Hot Picks: Beach Cops

The Australian factual series is filmed on the Northern beaches of Sydney and follows officers in the New South Wales Police Force as they prepare for a busy summer.

As millions of people flock to the golden sands around Sydney, the series reveals the area’s darker side of drugs, alcohol and antisocial and criminal behaviour.

Driving offences, missing persons cases, drug arrests and religious intolerance are all dealt with by the beach cops.

The six-part series, narrated by former professional surfer Layne Beachley, aired on Australian commercial broadcaster Seven Network in October last year and was produced by its in-house content division.

It is distributed by Beyond International, the company best known for making and selling Discovery’s Mythbusters.

Beyond general manager Michael Murphy says police shows sell well worldwide and he has high hopes that its “exotic locale” will appeal.

“For international buyers, it’s an exciting view of Australia that we don’t always see,” he says.

Beyond, which has offices in London and Sydney and is listed on the Australian Stock Exchange, wants to be seen as more of an international company.

In recent years, it has stepped up its presence in the UK, acquiring the rights to a number of factual entertainment series.

“We’ve been established in the UK for 20 years, but we’ve always been perceived as an Australian company,” says Murphy. “Recently, we’ve reached out to the UK production community to increase our presence.”

Beyond’s latest UK series is Too Many Cooks, a 20 x 30-minute food format produced by True North for Channel 4, in which three competing couples prepare and serve food at a party.

The guests say how much they are willing to pay for the food and at the end of the week, after the teams have catered five different parties, the team with the most money wins and walks away with their cash.

“The UK market produces fantastic food shows and that’s the same for Too Many Cooks. Our focus is on the finished tape, but we’re aware of the format capability,” Murphy says.

In addition, Beyond is launching Love It Or List It: Vacation Homes at Mip TV.

The series, which is produced by Big Coat Productions for W Network, is a spin-off of the eponymous property show, which was adapted for the UK last year as a Channel 4 series with Phil Spencer and Kirstie Allsopp.

The distributor is also beginning to move into drama. Last year, it hired writer and executive producer David Ogilvy to head up a new scripted division.

Ogilvy, who previously worked at Australian public broadcaster ABC, where he was responsible for series including The Code, Rake and Anzac Girls, is currently in talks with writers, producers and directors.

“We’re developing shows in Australia and also looking for international co-production opportunities,” says Murphy