Sydney / London 21st July, 2004 – BACKYARD SCIENCE, Beyond Distribution and Penguin Television’s flagship edutainment series for children, is proving a smash hit ratings success, capturing an outstanding 79.4% share of 5-12 year old viewers in its four weeks on air in Australia. The series has also been a great success in Germany on SUPER RTL, with a 42% market share of 3 -13 year olds, since it began in April 2004.
Ripping science out of the classroom and hurling it into the real world, BACKYARD SCIENCE (26x30' or 52x15') is science for kids by kids. Aimed at 6-12 year olds, the series is fast paced and fun, helping children unravel the mysteries of life, the universe and everything - all from their own backyard. It is a co-production between Penguin Television and Beyond Productions.
BACKYARD SCIENCE has been steadily growing its audience since launching on 14th June at 4.30pm on ABC TV Australia. The series is out-rating every other programme in the same slot across the major Australian cities and has more than doubled its audience since first going to air.
“It’s fantastic to see the programme doing so well on the ABC - they have provided the series with a great time slot and the imminent release of DVD/Videos for the title will also no doubt propel it further,” says Munia Kanna, Beyond Distribution’s Head of Sales. “Production values are extremely high and the quality of the programme is evident from both its rating success at home and the amount of territories committing to it”.
Simon Jollands, Penguin Television’s
Executive Producer says “I’m delighted with Backyard Science’s success on ABC. This proves that the best educational show can perform as well as the best entertainment show,” he says. “The idea was to spark the imagination and switch kids on to science in a novel way. What better way than to encourage them to do fun, practical experiments in their own backyards”.
Susanne Schosser, Director of Programs, Super RTL says "Backyard Science is a darling program for every TV executive: it works – with ratings up to 40% kids 3-13 years, it's educational fun - kids love to learn new things and they love to be entertained and it's cost effective with the local hosts it looks like a local production but doesn't cost that much."
BACKYARD SCIENCE has already racked up sales in France, Germany, Italy, South Africa, Australia, Hong Kong, Canada, Singapore, Thailand, Finland, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Colombia, Korea, Malta and Israel following its recent release.
Celebrating their 20th anniversary in 2004, Beyond is a leading independent distributor of world-class television programs, with offices in Sydney, London and New York. Beyond Distribution's name is synonymous with programmes of mass appeal to television audiences worldwide. A subsidiary of Beyond International Limited, its current international sales catalogue comprises over 5,000 hours of top quality and multi-award winning programming, produced both by Beyond Productions, its production joint ventures and independent producers.
Beyond Distribution distributes programming from a growing roster of high-profile producers and broadcasters including Pax TV, BBC, ABC Australia, Pilot Film & Television Productions, Beyond Productions, Greenstone Productions and Chapman Pictures, Network Ten and the Seven Network. The Beyond catalogue covers a broad spectrum of genres including documentary, natural history, science, drama, children's entertainment, adventure, information and magazine programming.
For further information please contact:
Katie Johnson
T: +61 2 9437 2097
katie_johnson@beyond.com.au
or
Rhiannon Haughee
T: + 61 2 9437 2098
rhiannon_haughee@beyond.com.au
Penguin Television is a leading creative and contemporary independent television production company, specialising in factual, non-fiction documentaries and children’s programming.
Penguin Television’s productions include some of the world’s most enduring and beloved brands—Peter Rabbit and Friends, Spot and The Way Things Work and the award-winning Eyewitness series. With more than 30 hours of television currently in development, and several projects for completion later this year, Penguin Television’s expanding catalogue includes over 150 titles, produced in more than 80 languages and sold worldwide to more than 50 countries.
A division of renowned consumer publisher The Penguin Group, Penguin Television began as the TV Group of Pearson Broadband in 2000, and operates from the London headquarters of Pearson, the international media company.
For further information please contact:
Laura Jones
T: +44 20 7010 3676
laura.jones@penguintv.com
published: Wednesday, July 21, 2004 
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