Beyond International Group

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Beyond International
TypePrivate
ASX: BYI
IndustryTelevision and film production and distribution
Predecessors
  • Magna Vision/Pacific/Home Entertainment (1985–2011)
  • TCB Media Rights (2017–2020)
Founded1984 (1984)
Founders
  • Carmel Travers
  • Iain Finlay
  • Chris Ardill-Guinness
  • Phil Gerlach
  • Mikael Borglund
Headquarters
Artarmon, New South Wales
,
Australia
Key people
Mikael Borglund (CEO and MD)
OwnerMikael Borglund
ParentFremantle (2008-2022)
Banijay (2022–2024)
BYI Holdings Pty Limited (2024–present)
Divisions
  • Beyond Action
  • Beyond Entertainment
  • Beyond Media Rights
  • Beyond Productions
  • Beyond TNC
  • Beyond West
Websitebeyond.com.au

Beyond International Limited, branded Beyond is an international television and film production company with operations in Australia and the United States. It is split into Beyond Productions, Beyond Entertainment, and Beyond Action.

The company was formed in 1984 to produce the science and technology magazine program Beyond 2000, a commercial reworking of the program Towards 2000 which aired on the Australian public broadcaster ABC. Beyond 2000 was later rebooted in 2005 as Beyond Tomorrow. It was owned by Fremantle from 2008 to 2022, when it was acquired by Banijay. Since 2024, BYI Holdings Pty Limited have owned the company. Notable programming produced and/or distributed by Beyond include MythBusters, Deadly Women, Beat Bugs, and Highway Thru Hell. More recent productions include the feature documentaries The Angels: Kickin' Down the Door (2022), and Live It Up: The Mental As Anything Story (2026), each focusing on an iconic Australian rock band.

History

The company was founded in 1984 by producers Carmel Travers, Iain Finlay and Chris Ardill-Guinness, as well as consultant Phil Gerlach and accountant Mikael Borglund, briefly titled CIC Productions, initially with the intention of making only one program, Beyond 2000 after which the company took its name.[1] The company took responsibility for distributing the series, finding success in selling the program overseas, including to Discovery Channel in America and an American adaptation for Fox.[1]

Early programs produced by Beyond include Just For the Record and Jack Thompson Down Under for Network 10 and Chances for the Nine Network.[1] Beyond's relationship with Discovery Channel saw the company commissioned to produce a number of the channel's early programs, including a nine-season run of Invention and eventually the company's most successful program MythBusters.[1]

In 2009, Beyond acquired distribution company Magna Pacific from receivership.[2]

In 2013, Beyond formed a joint venture with Seven West Media called 7Beyond to produce programs in North America.[3] 7Beyond shows include My Lottery Dream Home and My Kitchen Rules. In July 2020, Beyond International purchased Seven West Media's shareholding.[4][5]

In 2020, Beyond acquired TCB Media Rights from receivership, following the collapse of Kew Media Group, valuing TCB at around $2.5 million. TCB Media Rights invests and distributes factual series including Abandoned Engineering and Extreme Ice Machines.[6]

In October 2022, it was announced that Banijay would acquire Beyond.[7] The acquisition was completed on 30 December 2022, and Beyond was delisted from the Australian Securities Exchange on 3 January 2023.[8] At the end of February 2023, most of the company's employees at the company's distribution and sales arm (Beyond Rights) were let go. Beyond Rights was eventually folded into Banijay's own distribution and sales arm, Banijay Rights. The former company's site was moved to the latter company on 24 August 2023.[9]

On 11 January 2024, it was announced that Mikael Borglund had purchased back Beyond Productions from both companies, including all content produced by them under Banijay ownership. Banijay retained all of Beyond's pre-2022 back catalog, and secured a five-year first-look distribution deal for all new Beyond productions.[10]

Ownership

The company was listed on the ASX from 1987 until 2023.[11] In 2008, FremantleMedia purchased just under 20% of shares in the company, making it the largest shareholder.[12]

Description and people

As of June 2026, Beyond operates in Australia and the United States. It is split into Beyond Productions, Beyond Entertainment, and Beyond Action.[13] Mikael Borglund is managing director.[14]

Beyond Action specialises in the production and distribution of programming relating to sport and other entertainment.[15]

Beyond Entertainment produces scripted drama as well as unscripted documentaries and children's content. The unscripted section focuses on producing documentaries about Australian subjects that is aimed at an international audience. Paul Clarke is executive producer, while Martin Fabinyi is head of feature films and documentaries at the company.[16] Recent productions include The Angels: Kickin' Down the Door, about Australian rock band The Angels,[17] and Live It Up: The Mental As Anything Story (2026), about the band Mental As Anything.[18][19]

References

  1. Manning, James (27 October 2015). "Beyond International Celebrates 30 years". Mediaweek. Retrieved 9 June 2018.
  2. Stafford, Patrick (25 February 2009). "Beyond International snaps up a bargain from Destra rubble". Smart Company. Retrieved 9 June 2018.
  3. Knox, David (21 October 2013). "Seven partners with Beyond for North American push". TV Tonight. Retrieved 9 June 2018.
  4. "Beyond International expands media production to UK and acquires 100% of US based 7Beyond joint venture" (PDF). Beyond International. 9 July 2020.
  5. "Seven has sold Seven Studios UK and 7Beyond". AdNews. 10 July 2020.
  6. Kanter, Jake (2 April 2020). "UK Distributor TCB Media Rights Acquired By Australia's Beyond International After Kew Media Collapse". Deadline.
  7. Bell, BreAnna (5 October 2022). "Banijay Set to Acquire 'MythBusters' Firm Beyond International". Variety.
  8. Middleton, Richard (3 January 2023). "Banijay takes full control of Beyond International after completing acquisition". Television Business International.
  9. Middleton, Richard (17 February 2023). "Beyond Rights team to disband following Banijay takeover".
  10. "Borglund buys back MythBusters producer Beyond from Banijay". C21Media.
  11. "BYI Share Price and Information". Australian Securities Exchange. Retrieved 9 June 2018.
  12. "FremantleMedia buys Beyond stake". Variety. 10 September 2008. Retrieved 9 June 2018.
  13. "Beyond Productions – Production at Beyond". Beyond. Retrieved 26 June 2026.
  14. "Team – Production at Beyond". Production at Beyond. Retrieved 26 June 2026.
  15. "Beyond Action – Production at Beyond". Production at Beyond. Retrieved 26 June 2026.
  16. "Beyond Entertainment – Production at Beyond". Production at Beyond. Retrieved 26 June 2026.
  17. Cornford, Susy (28 November 2022). "Madeleine Parry embraces the rockstar experience in directing 'The Angels: Kickin' Down the Door'". IF Magazine. Archived from the original on 23 July 2025. Retrieved 25 June 2026.
  18. Moyle, John (5 March 2026). "The Mental As Anything Story". Australian Arts Review. Retrieved 26 June 2026.
  19. "Live It Up: The Mental As Anything Story". FilmInk. 14 January 2026. Retrieved 26 June 2026.