activeTV Brings Mantracker Format to Australia

October 6, 2011 World Screen
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CANNES: activeTV Australia, the producer of the Amazing Race Australia series, has secured format rights in Australia and New Zealand for Mantracker from kelencontent.

 

Mantracker, currently in its seventh season on OLN in Canada, is now airing on Discovery Science Channel in the U.S. In Mantracker, two people using only a compass, map and their wits must cross rugged terrain and wilderness to reach their destination within 36 hours without being caught by the Mantracker, a Canadian cowboy tracker and his sidekick who are unaware of the team’s destination. The series was created by Ihor Macijiwsky, the executive producer and founder of Bonterra Productions, producers of the original series.
 
“We’re very excited about bringing this hit Canadian format to Australia and anticipate a great response from the Australian networks,” said Amanda Peppard, the VP of development at activeTV. “The Australian Mantracker will be our own Bear Grylls—calm, fearless and knowledgeable—and be accompanied by local indigenous trackers whose understanding of the bush is almost mystical. We’ll cast our ‘prey’ the same way we cast for The Amazing Race—couples from a diverse range of backgrounds and skills sets all with unique relationships, which will add to the drama. Once we drop them into the Australian outback or rainforests, remote beaches or mountain ranges, it’ll be anybody’s guess as to who will be victorious. ”
 
“Mantracker features many of the elements that activeTV has become renowned for following the success of The Amazing Race formats they have produced—each episode is based on a race; the casting of the contestants is key; and it will feature incredible challenges performed in one of the world’s toughest and remote terrains,” added Tanya Kelen, the president of kelencontent. “We are confident that activeTV is the right partner to produce the Australian format version, which will undoubtedly also have a strong global appeal.”