The Henson family has bought back Jim Henson Co., offering hope for Muppet and Farscape fans alike.

The children of Jim Henson have paid $89 million to ailing German media company EM.TV for the rights to Jim Henson Co., the makers of the Muppets and Farscape.

The deal ends two-years of legal wrangling, and an end to speculation that Disney would be buying the company.

During that time plans to produce a new Muppet television show were regrettably put on hold. Whether this means that the Muppets will now make a triumphant return to TV is not known. It's also not known how favourable the Hensons are to that other hot property, Farscape, and whether that too will return to our screens in some form. Here's hoping.

Also included in the deal is the ownership of the Creature Shop, makers of monsters and critters for films such as the Star Wars trilogy and Labyrinth.