Recognising the increased challenges of obtaining rights and the right content in a rapidly changing world, producer/developer Beyond Rights has hired television executive Steve Jones to fill the newly created role of SVP of development.
Jones has worked in the UK and Australia in a range of high-profile positions, including commissioning editor and executive producer, entertainment and factual, at Sky 1; executive producer, factual and factual entertainment at Discovery Networks Europe; development executive and series producer at CJZ Productions; and executive producer and development executive at Endemol Southern Star.
The move comes as Beyond Rights has decided to develop a new content pipeline to sit alongside acquisitions from third-party producers, as well as the content it has from the wider Beyond group.
He also co-founded Big Little Fish Television in 2019, the UK indie he co-ran for more than two years. Across permanent and freelance roles over the past two decades he has created programming for many UK, US and Australian broadcasters.
Reporting into Beyond Rights’ CEO, David Smyth, Jones has a brief to develop original ideas for returnable, popular factual series that meet demand in the market and that will also sit alongside similar successful programming in the Beyond Rights catalogue. Working with established production partners, these ideas will be pitched to broadcasters for pre-sale, co-production and commission. After securing a key broadcaster, Beyond Rights will manage any additional financing required for production and distribute all finished series and formats globally.
“Steve is a hugely experienced executive, bursting with ideas, and is an exciting addition to our team,” said Smyth commenting on the role. “He will bring new creativity and thinking to the business and in return, he will be able to draw on the experiences, relationships and international market knowledge of our sales and acquisitions teams, who are well placed to know what buyers want.”
Jones added: “Beyond Rights is taking a very interesting strategic step with this new role. I am delighted to be working with David and the wider teams - and look forward to securing our first greenlight.”
The move comes as Beyond Rights has decided to develop a new content pipeline to sit alongside acquisitions from third-party producers, as well as the content it has from the wider Beyond group.
He also co-founded Big Little Fish Television in 2019, the UK indie he co-ran for more than two years. Across permanent and freelance roles over the past two decades he has created programming for many UK, US and Australian broadcasters.
Reporting into Beyond Rights’ CEO, David Smyth, Jones has a brief to develop original ideas for returnable, popular factual series that meet demand in the market and that will also sit alongside similar successful programming in the Beyond Rights catalogue. Working with established production partners, these ideas will be pitched to broadcasters for pre-sale, co-production and commission. After securing a key broadcaster, Beyond Rights will manage any additional financing required for production and distribute all finished series and formats globally.
“Steve is a hugely experienced executive, bursting with ideas, and is an exciting addition to our team,” said Smyth commenting on the role. “He will bring new creativity and thinking to the business and in return, he will be able to draw on the experiences, relationships and international market knowledge of our sales and acquisitions teams, who are well placed to know what buyers want.”
Jones added: “Beyond Rights is taking a very interesting strategic step with this new role. I am delighted to be working with David and the wider teams - and look forward to securing our first greenlight.”
