In 1951, Sir Hugh Beaver, then
the managing director of the
Guinness Brewery, went on a shooting
party and became involved in
an argument. Which was the fastest
game bird in Europe – the
golden plover or the grouse?
He realized then that a book
supplying the answers to this
sort of question might prove
popular. He was right!
Sir Hugh’s idea became
reality when Norris and Ross
McWhirter, who had been running
a fact-finding agency in London,
were commissioned to compile
what became The Guinness Book
of Records. The first edition
was bound on August 27, 1955,
and went to the top of the British
bestseller lists by Christmas
that year.
Since then, Guinness World
Records™ has become a household
name and the global leader in
world records. No other enterprise
collects, confirms, accredits
and presents world record data
with the same investment in comprehensiveness
and authenticity.
The Records Management Team
maintains a vigilant watch to
guarantee the accuracy and relevance
of each and every Guinness World
Record™, the team of Records
Managers operates with unswerving
impartiality and commitment to
veracity. A fact may only become
a Guinness World Record™ when
it’s tested, verified and
elevated above all suspicion.
The book has gone on to become
a record breaker in its own right.
With sales of more than 100 million
copies in 100 different countries
and 37 languages, Guinness World
Records™ is the world’s
best ever selling copyright book!
Corporate Information
Guinness World Records is the
universally recognized authority
on record-breaking achievement.
First published in 1955, Guinness
World Records has developed its
annual book into an international
phenomenon published in more
than 100 countries and 37 languages.
The 2002 edition spent more than
20 weeks on the New York Times
bestseller list, making Guinness
World Records the highest-selling
copyright book of all time.
Guinness World Records is a
division of HIT Entertainment.
A leading independent producer
and distributor of high-quality
family programming worldwide,
HIT Entertainment was established
in 1989. As one of the fastest
growing rights-owning companies
in the world, and a specialist
in children's character rights,
HIT enjoys a comprehensive distribution
network and long-established
relationships with the world's
leading broadcasters.
HIT Entertainment was launched
in October 1989 by the former
sales team of Henson International
Television, a subsidiary of Henson
Associates, producers of internationally
acclaimed family programming
including The Muppet Show, Muppet
Babies and Fraggle Rock. The
company floated on the London
Stock Exchange in 1996 with a
capitalization of $29 million
and is now worth over $600 million.
In February 2001, HIT acquired
U.S.-based Lyrick Studios, owners
of preschool phenomenon Barney
the dinosaur, resulting in a
perfect union between two leaders
in the field of children's programming.
Following the acquisition of
Lyrick, HIT's new structure of
global divisions reflects both
the transformation of the company
into a worldwide brand owner
and the significant commercial
opportunity HIT is rapidly realizing
in the U.S. HIT is comprised
of four global divisions: Global
Sales and Marketing - covering
television, natural history,
video and consumer products;
Global Creative Production -
covering development, HOT animation
and all other production activities;
Global Finance - bringing together
the finance functions, IT, human
resources, operations and company
secretariat; and Global Legal
and Business Affairs - handling
all contractual and business
issues on a worldwide basis.
HIT has developed into one
of the world's most successful
libraries of children's content
by carefully nurturing its existing
characters and by investing in
the development of new properties.
The phenomenally successful catalogue
of HIT preschool characters includes
Bob the Builder, Barney, Kipper,
Angelina Ballerina, Percy the
Park Keeper, and The Magic Key.
New projects in various stages
of production include Oswald,
Rubbadubbers, Pingu and Sheeep.
HIT executives are confident
that the strong, established
brands will perform well and
that they will successfully create
further character rights capable
of similar extensive growth worldwide
during the years to come.
Contact Details
Guinness World Records
Limited
184-192 Drummond Street
3rd Floor
London NW1 3HP
United Kingdom
Guinness
World Records Homepage
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