NBC's 'American Ninja Warrior' shows its strength with fifth-season renewal

Casting website opens today as series searches for next wave of elite competitors

NBC's summer sensation, "American Ninja Warrior," has been renewed for a fifth season on the network.

The popular obstacle course competition series hosted by Matt Iseman and former NFL player Akbar Gbajabiamila, and co-hosted by Kristine Leahy, has set ratings records in its current fourth season on NBC. The series is produced in association with Esquire Network.

So far this summer, "American Ninja Warrior" is averaging a 2.2 rating, 8 share in adults 18-49 and 7.1 million viewers overall in "most current" results from Nielsen Media Research, for an increase of 10 percent versus last summer in 18-49 (2.2 vs. 2.0) and 23 percent in total viewers (7.1 million vs. 5.8 million). "Ninja" is matching its best season to date at this point in the summer in 18-49 and is delivering its top season outright at this point in total viewers. In preliminary "fast affiliate" Nielsens, this week's telecast set a "live plus same day" series record in total viewers (7.0 million).

The season finale will air on NBC Monday, Sept. 14, in a special three-hour telecast (8-11 p.m.) with an encore presentation on Esquire Network, Tuesday, Sept. 15 (7 p.m.).

Casting for the new season opens today and video submissions are welcome at http://www.anwcasting.com/. The casting website will remain open until January 2016. Production on the new season will begin in the spring.

The action-packed series follows competitors as they tackle a series of challenging obstacle courses in both city qualifying and city finals rounds across the country. This season, the show traveled to Kansas City, Houston, Orlando, Pittsburgh, Venice Beach and San Pedro, California. Those who successfully complete the finals course in their designated region move on to the national finals round in Las Vegas, where they face a stunning four-stage course modeled after the famed Mt. Midoriyama course in Japan.

Fans can visit the official show site at http://nbc.com/american-ninja-warrior.