Mantracker TV show to involve ‘mystical’ Aboriginal trackers chasing TV conterstants
Active TV, producer of The Amazing Race Australia, is to bring the Mantracker show down under in a TV format which will see Aboriginal people helping track down contestants in the Outback.
http://youtu.be/WZswn9jruWE
The Canadian version of the reality show has run for seven series.
The deal was announced at TV conference Mipcom, currently taking place in Frnace.
Active TV has obtained the rights from Kelencontent. As yet there is no Australian network attached to the show.
Amanda Peppard, VP of development at Active TV, said: “We’re very excited about bringing this hit Canadian format to Australia and anticipate a great response from the Australian networks.
“The Australian ‘Mantracker’ will be our own (version of) 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. ”
The Amazing Race Australia was aired by Seven where it pulled in around 1m metro viewers per episode.
Tanya Kelen, president of Kelencontent, said: “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. We are confident that activeTV is the right partner to produce the Australian format version, which will undoubtedly also have a strong global appeal.”
The Canadian version features a cowboy tracker and local guide sidekick folowing two contestants who need to cross 40 kilometres of rough terrain without being caught.
According to the announcement: “The Australian Mantracker and his prey will not only be competing against each other but will also battle everything the Australian bush has to offer, from venomous snakes and deadly crocs, to stinging nettles in the rainforests and the unforgiving heat of the deserts.”
Tim Burrowes founded Mumbrella in 2008. He worked on Mumbrella until 2021. At various points he was editor, content director and editor-at-large.
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