Beyond Tomorrow (TV series)
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Beyond Tomorrow, Towards 2000 (1981-1984) & Beyond 2000 (1985-1999) |
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Beyond Tomorrow opening sequence title |
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Genre | Futuristic & Technology documentary |
Camera setup | Multi-camera (from 1993 to present), Single-camera on the original series on Seven Network (1985-1993) |
Picture format | 576p EDTV (2005-present) PAL (576i) on the original series on Seven Network (1985-1993) |
Audio format | Monaural sound (original series 1980s) Surround sound (2005-present) |
Running time | Approx 42 minutes, Wednesdays at 7:30 PM |
Creator(s) | Judith John-Story, David Summons, Carmel Travers |
Executive producer(s) | Peter Abbott (the original series 1980s) David Alrich (2005-present version) |
Starring | Original presenters Carmel Travers, Chris Ardill-Guinness, Amanda Keller, Andrew Carroll, Maxine Gray, Anthony Griffis, Dr Caroline West, Dr John D'Arcy, Simon Nasht, Sharon Nash, Simon Reeve, Iain Finlay and Bryan Smith. Present-hosts Matt Shirvington,Graham Phillips, Hayden Turner, Anna Choy, Doctor Caroline West, Sara Groen, Kim Watkins. |
Narrated by | Each presenter narrated its own report |
Opening theme | Beyond Tomorrow theme (electronic music) |
Ending theme | Beyond Tomorrow theme (electronic music) |
Country of origin | Australia |
Language(s) | English |
Original channel | Seven Network (1984-1993) Ten Network (1993-1999) |
Original run | July 27, 1985 as Beyond 2000 in the Seven Network, Revival as Beyond Tomorrow 2005– |
No. of episodes | Beyond Tomorrow: 38 (Beyond 2000: 475) |
Official website | |
IMDb profile |
Beyond Tomorrow is an Australian television series that currently screens on the Seven Network. It began life as Towards 2000, then later as Beyond 2000, which was screened on three networks between 1981 to 1999. Beyond Tomorrow is produced by Beyond Television Productions, which was originally founded to produce Beyond 2000 and has since diversified into producing television drama and feature films.
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[edit] Towards 2000/Beyond 2000
Towards 2000 debuted on the ABC in 1981 as a half-hour show dedicated to showcasing developments in science and technology. After a name change to Beyond 2000 and a switch to an hour-long format, the show moved to the Seven Network, airing until 1993 when it was picked up by Network Ten, airing until 1999. Beyond 2000 was also broadcast internationally, airing in the United States, UK on the Satellite Channel 'Sky News', Europe and New Zealand. An American-produced version of the show also aired on the Discovery Channel in 1992, with an American presenter (Henry Tenenbaum, presently an anchor/reporter for television station KRON San Francisco) used for the studio segments. An American version entitled Beyond Tomorrow was hosted by newsman Dave Marash and aired in the early years of the Fox television network.
Fourteen series of Towards/Beyond 2000 were produced, with the last being made in 1999 as a one-off, after a production break of about four years. At this point, the rising cost of producing the series, coupled with increased competition from other science and technology shows forced the closure of the program.
A Beyond 2000 website was published by the same company between 1999 and 2003. This provided science and technology news, as well as video clips from the old TV shows. The website was summarily axed in a round of company-wide budget cuts that reflected a general downturn in the Australian media industry at the time.
[edit] Presenters
- Sonia Humphrey
- Iain Finlay
- Jeff Watson[1]
- Carmel Travers
- Chris Ardill-Guinness
- Simon Reeve
- Amanda Keller
- Andrew Carroll
- Maxine Gray
- Anthony Griffis
- Doctor Caroline West
- John D'Arcy
- Simon Nasht
- Sharon Nash
- American versions were presented by Henry Tenenbaum [2] and Dave Marash
[edit] Beyond Tomorrow
In 2005, Beyond 2000 returned to the Seven Network under the new name of Beyond Tomorrow. The first episode aired June 1, 2005. Picking up where its predecessor left off, Beyond Tomorrow delves even deeper into the world of technological innovations and scientific breakthroughs. Topics range from how probes planted in the brain can now be used to battle Parkinsons disease and obsessive compulsive disorder, to how the grumpiness of North Sea oil workers has led to a cure being found for snoring. Segments from MythBusters, another Beyond Television production, also air as part of the program. The hour-long magazine style episodes feature breakthroughs in all areas of life, including the environment, medicine, sport, computers, space, agriculture, transport, architecture, leisure and adventure. Recently, Beyond Tomorrow began airing in the US on The Science Channel and on Discovery Channel Canada.
[edit] Presenters
- Matt Shirvington
- Graham Phillips
- Hayden Turner
- Anna Choy
- Doctor Caroline West
- Sara Groen
- Kim Watkins (February 2006 - July 2006)