NBC AND "AMERICAN NINJA WARRIOR" TAKE VIEWERS BEHIND-THE-SCENES WITH EXCLUSIVE DIGITAL SERIES "CRASHING THE COURSE" AND "24/B4"

Weekly Digital Episodes That Focus on the Making of a Course and Inside the Life of a Ninja to Be Released on NBC.com, NBC App and YouTube in Advance of New Season on NBC

UNIVERSAL CITY, Calif. - May 31, 2016 - NBC Digital Entertainment, in partnership with "American Ninja Warrior" producer A. Smith & Co., is pulling back the curtain and giving fans an immersive behind-the-scenes experience with two digital series, "Crashing the Course" and "24/B4."

Both series launch today with new episodes every week on the NBC App, NBC.com and the "American Ninja Warrior" YouTube channel.

"American Ninja Warrior" premieres its eighth season tomorrow, Wednesday, June 1 at 8 p.m. ET/PT on NBC.

"We are really excited about the two digital series we've created for the upcoming season which allows fans to engage and share what we believe to be truly insightful elements of the "American Ninja Warrior" experience," said Rob Hayes, Executive Vice President, Digital, NBC Entertainment. "This show has some of the most passionate fans in the world and we love providing them with as much content as possible on our digital and social platforms."

"Crashing the Course" is a weekly series giving fans a look at how each obstacle is designed, constructed and tested all leading up to the moment when the first competitor takes the course. The series will be hosted by digital correspondent Alex Weber (MTV's "Greatest Party Story Ever)".

"24/B4" will highlight one Ninja each week, detailing "the life of a Ninja" and the mental, physical and emotional preparation competitors go through in the 24 hours before they compete.

"Over the course of seven seasons we've captured countless hours of really interesting content that never makes it to air on 'American Ninja Warrior,' and we wanted to share that content with our audiences," said Kent Weed, executive producer of 'Crashing the Course' and '24/B4.' "These new shows will give an exclusive look into what's going on behind the scenes, providing viewers with an insiders' look at all the work that goes into the course construction and testing, while also profiling top Ninjas as they prepare to conquer the course and punch their ticket to the Las Vegas finals."

Follow the all NEW NBC American Ninja Warrior Social Profiles for EXCLUSIVE Content:

· Facebook - /NBCNinjaWarrior

· Twitter - /NBCNinjaWarrior

· Instagram - /nbcninjawarrior

· YouTube - /NBCNinjaWarrior

Kent Weed of A. Smith & Co. Productions is the executive producer of "Crashing the Course" and "24/B4," with Meredith Ellis, Jack Primavera, and Lindsay Wilkes-Edrington serving as producers.

NBC Entertainment Digital

The Emmy Award-winning digital team oversees NBC's Late Night, Primetime and Daytime initiatives across all digital platforms and is the leading mobile and online destination for television and interactive entertainment. Producing both derivative and web-exclusive programming and building digital products; the team extends the broadcast experience through key collaborations with partners and targeted social outreach via its robust social platforms. For full episodes visit nbc.com or get the NBC app. You can find us at @NBC on Twitter, /NBC on Facebook and @NBCTV on Instagram.

About A. Smith & Co. Productions

A. Smith & Co. Productions creates some of the most innovative, highly rated, and high-quality programming for the domestic and international television marketplace. The company has produced more than 3,000 hours of award-winning programming - with budgets totaling over one billion dollars across more than 45 broadcast and cable networks. Current productions include "Hell's Kitchen," "American Ninja Warrior," "Spartan Race," "Ellen's Design Challenge," "Unsung," "Inside the Label," "Acting Out," "Full Throttle Saloon," "Team Ninja Warrior," "Container Homes," and "The Dunk King." Past hits include "Kitchen Nightmares," "Wizard Wars," "Conspiracy Theory with Jesse Ventura," "UFC Countdown," "Joe Rogan Questions Everything," "Paradise Hotel," "I Survived a Japanese Game Show," "The Swan," "Trading Spaces," "Pros vs. Joes," "Skating with Celebrities," and many others. For more information, visit www.asmithco.com.