French TV giant Banijay has sold back the production arm of Beyond International — the Australian producer and distributor best known for “Mythbusters” it fully acquired in Dec. 2022 — to the company’s managing director, Mikael Borgland.
“Both parties confirm the buy-back of the production division of the Beyond group and its current production subsidiaries by Mikael Borglund’s personal holding, BYI Holdings Pty Limited,” the companies said in a statement.
Under the deal, Banijay will retain control of Beyond’s distribution business, which Variety understands has already been integrated into its own operations, and Beyond’s catalog of more than 8,000 hours of programming, also including shows such as “Highway Thru Hell,” “Heavy Rescue: 401,” “Massive Engineering Mistakes,” and “Deadly Women.” Beyond will own future projects with immediate effect, while ongoing productions will not be affected.
Beyond International and Banijay Rights have also concluded a five-year first-look distribution deal with regard to the Beyond group’s future productions.
“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, Beyond International managing director.
Banijay, which has been on an acquisitions drive for several years (in 2020 it closed the $2.2 billion acquisition of “Big Brother,” “MasterChef,” “Black Mirror” and “Peaky Blinders” producer Endemol Shine), recently bought U.K. scripted outfit The Forge, behind shows including “Help,” starring Jodie Comer and Stephen Graham.