BACKYARD SCIENCE CAPTIVATES YOUNG VIEWERS
21 July 2004

Sydney, 21st July, 2004 – BACKYARD SCIENCE, Beyond Distribution’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.

Ripping science out of the classroom and hurling it into the real world, BACKYARD SCIENCE (26×30′ or 52×15′) 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”.

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.

The success of the title internationally signals a new step for Beyond as they widen their area of production expertise to challenge traditional children’s programming. The most recent Beyond production for children is NEW MACDONALD’S FARM (45 x 30′), a series for pre-schoolers. Produced by joint venture Pacific & Beyond for the Nine Network Australia, the series was launched at MIP 04 and has already notched up international sales.

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.

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