Esquire Network Renews American Ninja Warrior Spin-Off

UNIVERSAL CITY: Esquire Network has given the go-ahead to a second season of Team Ninja Warrior, a spin-off of the hit American Ninja Warrior.

The competition series’ sophomore run will feature an expanded 16 episodes, which will include the debut of the five-part special event Team Ninja Warrior: College Edition (working title). Hosted by comedian Matt Iseman and former NFL player Akbar Gbajabiamila, the show’s new season will once again feature some of the biggest names from the American Ninja Warrior franchise as they compete in a series of challenging obstacle courses.

Team Ninja Warrior is executive-produced by A. Smith & Co. Productions’s founders Arthur Smith and Kent Weed (Hell’s Kitchen), along with Brian Richardson as executive producer. American Ninja Warrior is based on the Ninja Warrior format from Tokyo Broadcasting System Television and is a co-production between Esquire Network and NBC.

“Our success last season made it clear that viewers love watching these amazing competitors battle against each other on the course, and as we move into season two, we will continue to raise the bar on the competition as teams are even more driven to conquer not only the course, but each other,” said Matt Hanna, the executive VP of development and production at Esquire Network. “Now with the introduction of our college edition episodes, we are bringing some of the most famous college rivalries to life as only Esquire Network can, as these schools go head-to-head for the ultimate Ninja bragging rights.”