Ninja Warrior Scores Renewals, Finished Program Sales

Tokyo Broadcasting System Television’s (TBS) original sports entertainment reality format Ninja Warrior has been recommissioned in the U.S. and Germany.

In the U.S., NBC has given a two-season order, taking it to seasons 15 and 16. RTL in Germany, meanwhile, renewed the format for an eighth season.

Originally named SASUKE in its home territory of Japan, the show first aired on TBS in 1997 and has since been sold in 160 countries, with local versions produced in over 20 territories.

The U.S. finished series has recently been licensed to RTL Netherlands, SIC Portugal, KC Global in Asia, DBS in Israel, TV4 Sweden and FBC in Fuji. Discovery New Zealand and UKTV are among the broadcasters that have recently acquired the finished Australian series. Four seasons of the U.K. version have landed on the FOX channel in the Netherlands. Additionally, 45 episodes of the Japanese series are now available in the U.K. on Channel 4’s linear and digital outlets.

The new deals were brokered by Cathy Saunders, director of sales at Bellon Entertainment, TBS’s distribution partner for the programming and format outside of Asia.

Miho Takashima, Tokyo Broadcasting System Television’s head of sales, said: “The continuing good fortunes of this show is an affirmation of the excitement, drama and aspirational nature of this enduring brand. TBS is very proud to be the originator of such popular IP and can’t wait to show the world our new formats in development; watch this space!’

Markus Küttner, head of entertainment for RTL, said: “Ninja Warrior Germany is the most successful physical game show on German TV, and RTL Germany is proud to continue its success for an eighth season in the year 2023.”