BACK WHERE IT BELONGS!

FOX'S REIMAGINED "BAYWATCH" BRINGS THE CALIFORNIA DREAM BACK TO LOS ANGELES THANKS TO THE STATE FILM COMMISSION'S 40% TAX CREDIT

THE SUN-DRENCHED SOCAL COASTLINE, FAMED VENICE BEACH AND WORLD-RENOWNED LA LOCATIONS WILL ONCE AGAIN WELCOME ICONIC RED SWIMSUIT-CLAD LIFEGUARDS AS PRODUCTION BEGINS IN 2026

Filming in Los Angeles County to Generate Local Jobs, Revenue and Tourism, while Celebrating the Spirit, Spectacle and Global Appeal of Hollywood's Hometown Historic FOX Studio Lot in Century City Welcomes Baywatch for Interior Shooting Fremantle and FOX Entertainment Co-Producing New Action Series

Los Angeles, CA - November 20, 2025 - FOX Entertainment today announced that its upcoming reimagined Baywatch has been awarded an enhanced 40% tax credit by the California Film Commission (CFC) under its Film & Television Tax Credit Program 4.0, ensuring that the legendary lifeguard action series will once again make waves along the sun-drenched California coast, including famed Venice Beach, where the massively popular global phenomenon first began.

The tax credit was granted as part of the CFC's ongoing efforts to keep high-profile, job-creating productions in The Golden State. Filming Baywatch in its original home not only reinforces the franchise's connection to the communities and locale that inspired it but also fuels tourism and fan enthusiasm for the Baywatch legacy - synonymous with the beauty, optimism and spectacle that define the California Dream.

"It's been incredibly rewarding to work alongside our partners at the California Film Commission to create an economically sustainable path for keeping a production like Baywatch - so spectacularly tied to this great city and state - right here in Los Angeles," said Rob Wade, CEO of FOX Entertainment. "We're especially grateful for the tremendous support from the many public officials, including Governor Gavin Newsom, who championed this effort, State Senator Ben Allen, State Assemblymember Rick Zbur, L.A. City Councilwoman Traci Park and L.A. County Supervisor Lindsey Horvath. This collaboration between government and entertainment truly shows what's possible when we work together to support local jobs and economic growth, while showcasing the stunning California coast for audiences around the world."

"Baywatch has long been a valued part of Fremantle's portfolio and continues to be one of the most iconic television series worldwide. We are thrilled to receive support from the California Film Commission," added Christian Vesper, CEO, Drama, Fremantle. "Baywatch's home has always been the California coast and being able to bring this next chapter back to where it all started is truly special."

"The expansion and modernization of California's Film and Television Tax Credit is already delivering results," said Assemblymember Rick Chavez Zbur (D-Hollywood). "The return of major productions like Baywatch means hundreds of good-paying jobs, new opportunities for local crews and small businesses, and millions invested right here in Los Angeles. This is exactly what we envisioned when we strengthened the program - keeping our creative economy strong and our entertainment industry competitive. I appreciate FOX Entertainment's commitment to investing in California's workforce and keeping production where it belongs."

LA Councilwoman Traci Park said, "I'm proud that Venice will once again a backdrop for the kind of iconic California storytelling that made Baywatch a global symbol. This is more than nostalgia - it's opportunity. The governor's vote to boost the film and television tax credit means we're not shipping production overseas; we're employing hundreds of Californians, strengthening small businesses and showing the world why L.A. is still the creative capital."

"Los Angeles County is the heart of the creative economy, and we must keep it strong by supporting local productions that create good jobs for Angelenos," said Los Angeles County Supervisor Lindsey P. Horvath. "Bringing Baywatch back to Venice Beach isn't just iconic - it's an investment in our people, generating hundreds of local jobs at a critical time for our signature industry. This effort takes real partnership, and we're proud to work with FOX Entertainment and our State and City partners to make it happen."

The CFC tax incentive supports the State of California and Governor Gavin Newsom's commitment to keeping production in Hollywood's hometown and the Entertainment Capital of the World. It has also facilitated Baywatch interior scenes to be produced on the historic FOX Studio Lot in LA's Century City, which is also currently home to FOX's unscripted juggernaut The Masked Singer, another CFC tax credit beneficiary.

First hitting screens in 1989, Baywatch became the most-watched show in the world, airing in over 200 countries and at its peak reaching more than a billion viewers weekly. Its global appeal drove tourism to Southern California and helped define beach culture for generations. The new series, co-produced by FOX Entertainment and Fremantle will debut on FOX during the 2026-27 season, with Matt Nix (Burn Notice, The Gifted) serving as Showrunner and Executive Producer alongside Michael Berk, Greg Bonann, Doug Schwartz, and Dante Di Loreto.

