Baywatch bounces on to TNN

In the US, TNN has picked up Pearson Television's soap Baywatch plus its sequel Baywatch Hawaii. The Viacom-owned channel will begin airing the show in primetime in Autumn 2001.

The deal covers eight seasons of Baywatch in syndication (1991-2001).

In 1999, the series moved from Los Angeles to the Hawaii Islands and its final two seasons were transformed into Baywatch Hawaii, which ends its first run in syndication this year.

{Baywatch is one of the most successful pop franchises ever, and a perfect fit for TNN's new pop culture positioning,{ says Diane Robina, TNN's general manager.

{It will also be an excellent introduction to TNN's telecast of Pamela Anderson's new series, VIP, which premieres in Fall 2002.{