A Tribute to Peter Orton

Founder and Former Chairman

HIT Entertainment

The international television industry mourns Peter Orton, who passed away after a long battle with cancer.

He was, first and foremost, a gentleman. Equally important, he was a visionary in the children’s television business and an astute dealmaker. He was the founder and former chairman of HIT Entertainment and retired from the company in 2005 following its sale to Apax Partners.

Born in 1943, Orton’s first job was as a naval tailor, before meeting David Stirling and securing his first TV job at Television International Enterprises (TIE), which had contracts to acquire content for 14 TV stations in Africa, the Caribbean and the Middle East. He made a name for himself in kids’ content when he secured slots for Sesame Street across Africa and Asia, leading him to a job at the Children’s Television Workshop (now Sesame Workshop). Orton pioneered the concept of international productions at CTW, before moving on to The Jim Henson Company and then setting up his own company, HIT Entertainment, which he built into one of the most successful kids’ brand-management entities in the world, with a stable of properties that includes Bob the Builder, Barney and Thomas the Tank Engine.

Beyond his many business dealings and accomplishments, he served as a mentor to several in the TV business and was widely respected by partners and competitors alike.

Here is what some of today’s top television executives have to say about Peter Orton:

“I was fortunate enough to work for Peter during some very formative years of my career. At Henson’s and then when we set up HIT, he was always a hard taskmaster but infuriatingly he was always right. He had a unique ability to get the best out of the people who worked for him and gave them opportunity after opportunity to learn. I was incredibly lucky to have him as my mentor.”

—Jane Smith, chief commercial and creative director,

Entertainment Rights

“Peter was an icon, a legend. He built a billion-dollar business in 17 years, and his creative eye put his characters into the homes of every country in the world. He was a master negotiator, expecting only the highest standard from those around him, particularly if you worked for him. He was brutally honest and loved nothing more than old-fashioned deal-making. He was deeply generous as a businessman and a friend, and he is sorely missed. There are many of us out there that count Peter as the person who put us where we are today.”

—Justin Bodle, chairman and CEO, Power

“We had the good fortune of working with Peter on a number of series together, beginning with Where’s Waldo for CBS. Not only was Peter one of the great talents of the kids’ entertainment business, he was also a consummate gentleman. He brought good cheer, and the highest standards of ethics to all his dealings. It was a privilege to work with him, and a greater privilege to be his friend. He will be missed by all.”

—Andy Heyward, CEO, DIC Entertainment