The California Film Commission administers the state's Film & Television Tax Credit Program, which encourages in-state production, drives economic growth and helps preserve California's legacy as the Entertainment Capital of the World.

The FOX Studio Lot opened in 1928 as the first complete facility built specifically for the production of motion pictures. Today, the studio lot features 15 sounds stages and nearly 2 million square feet of production and post-production facilities, theaters, screening rooms, dressing rooms, and editing bays, as well as production offices and the headquarters of FOX Entertainment. Baywatch is slated to shoot on historic Stages 15 & 16, the latter housing a 500,000-gallon in-ground water tank.

FOX Entertainment Global holds rights to all domestic distribution windows, and Fremantle manages all international sales.

About FOX Entertainment

With a legacy spanning nearly 40 years, FOX Entertainment is one of the world's most recognizable media brands and a prolific content producer across its flagship broadcast network and both owned and third-party platforms worldwide. Known for its independent, innovative spirit and provocative, groundbreaking storytelling, the company includes three key business units: FOX Television Network, FOX Entertainment Studios and worldwide content sales and licensing unit FOX Entertainment Global.

While maintaining its leadership in linear television with an exceptional slate of original series - including Doc, Extracted, Memory of a Killer, The Masked Singer, The Floor, The Simpsons, Animal Control, Going Dutch, Murder in a Small Town, Hell's Kitchen and LEGO Masters - FOX Entertainment is growing its portfolio of studio engines, business operations and library of owned original content.

To date, the FOX Entertainment Studios division includes its in-house unscripted studio with hits The Masked Singer, I Can See Your Voice and Name That Tune, and scripted content studio featuring comedies Animal Control and Going Dutch and signature drama series Best Medicine, The Faithful, The Way Home and The Chicken Sisters. The unit also oversees the award-winning animation studio Bento Box Entertainment with animated comedies including Krapopolis, Grimsburg, Hazbin Hotel and Universal Basic Guys; entertainment platform TMZ with its tentpole primetime series TMZ Investigates; its new independent film label Tideline Entertainment with inaugural releases including First Time Female Director, Ponyboi and Slanted; and the culinary and lifestyle content venture Studio Ramsay Global in partnership with celebrated chef Gordon Ramsay, featuring food-themed original series on FOX such as Next Level Chef, Kitchen Nightmares and Gordon Ramsay's Secret Service, as well as the new next-gen global food brand and entertainment platform Bite, No Taste Like Home on Disney+, Knife Edge: Chasing Michelin Stars coming this fall on Apple+ and a new untitled Gordon Ramsay documentary series on Netflix in early 2026.

As a global content creator and production partner, FOX Entertainment Studios collaborates with studios and platforms worldwide, including Disney, Hulu, Warner Bros. Discovery, Sony Pictures Television, Prime Video, Netflix, Apple+, Hallmark, Lifetime, TelevisaUnivision, UK's Channel 4, France's TF1, German's ProSieben, Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, Australia's Foxtel and FOX-owned streamer Tubi, among others.

About Fremantle

Fremantle is a leading global creator, producer and distributor of some of the world's most successful content across Entertainment, Drama & Film, and Documentaries. Amplifying local stories on a global scale, Fremantle produces and delivers premium, multi-genre IP across the 28 territories it has a presence in. Fremantle is a proudly independent group of content creators, and home to some of the biggest entertainment formats, compelling international dramas, award-winning films and high-quality documentaries.

From Got Talent to My Brilliant Friend, Family Feud to Poor Things, Mussolini: Son of the Century to It's Never Over, Jeff Buckley, Too Hot to Handle to Big Mood, Maxton Hall to Idols, and Maria to The Zelensky Story, our focus is simple - Fremantle creates and delivers irresistible entertainment. Fremantle also represents world-leading digital and branded entertainment, with more than 550 million fans and 390 billion views for its standout content across all platforms. Fremantle's Global Channels unit consists of more than 20 FAST channels worldwide, including BUZZR, Rig TV, and Baywatch.

Fremantle is part of RTL Group, a global leader across broadcast, streaming, content and digital, itself a division of the international media, services, and education company Bertelsmann. For more information, please visit www.fremantle.com, follow Fremantle on Twitter @FremantleHQ and Instagram @fremantle or visit Fremantle's LinkedIn page.

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