The Media Merchants Production

Background

The Media Merchants was an independent children's television production company run by Neil Buchanan and Tim Edmunds, known for producing series such as Art Attack. It merged with Television Support Services prior to a takeover by Gullane Entertainment in 2000, which was in turn taken over by HIT Entertainment. The company was closed in 2007 after ITV cancelled Art Attack, and HIT later sold the rights to the show. Currently, Mattel controls the rights to Media Merchants's productions.

(January 8, 1993-2007)

Nickname: "The Swinging Text" (1993-1995), "TONG!" (1995-2007)

Logo: On a matte paper background, the red text "the media merchants" quickly flips up. After that, "the" then drops off and quickly swings about, resting at a 90 degree angle when it stops.

Variants:

Beginning in 1995, the logo is completely still and has the word "production" below in gray. The word "the" looks closer.
Starting with series 10 of Art Attack, the background would have stains of different colours, like:
- 1998-2000: 5 paint coloured stains of yellow, dark chrome green, purple, blue and orange.
- 2001-2004: 4 and 3D-rendered coloured stains of yellow, orange, blue and red.
- 2005-2007: 5 paint coloured splats of red, yellow, cyan, green and blue.
On series 5-6 of said program, the logo uses the text below the logo:

production

for

Scottish Television Enterprises

FX/SFX: The word falling and the word quickly shaking.

Music/Sounds:

Animated version: An explosion following with a like a door hinges without lubricant squeaking sound.
Still version: A cartoony noise, like the sound of a ruler being bent from the side of a table.

Availability: Seen on Art Attack, ZZZap! and Terror Tower, among others.

Editor's Note: None.