G4, NBC Again Partner to Air 'American Ninja Warrior'

G4 will air preliminary rounds, NBC to broadcast finale and grand finale

By Lindsay Rubino -- Broadcasting & Cable, 1/24/2012 1:09:43 PM

Following NBC's special broadcast of G4's American Ninja Warrior last year, the networks announced they will partner again to air the obstacle-course competition series' fourth season.

G4 will air the preliminary rounds, while NBC will air the preliminary finals and grand finale.

Additionally, the networks collaborated with the series' original Japanese broadcaster, Tokyo Broadcasting System (TBS), to bring the course and its designs to the U.S. for the first time.

"This season we are so determined to find the American Ninja Warrior that we are making it easier than ever for the best athletes in the country to compete against the brutal physical and mental challenges that have made American Ninja Warrior such a phenomenal TV hit," said Arthur Smith, founder and CEO, A. Smith & Co. "Even better, for the first time ever, we're moving the most infamous obstacle course of all-time, Mount Midoriyama, to U.S. soil."

The third season of American Ninja Warrior broke records for G4, giving the network its most-watched telecast among men 18-34 and men 18-49. NBC's special airing of the third season finale earned almost 4 million total viewers and won the 10 p.m. timeslot in the A18-49 demo.

A. Smith & Co. return to produce the new season, with founder Smith and Kent Weed executive producing.