ITV Studios and Tokyo Broadcasting System Television (TBS) are partnering to create the world’s first ever Ninja Warrior FAST channel dedicated to programming from around the world.
The deal is a first, both in terms of ITV Studios’ first FAST channel creation for third party IP as well as Tokyo Broadcasting’s first foray into FAST. Brokered by Bellon Entertainment on behalf of TBS, it will see ITV Studios creating, operating, marketing and distributing the Ninja Warrior channel in the UK and Canada initially, with Australia and several other major territories to follow in the coming months.
Avid fans of the exhilarating show will be able to watch episodes of the UK edition programmed alongside international versions including the US and Australia, as well as the original competition created by TBS in Japan: Sasuke. The channel is available now on Pluto TV in the UK and Canada and will launch on Rakuten TV and Samsung TV Plus in the UK later in Q4.
The phenomenal sports entertainment reality competition, Ninja Warrior, was originally commissioned by ITV in the UK where ITV Studios also operates 19 Ninja Warrior UK adventure parks.
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 been sold into 160 countries including The Netherlands, Portugal, Sweden, New Zealand and pan regionally in Asia.
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 commented, “We are very pleased to hear that ITV is launching the FAST Channel of Ninja Warrior. It has been beloved by viewers for many years, and we hope that this new initiative will allow even more people to enjoy the program.”
Graham Haigh, EVP, Digital, ITV Studios said, “We’re thrilled that TBS and Bellon have chosen us as their partner to venture into the world of FAST. 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.”
With 17 channels in 20 territories on around 100 platforms ITV Studios has become an established publisher of content. Its FAST footprint spans the US, UK, Australia, Germany and the Nordics on platforms like Pluto TV, Rakuten TV, Samsung TV Plus, Freevee and LG, bringing extensive experience in creating, operating and distributing FAST channels to this new collaboration.
ITV Studios’ top-performing portfolio of FAST channels includes single IP channels such as Hell’s Kitchen, River Monsters, Come Dine With Me, The Graham Norton Show, The Hotel Inspector and World of Love Island, alongside mixed IP genre channels such as Entertain (General Entertainment), True Lives (Factual) and Taste (Lifestyle).
