Banijay deepens Ninja Warrior pact, grows kids digital distribution footprint

Ninja Warrior originated on TBS as Sasuke

Tokyo Broadcasting System

Japan’s TBS and Banijay Rights have expanded their partnership around competition format Ninja Warrior, with Banijay’s global distribution arm taking on international sales of finished episodes of the sports entertainment franchise.

The deal builds on the format licensing agreement signed by TBS and Banijay Entertainment in October 2025, which brought Ninja Warrior into Banijay’s distribution portfolio.

Since then, local versions have returned in Israel and Australia, while the format will be shopped as part of Banijay Rights’ catalogue at Mipcom. The original iteration of the format, Sasuke, has been on air in Japan since 1997.

Elsewhere, Banijay Kids & Family has expanded its digital distribution footprint through a series of new deals spanning YouTube, free ad-supported streaming television (FAST) and other platforms.

Again! Again!, a YouTube channel from Acamar Films that professes to have public service values, has picked up Banijay titles Mister Maker and Mumfie, while Banijay has acquired YouTube and Amazon Prime rights to preschool series Olobob Top from UK animation studio Beakus.

Banijay Kids & Family is also adding third-party content from TheSoul Group to its owned and operated YouTube network, including DoodLand, Teen-Z, Baby Zoo and Learn Toons.

In addition, Lighthouse Studios’ Murder by Gaslight will join Banijay’s ZK Comedy Plus YouTube channel under a non-exclusive deal, alongside digital-first animation Ava & Digger and upcoming adult mockumentary Belzebubs.

Banijay said the deals form part of its broader push to use its digital infrastructure to grow both its own IP and third-party brands.