NBC will keep American Ninja Warrior running (and jumping, and climbing) for another season.
The network has ordered an 18th season of the competition series that sees contestants working to conquer an intricate obstacle course. Hosts Matt Iseman, Akbar Gbajabiamila and Zuri Hall are all set to return. Production on season 18 is set to begin in the fall, with all rounds taking place in Las Vegas.
American Ninja Warrior will also add a new round to season 18, in which trios of contestants will take part in head-to-head-to-head races over of a three-lane course. It will also keep the bracket-style format of the current season’s final rounds (which start with Monday night’s episode), with one-on-one races deciding who moves on.
The show continues to be a reliable ratings performer for NBC. American Ninja Warrior is averaging 2.64 million same-day viewers this summer (in line with last year’s 2.71 million viewers), not including streaming and other delayed viewing. NBC says 23 million people have watched at least a few minutes of the show on the network and on Peacock this summer.
A. Smith & Co. Productions is behind American Ninja Warrior. The show’s executive producers are Arthur Smith, Kent Weed, Anthony Storm, Brian Richardson and Kristen Stabile.