Mikael Borglund re-acquires Beyond production entities from Banijay

Mikael Borglund

Mikael Borglund, the founder of Australia- and LA-based Beyond, has re-acquired the production entities of Beyond International from Banijay less than 18 months since he sold the company.

The deal sees Borglund’s BYI Holdings taking control of Beyond’s production interests that have been behind shows including Mythbusters and Troppo.

Troppo (Source: Leonine Studios)

Borglund will also retain ownership of Beyond’s future programming, with Banijay Rights’ ownership of Beyond International IP acquired via the 2022 deal remaining unaffected.

The sales arm of the French production-distribution giant has, however, struck a five-year distribution deal for Beyond’s future programming.

Borglund sold Beyond International to Banijay for just over $32m in October 2022, with the deal closing in January 2023.

A month later, TBI revealed that the Beyond Rights team had been disbanded with its shows subsumed into Banijay Rights.

Since then, Banijay has shuttered Beyond Productions UK and trimmed the workforce at Beyond Production’s bases in Australia and LA.

Borglund said: “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.”