The CW Network and Roku Join Forces for Original Unscripted Series “Fight to Survive”

Eight-episode competition hosted by Akbar Gbajabiamila to debut on The CW Network on Thursday, August 10 at 8:00 PM, ET/PT

All episodes of “Fight to Survive” will then be available to stream on The Roku Channel and The CW App on Sept. 29, the day after the broadcast finale

Former “Survivor,” “Alone,” “Naked and Afraid,” and “American Ninja Warrior” contestants compete against the elements and each other to win the $250,000 grand prize

BURBANK, Calif. — July 13, 2023 — The CW Network and Roku announced a first-of-its-kind collaboration between the two companies to bring the original unscripted series “Fight to Survive ” to more audiences. The eight-episode survivalist competition hosted by Akbar Gbajabiamila (“American Ninja Warrior,” “The Talk”) will premiere Thursday, August 10 (8:00-9:00 PM, ET/PT) on The CW. All episodes of “Fight to Survive ” will then be available to stream on The Roku Channel and The CW App on Sept. 29, the day after the broadcast finale.

“By bringing together the best of The CW and the best of The Roku Channel, ‘Fight to Survive ’ will be able to reach the largest audience possible across both broadcast and streaming,” commented Brad Schwartz, President of Entertainment, The CW Network, and Brian Tannenbaum, Head of Originals, Roku. “By working together in all aspects of distribution, marketing, press, and advertising, we will expose this edge-of-your-seat series to millions of fans in brand new ways.”

“With its dynamic cast of reality personalities and an original unscripted format that ratchets up the intensity of the traditional competition series, ‘Fight to Survive ’ is an addicting summer series that we are thrilled to bring to The CW,” said Heather Olander, Head of Unscripted Content, The CW Network, and Sean Boyle, Head of Adventure and Exploration Programming, Roku. “We cannot wait for viewers to join the fight!”

In “Fight to Survive ,” Akbar Gbajabiamila hosts a social experiment in primitive survivalism—with a competitive twist. Seventeen competitors, including former “Survivor,” “Alone,” “Naked and Afraid,” and “American Ninja Warrior” contestants, must survive 25 days on a remote tropical island combatting brutal conditions—and each other—to win $250,000. In one of the most intense survival-of-the-fittest competitions ever televised, the competitors battle one another for essential tools and resources in the fight to survive.

“Fight to Survive ” is a CW and Roku Original series executive produced and created by Kevin Lee for Tollbooth Television.

 

The 17 competitors on the first season of “Fight to Survive ” are:

Yuda Abitbol, 30
Oahu, HI
Known for: YouTube/TikTok/Survivalist Chef Influencer

Nathaniel Allenby, 38
San Diego, CA
Known for: Survival Enthusiast

Amal Alyassiri, 38
Cedar Rapids, IA
Known for: “Naked and Afraid” Season 9

Dani Beau, 33
Mercer, ME
Known for: “Naked and Afraid” Seasons 4 and 14, “Naked and Afraid XL” Season 1

Missy Byrd, 27
Denver, CO
Known for: “Survivor” Season 39

Robby Canton, 25
Colorado Springs, CO
Known for: Survivalist

Matthew Clarke, 31
Yukon, CAN
Known for: YouTube Survivalist Influencer

Sarah Danser, 31
Honolulu, HI
Known for: “Naked and Afraid” Season 8, “Naked and Afraid: Lost at Sea,” “Naked and Afraid XL” Season 4, “Naked and Ghosted” Season 11

Afften DeShazer, 35
Chicago, IL
Known for: “Naked and Afraid” Season 4

Stephanie Gonzalez, 31
Ocala, FL
Known for: “Survivor” Season 36

Keali’i “K” Ka’apana, 41
Orange County, CA
Known for: “Called to the Wild”

Zane Kraetsch, 33
Pasoga Springs, CO
Known for: “ALONE: The Beast”

Christina McQueen, 45
Borden, IN
Known for: “Naked and Afraid” Season 4, “Naked and Afraid XL” Season 5

Jonathan Monroe, 31
Panama City, FL
Known for: “Naked and Afraid” Season 7

Makani Nalu, 27
Venice, CA
Known for: “Stranded With a Million Dollars,” “Naked and Afraid” Season 10, “Naked and Afraid XL” Season 6

J Ruiz, 37
Tampa, FL
Known for: “American Ninja Warrior” Seasons 6, 7 and 8; “Steve Austin’s Broken Skull Challenge”

Libby Vincek, 29
Orange Beach, AL
Known for: “Survivor” Season 36
 

About The CW Network
The CW Network, LLC is one of America’s major broadcast networks and reaches 100% of US television households. The CW delivers 14 hours of primetime programming per week in addition to sports and other entertainment programming and is the exclusive broadcast home to LIV Golf. The fully ad-supported CW App, with more than 96 million downloads to date, is available for free to consumers on all major platforms and is home to the latest episodes and seasons of The CW’s primetime programming, live streaming of its sports content, and a library of entertaining film and television content for on-demand viewing. The CW is 75%-owned by Nexstar Media Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: NXST), a leading diversified media company and largest CW affiliate group with 37 CW and CW Plus affiliates, covering 32% of the population. For more information about The CW, please visit www.cwtv.com.
 

About Roku
Roku pioneered streaming on TV. We connect users to the content they love, enable content publishers to build and monetize large audiences, and provide advertisers with unique capabilities to engage consumers. Roku TV™ models, Roku streaming players, and TV-related audio devices are available in various countries around the world through direct retail sales and/or licensing arrangements with TV OEM brands. Roku-branded TVs and Roku Smart Home products are sold exclusively in the United States. Roku also operates The Roku Channel, the home of free and premium entertainment with exclusive access to Roku Originals. The Roku Channel is available in the United States, Canada, Mexico, and the United Kingdom. Roku is headquartered in San Jose, Calif., U.S.A.

Roku and Roku TV are trademarks or registered trademarks of Roku, Inc. in the U.S. and in other countries. Tradenames, trademarks, and services marks of other companies appearing in this press release are the property of their respective holders.