This is probably ube's article to post, but I found this on his twitter feed just now.
www.tbs.co.jp/hot-jyouhou/201108311225.htmlWarning: Incoming Google Translate Disaster.
"First Ever TV-Japan! U.S. version "SASUKE" finally broadcast on primetime terrestrial rice! American success in boosting ratings NBC!
August 31 (Wed) 12 hours 25 minutes
The TBS, the U.S. program sales format (※ 1) was "SASUKE" the latest version of America series "American Ninja Warrior (American Ninja Warrior), Season 3" (ANW3), the United States at the NBC terrestrial, August 22 (Mon) 9:00 pm (U.S. time), access code that was broadcast in two hours. The golden band of terrestrial broadcasting is a major U.S. TV shows in Japan, the first-ever TV-Japan thing?
Viewing rate, since the ever-increasing rise in broadcasting. In the late afternoon, especially at 10 units surpassed the 4 million average viewers, a record surpassed the top tier rivals ABC and CBS 18-49 year old men and women that are most important. The ailing NBC audience, success and good performance recorded since the Independence Day fireworks relay was broadcast in the U.S. during the same hours on July 04, Golden.
This was broadcast on NBC, was recorded in Japan, "Proceedings 27th SASUKE" followed the pattern of activity of the 10 national team that participated in America, "ANW3" 2 final part of the completion of the falls all 10 episodes series story (Episode 10 and Episode 9).
"ANW3" series, July 31 (Sunday) from 2 episodes each week, G4 cable TV stations nationwide (Jifo) (※ 2) is broadcast in the previous year in the 12-17 age group for first-time male including a record growth rate of up to 409 percent, a substantial increase was recorded in three digits from double digits in all age groups except for sex male 18-49 age group originally high ratings.
This "ANW3" as a series, eg terrestrial broadcast programs promoted by the cable station, but also in the past, both from the audience to be sluggish, this "ANW3" High audience will be overturned precedent.
Furthermore, in the NBC "ANW3" behind the same broadcast time, which had been broadcasting the NFL pre-season professional football game an audience overlap, the U.S., despite its "ANW3" The audience rose in is also true testament to the American people accepted the program content.
The TBS "SASUKE" format of the earlier sales, 153 countries have reached a total area, where sales in Asia, North America and Europe, as well as the former communist bloc and Africa, the Middle East, been over five continents, including Latin American countries . Facebook also a "Ninja Warrior" fan page has already won more than 480,000 fans, and growing at a pace of more than 10,000 people every week, momentum has been growing explosively in popularity.
※ 1 "program sales format"
How to sell the concept of programming and production expertise. TBS and sold abroad programs for over 40 years since the 1960s (Overseas sales) has been working aggressively to "show sales format" in the field of pioneering in the world. Nearly 200 in more than 160 countries around the world Bellon Entertainment Inc. in cooperation with the U.S. So far, the story spans thousands "selling format program" has been achieved by creating localized versions of the TBS show, Hiroshi national popularity in the country was (is gaining) a number of programs. Moreover, also sell shows and movies of all genres including drama and animation, total sales are more than 150 countries on five continents, hundreds of titles, the story and tens of thousands of television and film with "content providers" as achievements in the world.
National Cable Television ※ 2 "G4"
The world's largest media conglomerates, "Comcast (Comcast)" cable television under the umbrella. While emerging 開局 Office 2002 available for viewing households has reached 59 million households in the U.S. (Headquarters, Los Angeles, USA). From the corner of the acquisition of the largest film studio Universal Studios, NBC and Comcast in 2009, the U.S. terrestrial, there are circumstances that the United States realized this broadcast on NBC. Since 2006 "SASUKE" the American version was based on "Ninja Warrior" started broadcasting. Since the show is "G4" sign has become a popular show. Interactive TV and VOD, and an emphasis on areas such as new media podcast, "Ninja Warrior" is also broadcast as well, even in these services can be viewed."
Looks like TBS was pleased with the ratings. I'm not sure if that's a good or bad thing yet.