The Media Merchants

The Media Merchants Television Company ltd. (also known as The Media Merchants Production or simply The Media Merchants) was an independent television production company specialising in children's programmes, run by Peter Urie, Neil Buchanan and Tim Edmunds.

The Media Merchants logo, as seen on Series 10 and 11 of Art Attack

History

When TVS 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, coming from Vinters Park in 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. HIT have since sold the rights to Art Attack to Disney, ITV and STV retains the rights to all other Media Merchants' productions.

Programmes
  • Animal Crazy (1994 & 1995: in association with Granada Television)
  • Art Attack (1990 - 1992: in association with TVS, 1993 - 2006: in association with Scottish Television)
  • Crazy-How-Bad-Attack (one-off for ITV's 40th Anniversary show for CITV, Simply the Best, 1995: in association with Scottish TV)
  • It's a Mystery! (1996, 1997, 1999 & 2000) (1996 & 1997: in association with Meridian Broadcasting)
  • Mystery (2002 in association with LWT)
  • Quids in! (1995, for Channel Four)
  • Telegantic Megavision (1996: in association with Meridian)
  • Terror Towers (1994 - 1996: in association with Carlton Television)
  • WOW! (1996: in association with Meridian Broadcasting)
  • You'll Never Believe it! (1997 & 1999: in association with Scottish TV)
  • ZZZap! (1993 - 2001: in association with Meridian)
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