (October 14, 2009) – Continuing the strategy to offer entertaining programming to exhibitors and moviegoers alike, Screenvision, the leading innovator in cinema advertising, has partnered with HIT Entertainment, a leading provider of quality children’s entertainment, to present a series of programming featuring Barney™, Thomas & Friends™ and Bob the Builder™, in theatres nationwide this fall and throughout 2010. The first event, Barney: Jungle Friends, premiered on October 10, 2009 and will be followed by Thomas & Friends: Splish Splash, Splosh on November 07, 2009 in exclusively select theatres. Additional children’s content will continue to roll-out to screens across the country throughout 2010.

“The addition of HIT Entertainment and their popular preschool characters illustrates our continued commitment to bringing compelling and entertaining alternative programming to our exhibitor partners and moviegoers,” said Darryl Schaffer, Executive Vice President, Exhibitor Relations, Screenvision. “Through our partnership, we will provide affordable and trusted quality family entertainment that will resonate with audiences across the country.”

The Screenvision Programming Services was launched in 2007 to enable exhibitors to attract additional audiences during off-peak movie timeframes. Screenvision’s presentation of the La Scala opera series, UltraMarathon Man: 50 Marathons • 50 States • 50 Days, Ballet Shoes, its partnership with the New York Mets for Mets at the Movies, the Phillies’ World Series film with Major League Baseball, the Boston Celtics championship season documentary, Return to the Rafters, MSNBC’s coverage of President Obama’s Inauguration, Stevie Wonder’s “Live at Last”, Stand-Up 360 comedy show, and the most recent the independent film, Unbeatable Harold are examples of previous successes.

“We are excited to partner with Screenvision to bring beloved preschool properties Barney, Thomas & Friends and Bob the Builder to the big screen.” said E.J. Minor, Vice President, US Retail Development, Marketing and Creative Services, HIT Entertainment. “HIT is dedicated to producing quality preschool programming that engages and inspires children, and through Screenvision’s extensive network, children can continue to become even more connected to the HIT programs with larger than life versions of their favorite characters.”

Barney: Jungle Friends showcased a one-of-a-kind musical jungle tale of friendship and fun. Moviegoers were able to watch Barney, BJ, and Baby Bop as they laugh, dance, and sing on the big screen through an enchanted rainforest and learn about all of the amazing plants, animals and insects that call the rainforest home.

On the heels of Thomas & Friends: Hero of the Rails, the first ever Thomas & Friends CG animated feature-length special and the debut of individual character voices for the engines on the Island of Sodor, Thomas & Friends: Splish, Splash, Splosh, follows the beloved storybook engine as he and his team of engine friends prepare for a rainy day visit from famous opera singer Alicia Botti. Audience members will see the fun bubble up after Thomas’ special delivery turns into a sudsy spill in this fun collection of stories from the Island of Sodor.

For theatres, show times and advance ticketing for both programs, moviegoers can visit www.hitentertainment.com.

ABOUT SCREENVISION

Headquartered in New York, N.Y., Screenvision is a national leader in cinema advertising, offering on-screen advertising, in-lobby promotions and integrated marketing programs to national, regional and local advertisers and providing comprehensive cinema advertising representation services for its theatrical exhibitor partners. In the U.S., the Screenvision cinema advertising network is comprised of over 15,000 screens in over 2,400 theatre locations across all 50 states and 93% of DMAs nationwide; delivering through more than 150 theatrical circuits, including 17 of the top 25 exhibition companies. Screenvision is a joint venture between ITV plc (LSE: ITV), the UK’s largest commercial television network, and Thomson (Euronext Paris: 18453; NYSE: TMS), a global supplier of technology, services, and systems to the media and entertainment industries. For more information: http://www.screenvision.com.

ABOUT HIT ENTERTAINMENT

HIT Entertainment, owned by private equity investment group Apax Partners, 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 and Japan, 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, and international preschool channel JimJam, (outside of the US, UK and China). For more information, visit www.hitentertainment.com.

For more information regarding Screenvision, contact:
Jeffrey Klein/Jason Gellar
Dan Klores Communications
212-685-4300
jeff_klein@dkcnews.com/jason_gellar@dkcnews.com