The Media Merchants
Encyclopedia
The Media Merchants Television Company Ltd. was an independent television production company specialising in children's programmes, run by Neil Buchanan
and Tim Edmunds.
lost its ITV franchise, Neil Buchanan and Tim Edmunds purchased the rights to the programme Art Attack
- both Neil and Tim had created the idea for the show while working on children's programming for TVS and formed a limited company in order to become a major player in children's television. The Media Merchants was based at The Maidstone Studios
, Maidstone, Kent (the studio facilities for Art Attack and many of the company's other productions).
The Media Merchants and Television Support Services merged prior to a takeover by Britt Allcroft's Gullane Entertainment in 2000 which was, in turn taken over by HIT Entertainment
. The company's offices were moved from its long-standing Maidstone facility to HIT's London headquarters.
The company was closed in 2007 following the axing of Art Attack and the decision by ITV plc to end commissioning of original children's programming. After the company closed, Hit Entertainment still briefly owned the Media Merchants' library of programmes. They still own the Art Attack archive, whereas The Walt Disney Company (who currently own TVS' archive) have the rights to make new editions of the show. However, The rights for the later series of Art Attack returned to STV shortly after, while the other programmes were brought by ITV Studios, (which incorporated Meridian, Granada, Carlton, and LWT in 2004.) Yeo Valley is still presumed to be owned by the BBC, and Quids In is presumably owned by Channel 4.
Neil Buchanan
Neil Buchanan is an English television presenter best known for his work on the CITV programme Art Attack, a television programme that he presented during its run from 1990 to 2007...
and Tim Edmunds.
History
When TVSTelevision South
Television South was the ITV franchise holder in the south and south east of England between 1 January 1982 and 31 December 1992. The company operated under various names, initially as Television South plc and then following reorganisation in 1989 as TVS Entertainment plc, with its UK...
lost its ITV franchise, Neil Buchanan and Tim Edmunds purchased the rights to the programme Art Attack
Art Attack
Art Attack is a British children's television series revolving around art. The original series was one of ITV's longest running programmes, running from 1990 to 2007, and was presented throughout by Neil Buchanan. The brand new series launched on Disney Junior on June 6 2011 and is presented by...
- both Neil and Tim had created the idea for the show while working on children's programming for TVS and formed a limited company in order to become a major player in children's television. The Media Merchants was based at The Maidstone Studios
The Maidstone Studios
The Maidstone Studios, formerly called TVS Television Centre is a television studio complex with radio studio facilities based at Vinters Park in Maidstone, Kent UK...
, Maidstone, Kent (the studio facilities for Art Attack and many of the company's other productions).
The Media Merchants and Television Support Services merged prior to a takeover by Britt Allcroft's Gullane Entertainment in 2000 which was, in turn taken over by HIT Entertainment
HIT Entertainment
Hit Entertainment is a British-American entertainment distribution company established in 1989, and originally the international distribution arm of Jim Henson Productions called Henson International Television...
. The company's offices were moved from its long-standing Maidstone facility to HIT's London headquarters.
The company was closed in 2007 following the axing of Art Attack and the decision by ITV plc to end commissioning of original children's programming. After the company closed, Hit Entertainment still briefly owned the Media Merchants' library of programmes. They still own the Art Attack archive, whereas The Walt Disney Company (who currently own TVS' archive) have the rights to make new editions of the show. However, The rights for the later series of Art Attack returned to STV shortly after, while the other programmes were brought by ITV Studios, (which incorporated Meridian, Granada, Carlton, and LWT in 2004.) Yeo Valley is still presumed to be owned by the BBC, and Quids In is presumably owned by Channel 4.
Programmes
- Animal Crazy (1994 & 1995: in association with Granada TelevisionGranada TelevisionGranada Television is the ITV contractor for North West England. Based in Manchester since its inception, it is the only surviving original ITA franchisee from 1954 and is ITV's most successful....
) - Art AttackArt AttackArt Attack is a British children's television series revolving around art. The original series was one of ITV's longest running programmes, running from 1990 to 2007, and was presented throughout by Neil Buchanan. The brand new series launched on Disney Junior on June 6 2011 and is presented by...
(1990 - 1992: in association with TVSTelevision SouthTelevision South was the ITV franchise holder in the south and south east of England between 1 January 1982 and 31 December 1992. The company operated under various names, initially as Television South plc and then following reorganisation in 1989 as TVS Entertainment plc, with its UK...
, 1993 - 2006: in association with Scottish TelevisionScottish TelevisionScottish Television is Scotland's largest ITV franchisee, and has held the ITV franchise for Central Scotland since 31 August 1957. It is the second oldest ITV franchisee still active...
) - Crazy-How-Bad-Attack (one-off, 1995: in association with Scottish TV)
- It's a Mystery!It's a Mystery (CITV)It's a Mystery was a networked Children's ITV programme which ran for five series from 1996 - 2002. It was produced by The Media Merchants Television Company Ltd and Meridian Broadcasting Ltd. Series five was simply called Mystery....
(1996, 1997, 1999 & 2000) (1996 & 1997: in association with Meridian BroadcastingMeridian BroadcastingMeridian Broadcasting is the holder of the ITV franchise for the South and South East of England. The station is owned and operated by ITV plc, under the licensee of ITV Broadcasting Limited....
) - Jay's World (1995 & 1997: in association with Meridian BroadcastingMeridian BroadcastingMeridian Broadcasting is the holder of the ITV franchise for the South and South East of England. The station is owned and operated by ITV plc, under the licensee of ITV Broadcasting Limited....
) - Mystery (2002 in association with LWT)
- Quids In! (1995, for Channel Four)
- Telegantic MegavisionTelegantic MegavisionTelegantic Megavision was a British children's television programme produced by The Media Merchants and aired on the ITV Network's children's strand CITV from 6 January - 27 April 1996. The show was presented by Emma Lee and Dave Chapman and was recorded at The Maidstone Studios in Kent...
(1996: in association with Meridian) - Terror Towers (1994 - 1996: in association with Carlton TelevisionCarlton TelevisionCarlton Television was the ITV franchise holder for London and the surrounding counties including the cities of Solihull and Coventry of the West Midlands, south Suffolk, middle and east Hampshire, Oxfordshire, south Bedfordshire, south Northamptonshire, parts of Herefordshire & Worcestershire,...
) - WOW!WOW! (TV series)WOW! was a children's entertainment magazine programme, broadcast in 1996 on the UK's ITV television network . It aired for 16 weeks from 31 August to 14 December 1996, preceded by the Summer 1996 run of Scratchy & Co...
(1996: in association with Meridian BroadcastingMeridian BroadcastingMeridian Broadcasting is the holder of the ITV franchise for the South and South East of England. The station is owned and operated by ITV plc, under the licensee of ITV Broadcasting Limited....
) - You'll Never Believe it! (1997 & 1999: in association with Scottish TV)
- Yeo Valley (1997 & 1999: in association with BBC TV)
- ZZZap!ZZZap!Zzzap was a British children's television comedy programme. The concept of the show was a giant comic that has been brought to life. The show ran from 8 January 1993 until 21 September 2001, and was produced by The Media Merchants and Meridian Broadcasting...
(1993 - 2001: in association with Meridian)