HIT COMPETITION SERIES "TEAM NINJA WARRIOR" MOVES TO USA NETWORK

The Battle Begins April 18 at 10/9c, Following Live Airings of WWE SmackDown

New York, NY -- March 6, 2017 -- Epic competition series TEAM NINJA WARRIOR is bringing more heat to USA Network's Tuesday night line-up. Hosted by comedian Matt Iseman and former NFL player Akbar Gbajabiamila, TEAM NINJA WARRIOR will premiere its 11-part second season on USA beginning Tuesday, April 18 at 10/9c, immediately following WWE SMACKDOWN.

TEAM NINJA WARRIOR, part of the Emmy(R) nominated franchise "American Ninja Warrior," pits three-person athletic teams against each other on physically demanding, side-by-side obstacle courses that test both endurance and speed. Originally debuting on Esquire Network in 2016, TEAM NINJA WARRIOR ranked as the network's most watched original series in its history. Esquire recently announced that the network, a partnership between NBCUniversal and Hearst Magazines, will transform into a digital-only brand.

"TEAM NINJA WARRIOR is a perfect pairing to WWE SMACKDOWN," said Chris McCumber, President, Entertainment Networks, NBCUniversal Cable Entertainment. "With this powerful franchise, we're giving our passionate audience three full hours of jam-packed, high-stakes action every Tuesday night."

For Season 2, fan-favorite competitors from "American Ninja Warrior" will form 28 teams, each with two men and one woman, and settle their rivalries on the warped wall -- for ultimate ninja bragging rights. In addition to hosts Iseman and Gbajabiamila, FOX Sports' Alex Curry will serve as sideline reporter, rounding out the talent commentators.

TEAM NINJA WARRIOR is executive-produced by A. Smith & Co. Productions' founders Arthur Smith and Kent Weed ("Hell's Kitchen," "The Dunk King," "Spartan: Ultimate Team Challenge"), along with Brian Richardson as executive producer. The series is a spin-off of "American Ninja Warrior" which is based on the "Sasuke/Ninja Warrior" format from Tokyo Broadcasting System Television, Inc., and airs on NBC.

About USA Network:

USA Network, the leader in cable entertainment, offers a powerful stable of dramatic, comedic and unscripted originals in more than 102 million U.S. homes. The network also features spectacular live television, a dynamic portfolio of acquired series and the best in blockbuster theatrical films and entertainment events. A trailblazer in digital innovation and storytelling, USA is defining, driving and setting the industry standard for Social TV. USA is a program service of NBCUniversal Cable Entertainment, a division of NBCUniversal. USA's award-winning website is located at http://www.usanetwork.com.

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 3,500 hours of award-winning programming - with budgets totaling well over one billion dollars across more than 47 broadcast and cable networks. Current productions include "Hell's Kitchen," "American Ninja Warrior," "Spartan: Ultimate Team Challenge," "Ellen's Design Challenge," "Unsung," "Inside the Label," "Acting Out," "Team Ninja Warrior," "Container Homes," "The Game of Dating," "That Awkward Game Show" and "The Dunk King." Past hits include "Kitchen Nightmares," "Full Throttle Saloon," "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," "Celebrity Duets," "Pros vs. Joes," "Skating with Celebrities," and many others. For more information, visit www.asmithco.com.

About Tokyo Broadcasting System Television, Inc.:

Established in 1951 and with over 50 years of experience licensing programming overseas, TBS has distributed programs of all genres - dramas, anime, documentaries, formats, movies - totaling tens of thousands of hours of programming in over 160 countries worldwide, and has firmly established its presence as a major content provider in the global arena. TBS is one of the most innovative broadcasters in creating variety formats, having licensed nearly 200 localized versions with several thousand episodes being produced, including global hits like America's Funniest Home Videos, Takeshi's Castle/MXC and Sasuke/Ninja Warrior. TBS program online catalogue: http://www.tbscontents.com/en/. TBS Global Business Official Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/tbs.intl.sales