Hit calls out Fireman Sam again

Hit Entertainment has tapped Chinese digital animation company Xing Xing to produce another season of popular kids’ cartoon Fireman Sam.

Xing Xing has already started pre-production on an eighth 26×10′ batch of episodes for Hit, having collaborated with the for-sale rights holder on the sixth and seventh seasons.

All episodes are due for delivery in spring next year and Hit is currently in discussions with broadcast partners. The series proved a ratings winner for ITV’s CiTV and Turner’s Cartoonito last year, according to the company.

“Fireman Sam’s popularity has risen to new heights over the past 12 months and by greenlighting an eighth series Hit Entertainment demonstrates its commitment to ensuring the future remains bright for TV’s favourite fireman,” said VP of current programming Marion Edwards.

Apax Partners, the private equity firm that owns Hit, last October appointed an investment bank to manage a proposed sale of the company. A Hit spokeswoman said today that the process was still continuing.