Since the business commenced activities in 1985, Beyond International (Beyond) has become a major entertainment company, involved in the creation and international exploitation of television, feature films and ancillary products. Beyond was established as CIC Productions to produce the television series Beyond 2000 for the Seven Network in Australia. This created a strong base for the company to develop an extensive international distribution network and to branch into drama program production and the international sale/distribution of feature films.
Some of Beyond’s better known productions include Stingers, Halifax fp, Hot Property/Auctions, Beyond 2000, Sex/Life, Wildlife with Olivia Newton John, and the acclaimed mini series Day of the Roses. The company has also been involved in the international success of feature films such as The Crossing, Strictly Ballroom, Love Serenade, Chopper and Lantana.
Beyond has established separate divisions for each of its major operations. These divisions are: -
Beyond Productions: television production;
Beyond Distribution: international sale of television programs and feature films both for Beyond Productions and other parties to the international market: -
Beyond Films: international sale of feature/theatrical films to the international market;
Beyond Entertainment: exploitation of ancillary rights created by Beyond and other parties.
The operations of each division are detailed as follows: -
Beyond Productions
The production unit comprises four sub divisions each managed independently by some of Australia’s most successful program creators, writers and producers. Each specialised division was set up to create a diversity of program types and genres covering reality series, documentary specials and series drama series and telemovies and children’s drama and family programs.
The four production sub divisions are:
Beyond Productions Pty Limited (non fiction/entertainment programs)
Beyond Simpson Le Mesurier Pty Ltd. (drama series and telemovies)
Pacific and Beyond Pty Limited (children’s drama and family) and
Liberty and Beyond Pty Limited. (mini series and series)
The copyright in the programs produced is held by the individual entities and the available distribution rights are assigned to Beyond Distribution.
The programs produced by these entities generally carry a modest financial risk as they are only produced once a substantial pre sale is in place to an Australian or overseas television network.
The combined revenues of the production divisions are projected to be $47,000,000- in the financial year to 30th June 2004.
Beyond Distribution
The company secures the marketing rights over television programs and distributes these throughout the world.
Beyond Distribution has a high profile internationally with offices in Sydney, London and New York. The company also attends all the major international trade fairs to meet and network with program buyers and creators.
The company has an extensive television program catalogue of over 5000 hours. The library covers all genres including adult drama, feature films, comedy, children’s, reality and documentaries.
Approximately 50% of the divisions revenue is derived from the sales of programs produces by third party producers – with the balance coming from programs produced “in house”.
Beyond Films
Beyond Films acquires the marketing and sales rights to feature films to be licensed to exhibitors, distributors and broadcasters throughout the world.
The company has built a catalogue of over 120 feature films, including such well-known titles as Lantana, Chopper, Strictly Ballroom, Crackerjack, Looking For Alibrandi and The Wog Boy.
Traditionally the films have been sourced from Australia. In June 2002 the company shifted its operations to London – this has led to eighty percent of films being marketed in the 2004 financial year being acquired from British, American and European producers.
Beyond Entertainment
This division is focused on ancillary rights exploitation, licensing and merchandising and comprises four units: -
Music Publishing;
The administration and collection of the publishing royalties generated from Beyond’s products.
Screen Rights Collections;
The administration and collection of the royalties generated by the public exhibition and copying of Beyond’s products.
Consumer Products;
The creation, distribution and sales of the company’s products in DVD form and video.
Beyond Vision;
The management and exploitation of the “stock footage” generated by Beyond Productions both internally and to third parties.
published: Friday, November 28, 2003 
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