ESQUIRE NETWORK BRINGS THE CLASSIC JAPANESE HIT "NINJA WARRIOR" BACK TO THE SMALL SCREEN

Past and Future Episodes Licensed From Producers TBS (Tokyo Broadcasting System Television) To Air On Esquire Network Episodes Kick Off Labor Day Weekend With A Marathon of The 26 "Sasuke" Tournaments That Started The Ninja Warrior Craze

Episodes Kick Off Labor Day Weekend With A Marathon of The 26 "Sasuke" Tournaments That Started The Ninja Warrior Craze

Universal City, August 3, 2016 - "Ninja Warrior," the original, fan-favorite obstacle course competition series from Japan, will return to the US with the announcement of a multi-year licensing deal between Esquire Network and producers TBS (Tokyo Broadcasting System Television), 10 years after the series originally premiered on G4. "Ninja Warrior" captures the devotion, creativity and strength of everyday competitors from around the world as they compete against insane obstacles in an effort to defeat the infamous Mt. Midoriyama. The heart-racing marathon will begin Saturday, September 3 at 7am ET/PT and run through Tuesday, September 6 at 4am ET/PT, featuring 26 "Sasuke" tournaments and 7 "Women of Ninja Warrior" (Kunoichi) tournaments. Additionally all-new "Sasuke" tournaments will air for the first time in the United States on Esquire Network in 2017.

"Esquire Network is thrilled to be airing the original 'Ninja Warrior' episodes that launched a cultural phenomenon in the United States and was a precursor to the mega-hit, 'American Ninja Warrior' and subsequent spin-off 'Team Ninja Warrior'," said Matt Monos, SVP of Programming & Acquisitions, Esquire Network. "Drawn to the extraordinary strength and talent of these fierce competitors, the series quickly developed a strong fan-base when it began on G4. Esquire Network is excited to serve this loyal audience with the high impact, addictive television they crave."

"As there have been so many requests to bring 'Ninja Warrior' back in the US, we are very happy and excited that Esquire is bringing back 'Ninja Warrior' and 'Women of Ninja Warrior' along with the brand new episodes based on 'Sasuke #28' and beyond which were never broadcast in the US," said Makito Sugiyama, Chief of TBS Global Business.

Bringing back the triumph, tragedy and shocking twists, the Labor Day marathon will feature 26 original "Sasuke" tournaments, where viewers get to relive those epic "Warrior Wipeouts" and "Ninja Killers." Thousands have come to the mountain to compete for the elusive Total Victory, pushing their bodies to the ultimate physical limits. Relive the runs of past amazing competitors from all walks of life including legendary Makoto Nagano, a fisherman and fishing boat captain who reached the final stage more often than anyone else and was the second person to complete the course, Toshihiro Takeda, the firefighter who reached stage three more than any competitor, Yuuji Urushihara, the shoe salesman who achieved Total Victory not just once, but twice and Kazuhiko Akiyama, a crab fisherman who was the first to ever achieve Total Victory. The action packed "Ninja Warrior" marathon kicks off Saturday, September 3 at 7am ET/PT only on Esquire Network.

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