ITV Studios and Tokyo Broadcasting System create Ninja Warrior FAST Channel
October 4, 2024 12.50 Europe/London By Julian Clover


ITV Studios and Tokyo Broadcasting System Television (TBS) are coming together 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.

The channel will initially be available in the UK and Canada, with Australia and several other major territories to follow in the coming months.

Fans of the 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.

Ninja Warrior, was originally commissioned by ITV in the UK where ITV Studios also operates 19 Ninja Warrior UK adventure parks.

Catherine Saunders, Director of Sales, Bellon Entertainment, which brokered the deal 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.”

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.

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.”

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).