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Beyond Tomorrow (TV series)

From Alfawiki
Beyond Television Productions
IndustryTelevision production
Founded1981
Headquarters
Australia
ProductsTelevision series including Beyond Tomorrow, Beyond 2000, Towards 2000

Beyond Tomorrow is a science and technology television series originating from Australia, produced by Beyond Television Productions. Initially launched in 1981 under the title Towards 2000, it was rebranded as Beyond 2000' in 1985 and continued until its cancellation in 1999. The series was revived in 2005 with the name Beyond Tomorrow.

Towards 2000 and Beyond 2000

The program Towards 2000 premiered on the ABC in 1981 as a 30-minute show focusing on advancements in science and technology. Its original hosts were Jeffrey Watson, Sonia Humphrey, and David Flatman. After four seasons, the ABC replaced the show with Quantum, a new science series developed by Dick Gilling.

Following this, the original team collaborated with Ted Thomas, General Manager of ATN 7, to create Beyond 2000, an expanded hour-long format that aired on the Seven Network until 1993 before moving to Network Ten where it continued until 1999. The series achieved international reach through broadcasts on channels such as the Discovery Channel (United States and Canada), RTÉ (Ireland), Sky News (Europe), and TVNZ (New Zealand). In the United States, an adaptation aired on Discovery Channel in 1992 featuring Henry Tenenbaum as presenter, while another iteration named Beyond Tomorrow, hosted by Dave Marash, was broadcast during the early years of the Fox network.

A total of fourteen seasons were produced, concluding with a special episode in 1999 after a production break. The decision to end the series was influenced by escalating production expenses and heightened competition from other science-related programs.

From 1999 to 2003, a website dedicated to Beyond 2000 provided updates on scientific news and video content but was eventually shut down due to budget reductions within the company amid a downturn in Australia's media sector.

Presenters

Beyond Tomorrow

In 2005, the Beyond 2000 brand was revived on the Seven Network under the new title Beyond Tomorrow, with its debut airing on June 1. The program broadened its scope to include technological innovations and scientific discoveries spanning areas such as environmental science, healthcare, sports, computing, space exploration, agriculture, transportation, architecture, recreation, and adventure. Featured topics ranged from brain implants aimed at treating Parkinson's disease and obsessive compulsive disorder to inventions inspired by North Sea oil workers’ irritability leading to solutions for snoring.

The show incorporated segments from MythBusters, another production by Beyond Television; however, this inclusion drew criticism due to concurrent broadcasts on SBS, which caused confusion among viewers regarding repeated content. Additionally, some enthusiasts pointed out that Beyond Tomorrow often highlighted technologies already widely adopted, diverging from the original series’ emphasis on future-oriented innovations. The updated theme music received mixed feedback for lacking the distinctive impact of Beyond 2000's original composition.

The series was also broadcast in the United States on The Science Channel and in Canada via Discovery Channel Canada. Production ended in 2006 after completing 50 episodes, although reruns continue to be shown on The Science Channel.

Presenters

International

  • In the United States, Beyond Tomorrow aired on the Fox network between 1988 and 1990 and later appeared on the Discovery Channel with Henry Tenenbaum hosting new segments.
  • Sweden broadcasted Bortom 2000 hosted by Bo Landin during the early 1990s on TV4.
  • Finland featured 2000 Nyt! on MTV3 in 1994.
  • Italy syndicated Beyond 2000 through Odeon TV from the late 1980s into the early ’90s.
  • Malaysia aired Beyond 2000 on RTM 1 during the late ’80s and early ’90s; later airing Beyond Tomorrow on Discovery Channel (Southeast Asia).
  • Indonesia showed Beyond 2000 on Saturday mornings via RCTI in the early ’90s.
  • South African audiences viewed it across channels including SABC, M-Net, and Bop TV.
  • Ireland broadcasted it on both One and Two.
  • Saudi Arabia transmitted it through its English-language channel, Saudi 2.
  • New Zealand aired the series via TVNZ.
  • Jordan presented it in English on Channel 2 of the Jordan Radio and Television Corporation.
  • Kuwait featured it on its English-language channel KTV2.
  • Namibia began broadcasting Beyond 2000 in 1989 on SWABC and continued with NBC following independence in 1990.
  • Thailand aired it on Channel 7 starting in 1990.
  • Poland showcased selected episodes during the late ’80s in collaboration with popular science series SONDA, representing a rare partnership between an Australian production and an Eastern Bloc television network.

External links

References

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