Fox to share Prime Video show & snags ‘Baywatch’ remake

The 1% Club UK (Source: BBCS)

Fox has struck an innovative deal with Amazon Prime Video to secure rights to the streamer’s upcoming remake of The 1% Club, as well as unveiling a reboot of Baywatch.

The arrangement with Prime Video will see Fox airing episodes of the BBC Studios format eight days after they are released on the streamer in the US.

While affiliated streamers and networks, such as Disney+ and ABC, have previously shared programming it is unusual to have a third-party network picking up rights.

The 1% Club is being produced for Prime Video in the US and Canada by BBCS’s LA Productions, Amazon MGM Studios and Magnum Media, the UK firm that produced the original show for the BBC.

Prime Video confirmed the order in October and has now named Patton Oswalt as host. The format has previously sold into countries including Mexico, the Netherlands, Australia, Germany, France, Israel, Spain and Turkey.

Fox Entertainment CEO Rob Wade said: “By teaming up with Amazon, we effectively showcase the complementary value of linear and streaming audiences through this differentiated launch strategy.”

Baywatch

Lauren Anderson, head of AVOD originals, unscripted & targeted programming at Amazon MGM Studios, added that the show “marks a strategic business growth opportunity, expanding our ad-friendly content portfolio and allowing us to explore unique dual premiere strategies.”

Fox orders Baywatch remake

The US network has also confirmed a script plus penalty deal for the reboot of Baywatch, which is being produced by Fremantle.

The new version is being coproduced by Fremantle and Fox Entertainment, with Lara Olsen attached as showrunner.

The original show debuted on NBC in the US but failed to attract viewers, although it performed better internationally, including on ITV in the UK and in Germany, the latter due to the popularity of lead David Hasselhoff.

Fremantle owns rights to the show because it owns IP held by Pearson TV, which in turn had acquired Baywatch rights via a deal with All American TV, which had invested in, and distributed, the series.

The European producer-distributor made a sales push for the original five years ago after remastering the tapes, with sales struck with the likes of Prime Video, Hulu and Bell Media in Canada.

Fox already has one lifeguard drama on its books for later this year with Rescue: Hi-Surf, which is produced by John Wells Productions and Warner Bros. TV.

The US network also confirmed a raft of premiere dates for its renewed series, including I Can See Your Voice (16 May), Don’t Forget The Lyrics (16 May), Gordon Ramsay’s Food Stars (22 May), Beat Shazam (28 May), The Quiz With Balls (28 May), MasterChef (29 May) and Name That Tune (3 June). Additional summer programming is to be announced.