G4 Heads To Japan For Third Season Of "AMERICAN NINJA WARRIOR" And Gives Fans The Opportunity To Support The Country's Relief Efforts Through The American Red Cross

Amateur Athletes Will Get The Chance To Turn Professional With A $500,000 KSWISS Endorsement Deal and National Ad Campaign at Stake

Series Will Debut in August Culminating with Two Special Finale Episodes From Japan Premiering On NBC

G4's "American Ninja Warrior" is back for a third season to find the strongest, most skilled U.S. competitors and give them an opportunity to defeat the nearly impossible obstacle course known as Mt. Midoriyama in Japan. As part of the new season, the network is committed to helping generate awareness and money for American Red Cross support of relief efforts in Japan through a public auction that will allow one lucky person to challenge the course.

For all other contenders, G4 will hold open tryouts in Venice Beach, CA on Monday, May 16 and Tuesday, May 17 and, for the first time ever, the American who can complete all four stages of the world's toughest obstacle course in the fastest time will be awarded a $500,000 KSwiss endorsement contract and will appear in a national advertising campaign for the brand. However, just to make it to Japan, the contestants must survive open tryouts and a grueling boot camp session to be one of the ten selected to go to Japan.

Executive produced by A. Smith & Co. Productions' founders Arthur Smith and Kent Weed ("Hell's Kitchen," "I Survived a Japanese Game Show," "Pros vs. Joes"), the third season of "American Ninja Warrior" will premiere this August on G4, with the final two episodes from Japan also airing and premiering on NBC.

In light of the recent disaster in Japan, G4 has been working closely with the Tokyo Broadcasting System (TBS) who produces "Ninja Warrior" to help raise awareness and money for the American Red Cross relief efforts after the country was devastated by an earthquake and tsunami on March 11th. As part of that, G4 and TBS are auctioning off a once-in-a-lifetime chance for one lucky fan to compete in Japan with the ten "American Ninja Warrior" finalists. While not eligible for the KSwiss endorsement, this adventurer would get a chance to run the world's most diabolical course alongside the elite athletes they have watched for years. From May 2nd until May 12th, fans are encouraged to bid for this amazing opportunity through eBAY. Net proceeds of the winning bid will benefit the American Red Cross.

"We are taking 'American Ninja Warrior' to a whole new level this year by partnering with KSwiss to give these athletes the chance to turn professional with their own endorsement deal and national ad campaign," said Neal Tiles, President G4. "G4 viewers are deeply connected to Japanese culture and it was important to us that we find a way to help with the country's relief efforts as we head back to Japan to shoot the third season of the series. With the final two episodes premiering on NBC, this year's 'American Ninja Warrior' event is our biggest and most exciting yet."

"We are very thankful for everything many nations have done for Japan during this tragedy" said TBS's Managing Director Ichiro Nobukuni. "By continuing to add to this series that is enjoyed by so many people around the globe, TBS is able to show our appreciation to the world for their kindness and at the same time, in collaboration with G4, help the people and regions so severely affected in Japan through our charitable activities."

"We're happy to partner with G4 to broadcast the finale episodes of this action-packed series and share it with an even wider audience -- as well as properly showcase this competitive event in a way that will hopefully remind viewers of the Japanese people's heroic struggle in the wake of their ongoing March 11 tragedy," said Paul Telegdy, NBC's Executive Vice President of Alternative Programming and Specials.

Open tryouts will be held in May at Southern California's Venice Beach on May 16-17. More than 300 entrants are expected to begin here, but only 15 will surface from these tryouts and move on to the next stage of this arduous journey. As with last year's competition, these 15 aspiring Ninja Warrior competitors will have the opportunity to live and train together at a boot camp in preparation for Japan's Mount Midoriyama. They will undertake grueling challenges that determine who is eliminated from the competition. Only 10 finalists will make the trip to Japan where they will face Mount Midoriyama and Sasuke 27, the world's most unforgiving obstacle course. The American competitor who completes all four stages at Sasuke with the fastest final stage time will be named the ultimate "American Ninja Warrior" receiving a $500,000 KSwiss endorsement contract and launching their professional career in a national advertising campaign.

Production for "American Ninja Warrior" will begin in May with the kick-off of the nationwide search for America's strongest competitors at the open tryout on Venice Beach (at Windward Plaza). Fans are encouraged to go to g4tv.com/anwcasting for rules and more information.

The third season of "American Ninja Warrior" will be executive produced by A. Smith & Co. Productions' founders Arthur Smith and Kent Weed ("Hell's Kitchen," "I Survived a Japanese Game Show," "Pros vs. Joes").

The auction is open to legal residents of the United States, excluding Massachusetts, Maine and Alabama. Winning bidder will be responsible for his or her own travel and accommodations. Other conditions apply. Net proceeds of the winning bid will benefit the American Red Cross (American National Red Cross, 2025 E Street NW, Washington, DC 20006). The American Red Cross name and emblem are used with its permission, which in no way constitutes an endorsement, express or implied, of any product, service, company, opinion or political position. The American Red Cross logo is a registered trademark owned by the American Red Cross. For more information about the American Red Cross, please visit www.redcross.org.

Ninja Warrior in Japan is produced by Tokyo Broadcasting System Television, Inc. and Monster 9 Co., Ltd.