HaMerotz LaMillion | |
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![]() Logo from the first season | |
Hebrew | המירוץ למיליון |
Genre | Reality competition |
Created by | Elise Doganieri Bertram van Munster |
Based on | |
Presented by | Raz Meirman (2009) Ron Shahar (2011–2020) Yehuda Levi (2024–present) |
Country of origin | Israel |
Original language | Hebrew |
No. of seasons | 9 |
Production | |
Executive producers | Michael McKay, Ido Baron |
Producer | David Gardner |
Production location | See below |
Cinematography | Ryan Godard |
Production companies | Reshet (2009–2020) activeTV (2009–2014) Keshet Media Group (2024–present) |
Original release | |
Network | Channel 2 (Reshet) (2009–2017) Channel 13 (2017–2020) Channel 12 (2024–present) |
Release | 5 February 2009 present | –
Related | |
International versions | |
Infobox instructions (only shown in preview) |
HaMerotz LaMillion (Hebrew: המירוץ למיליון, lit. The Race to the Million) is an Israeli reality competition entertainment show, drawing inspiration from the American series The Amazing Race. Following the premise of other versions in the Amazing Race franchise, the show closely follows the competitive journeys of many couples overcoming challenges and making their way into the final stage of the race, as they often navigating their ways worldwide. Each season is split into legs, with teams tasked to deduce clues, navigate themselves in foreign areas, interact with locals, perform physical and mental challenges, and travel by air, boat, car, taxi, and other modes of transport. Teams are progressively eliminated at the end of most legs for being the last to arrive at designated Pit Stops. The first team to arrive at the Finish Line wins a grand prize of ₪1,000,000.
On 8 April 2008, Israeli TV network Reshet announced plans to produce a local version of the show. It premiered on 5 February 2009, on Channel 2. The show was produced by Reshet and, during its first four seasons, activeTV, which also produced the first four seasons of The Amazing Race Asia and the first two seasons of The Amazing Race Australia, in association with Disney-ABC and ESPN Television. It was originally hosted by Raz Meirman in the first season.
In April 2009, during the airing of the show, Reshet had begun preparations for a second season. They considered producing a celebrity edition of the show that would have raised the price of producing the show.[1] Reshet had consulted with CBS and agreed it would film two more seasons at the same time to save expenses, a celebrity and non-celebrity editions.[2] Despite this, on 20 December, Reshet announced that due to the overall high costs the show would not continue.[3] However, on 20 September 2010, Reshet reconsidered and announced a new season.[4] On 11 February 2011, Ron Shahar was announced as the new host, replacing Raz Meirman.[5]
In October 2021, Shahar stated that a new season would be filmed as soon as it is safely possible due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[6] The show was later cancelled by Reshet in September 2022 in favour of a local version of Peking Express, a similar travel reality competition show.[7] However, in October 2022, it was reported that a new season produced by Keshet Media Group would be filmed in 2023 and aired on Channel 12 in 2024 with Yehuda Levi serving as the new host.[8][9][10] Casting for a tenth season opened on 18 July 2024,[11] and the show was officially renewed on 30 October 2024.[12][13]