TBS has announced that production for season five of the U.S. version of the TBS sports entertainment show SASUKE has begun. As with last year, season five of American Ninja Warrior will air simultaneously on NBC as well as on pay-TV on the Esquire Channel (formerly G4). 

For the new season, former NFL pro-turned NFL Network analyst Akbar Gbaja Biamilia and ESPN’s two-time Emmy winning sports broadcaster Jenn Brown will join Matt Iseman as co-hosts of the series. 

SASUKE (including American Ninja Warrior), has been sold in 157 countries and territories. Sales extended to countries in Asia, Europe, and North America, but also to the Middle East and Latin America. American Ninja Warrior Facebook fan page has more than 800,000 members and the popularity of the show continues to grow exponentially. 

The SASUKE 2013 competition is scheduled to be held this summer in Japan, with the SASUKE ASEAN OPEN CUP in November to follow suit as part of the celebration of the 40th year of ASEAN-Japan Friendship and Cooperation.