Beyond will once again be an Australian-owned production business, with CEO and managing director Mikael Borgland buying back the production division of the company and its subsidiaries from French entertainment giant Banijay.
Banijay acquired producer and distributor Beyond International as a wholly-owned subsidiary just over a year ago, in a deal reported to be worth more than $US30 million. In September 2023, Banjiay shuttered Beyond Productions UK, and then last December undertook a round of lay-offs at Beyond Productions in Sydney and LA.
As part of the buy back, which has been confirmed by both parties, Banijay retains the Beyond Rights catalogue it acquired – amounting to more than 8,000 hours of IP, including MythBusters, Love it or List It and Deadly Women – while Beyond owns future projects with immediate effect. Ongoing productions are not affected.
Beyond International and Banijay Rights have also cemented a five-year first-look distribution deal pertaining to the Beyond group’s future productions.
The buy back has been made into Borgland’s personal holding, BYI Holdings Pty Limited.
“I am excited by the opportunity for Beyond to continue as an independent production company leveraging the experience, capabilities and talents of our international creative teams, and continue the passion for production that has been developed and nurtured since the inception of Beyond 2000 in 1984,” said Borglund.
Banijay’s other Australian-based businesses include Screentime, in which it has a majority stake, and Endemol Shine Australia, having acquired the broader group in 2019.