TV3 to take on Seven Sharp with Lip Sync Battle

Anna Kendrick, Jennifer Lopez and host, LL Cool J on Lip Sync Battle. Photo / Spike via Facebook

Seven Sharp has been challenged to a lip-sync battle.

American lip-sync game show Lip Sync Battle will soon take over TV3's 7pm slot on Friday nights, TV3 confirmed to the Herald today.

That puts it in direct competition with TVNZ's Seven Sharp.

The news comes after TV3 recently announced the start date of its new current affairs show, Story, hosted by Duncan Garner and Heather du Plessis-Allan.

Story is set to make its debut on Monday, August 10 at 7pm - but will only screen from Monday to Thursday.

The 7pm slot on Fridays will be filled with half-hour episodes of US celebrity game show Lip Sync Battle.

Terry Crews and Mike Tyson on Lip Sync Battle. Photo / Spike via Facebook

The show first screened on TV3 earlier this year, with back-to-back episodes at 7.30pm filling in for comedy show Jono and Ben while it was on hiatus.

Ratings were good, with the May 29 episode gaining 245,490 viewers in the 7.35-8.35pm time slot, making it the third most-watched show of the evening.

In comparison, last Friday's episode of Come Dine With Me at 7pm had 115,000 viewers. Jono and Ben, which screens from 7.30-8.30pm, had 205,00 viewers.

Justin Bieber on Lip Sync Battle. Photo / Spike via Facebook

Lip Sync Battle, produced by comedian Jimmy Fallon and hosted by rapper LL Cool J, features celebrities like Iggy Azalea, Anne Hathaway and Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson.

The first episode set to screen on TV3 features Justin Bieber competing against former NRL player Deion Sanders.

- nzherald.co.nz