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With the broadcast networks struggling to successfully launch a reality series in the past couple of summers, NBC is reaching to its new corporate sibling G4 for original summer fare. NBC will share with G4 the upcoming fourth season of G4′s popular obstacle course competition series American Ninja Warrior. Last summer, NBC aired ANW‘s two-hour third season finale, which posted decent ratings. This year, NBC will be taking on a bigger role, with G4 carrying the preliminary rounds and the broadcast network airing the preliminary finals, as well as the grand finale. For the first time, each leg of the competition will be held entirely on U.S. soil after the original Japanese broadcaster, Tokyo Broadcasting System Television, helped bring the course and all different designs to the U.S. The finalists, vying for a $500,000 cash prize in the national finals in Las Vegas, will be selected at six regional qualifying competitions throughout the country. ANW, whose Season 3 debut ranked as G4’s most-watched original season premiere ever, is produced by A. Smith & Co.
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I hope that moving all legs to US soil helps make it better than last year’s final. As a long time viewer of the of Japanese version, it was embarrassing to see the broadcast overlook legends like Nagano Makoto when they would appear on camera, and contain no mention of Urushihara Yuuji’s amazing completion of the course.
I mean no slight to the US team, but the broadcast should have covered the whole competitive field, not just those on the US team.
The original Ninja Warrior has cult-like status on G4, and I’ve got to think a lot of NBC’s audience watched to see how the Americans ultimately dealt with Japan’s treacherous course in the finale. Take away Japan, and take away a huge chunk of the fan base. Well done as always, NBC … buy an undervalued property with a relatively small but loyal fan base, and gut the appeal to that fan base. With continued decisions like these, your executives will have an easier time climbing Mount Midioriyama than climbing to third place.
um… the company Monster 9 are the creators and producers of SASUKE went bankrupt, so how is that NBC’s doing exactly?
@cjs Even if they wanted to have Japanese finals they wouldn’t be able to as the creators of Sasuke went bankrupt and likely won’t have a 28th competition anytime soon. If not for NBC/G4 the whole concept of Ninja Warrior would have died off with Sasuke.
IMO, I like how NBC did the last ANW with the in depth contestant profiles. Perhaps this will lead to the successful ones to do this as a living. Really, I don’t think Yuuji ever quit his job as a shoe salesmen in between his runs.
Great news for Matt, Jimmy, Allison and all the competitors who make the show what it is! Now they get a chance to shine! I’m so sick of cheeseball shows with washed up comedians These guys know the sport, love the game and keep us watching year after year! Thats why it’s a great show!
Just to clarify, the reason for the broadcasting of ANW on NBC along with G4 all centers around Comcast. Comcast owns G4, as well as 51% share of NBC.
I’m not really warming up to the idea that it’ll air on NBC. The new fans should know where the series originated from, from the original Ninja Warrior in 1997.