ITV Studios and Tokyo Broadcasting System (TBS) have teamed up to create the world’s first ever Ninja Warrior FAST channel. The channel is ITV Studios’ first FAST channel based on third party IP as well as Tokyo Broadcasting’s first foray into FAST.
Brokered by Bellon Entertainment on behalf of TBS, the partnership will see ITV Studios creating, operating, marketing and distributing the channel in the UK and Canada initially, with Australia and other territories to follow in the coming months.
Fans will be able to watch episodes of the UK edition alongside international versions including from the US and Australia, as well as the original competition created by TBS in Japan: Sasuke. The channel is available on Pluto TV in the UK and Canada and will launch on Rakuten TV and Samsung TV Plus in the UK later in Q4.
Catherine Saunders, director of sales, Bellon Entertainment, said: “Ninja Warrior is much more than television entertainment – it is a demonstration of what ordinary people can achieve with perseverance and hard work. It is wonderful that there is now a dedicated outlet where this unique programming can be enjoyed.”
Jun Fukai, director of global sales and development dept at TBS, added: “We are very pleased to hear that ITV is launching the FAST Channel of Ninja Warrior. We hope that this new initiative will allow even more people to enjoy the programme.”
Graham Haigh, EVP, digital, ITV Studios said: “Ninja Warrior has a cult following all over the world and we’re excited to bring different versions of this much-loved, award-winning format to its global fan base all in one channel.”
Ninja Warrior has become a globally recognised brand since its launch on TBS in 1997 and has gone on to be remade in a further 25 markets. A long-running, family favourite, in the US NBC has most recently aired its 16th season and in Germany where it is the most successful physical game show on TV, RTL has ordered its tenth. The finished series has sold into 160 countries including The Netherlands, Portugal & Sweden.
