HaMerotz LaMillion

Pairs following clues between international destinations form the core of HaMerotz LaMillion, with challenges bringing contestants into contact with local people, cultures, food, and landscapes.[4] The competition combines travel with task completion and elimination: under the format announced for the first season, the last pair to reach an episode’s finish line was eliminated.[1] A one-million-shekel prize was offered at the launch and remained the overall prize for the 2024 season.[1][5]

After a costly first production, Reshet initially decided not to commission a second season.[6][7] It later revived the program.[4] Raz Meirman hosted at launch, and Ron Shahar took over from the second season.[1][4] Yehuda Levi became host after the move to Keshet 12.[3]

Channel 2 franchisee Reshet announced the Israeli adaptation in January 2009, scheduling its first broadcast for February 5 and naming Raz Meirman as host.[1] The first season featured ten pairs, including beauty queens, former partners, and a father and stepdaughter.[1] The announced winner’s package consisted of one million shekels and two cars.[1]

The launch involved an announced investment of more than $5 million, making it Reshet’s most expensive production to that date.[1] Production figures included 2,000 hours of filming, 1,000 crew members, 120 camera and sound professionals, and 650 vehicles.[1] A later financial account placed the actual cost at approximately $8.5 million, including about $400,000 per episode, and estimated Reshet’s loss on the season at roughly seven million shekels.[6]

Shay Kahana and Guy Osidon won the inaugural season, receiving one million shekels and two Honda hybrid cars.[8] Ynet reported that their race covered four continents and listed Israel, South Africa, Vietnam, Japan, Macau, Hong Kong, Australia, and New Zealand, where the finale took place.[8] A later Globes account said contestants visited more than 13 countries; the sources do not reconcile the difference.[9]

After the first season, Reshet announced that it would not commission another installment because of the high production costs.[7] The company instead intended to direct the allocated budget toward original dramas and new Israeli formats.[7] Its deputy chief executive, Shira Margalit, said another season faithful to the original format lacked an economic justification.[7]

Reshet reversed its decision and revived the competition for a second season, with Ron Shahar replacing Raz Meirman and 11 pairs taking part.[4] The season premiered on October 25, 2011, and its planned nine-country itinerary included Hungary, the Czech Republic, China, and Thailand.[4][9] The Israeli production worked closely with the American version’s producers, who regularly advised its production teams.[9]

Childhood friends Bar Ben-Vakil and Ina Broder won the second season and shared the one-million-shekel prize.[2] Brothers Oren and Alon Harel finished second, while Akiva and Anael placed third.[2] The Singapore finale included a rope-walking challenge that proved difficult for Akiva and Anael.[2] The season combined strong viewing figures with lower production costs than the first installment.[2]

The third season began in May 2013, again hosted by Shahar and featuring 11 pairs.[10] Its itinerary crossed Europe, the Americas, and Asia, with tasks in Spain, France, Brazil, Cuba, the United States, and Taiwan.[10] Among the contestants were Andrea Simantov-Zaltzman and Ronny Zaltzman, aged 57 and 60 respectively, who were identified at the time as the oldest pair to have competed.[11]

Kobi Weitzberg and Talia Gorodous won the third season’s one-million-shekel prize in Taiwan.[10] Sisters Romi and Coral Gemer finished second, and cousins Maayan Refaeli and Bat-El Musai came third.[10] The cousins completed the final task first, but a delay navigating to the finish cost them their lead.[10] Reflecting on their experience abroad, Kobi and Talia compared it to “30 years of marriage” and said they had learned they could rely on one another.[10]

In 2024, HaMerotz LaMillion moved to Keshet 12 after eight seasons as one of Reshet 13’s flagship programs.[3] Yehuda Levi replaced Ron Shahar as host, and the new season premiered on July 1 with 13 pairs.[3][5] Its opening task took place inside a volcano at what was described as the northernmost starting point in the race’s history.[5]

More than 20,000 pairs applied for the 13 available places.[12] Approximately 4,000 Israeli and non-Israeli production workers participated in the race’s production, and filming lasted 35 days.[12] During one 24-hour period, the pairs traveled through three countries on two continents; the season’s longest task lasted nine hours.[12] The competition retained a one-million-shekel prize and the elimination of the last pair to reach an episode’s finish point.[5]

The race is divided into legs, termed “קטע מירוץ” in the Hebrew description of the format, during which pairs follow clues and complete challenges between locations.[4] Tasks expose both participants and viewers to the cultures, people, foods, colors, and landscapes of the destinations visited.[4] Challenges have included rope-walking in the second-season finale, while the third-season conclusion demonstrated the importance of navigation even after the final task had been completed.[2][10]

Contestant relationships have included childhood friends, siblings, cousins, former partners, and a father and stepdaughter.[13][2][10] The first season began with ten pairs, while the second and third each began with 11.[1][4] The 2024 season began with 13 pairs.[5] In 2013, the competition included a pair aged 57 and 60 alongside its other contestants.[11]

The second-season semifinal drew 37.2% of Jewish households, setting the program’s highest reported audience figure since its Israeli launch.[2] The third season recorded an overall rating of approximately 28%, two percentage points below the preceding season.[10] A separate archived weekend ratings report placed HaMerotz LaMillion at the top of the table with an 18% figure, slightly below its previous week’s result; the report did not identify the episode.[14]

HaMerotz LaMillion won the Israeli Academy of Television award for Best Reality Program in 2014.[15] Its position among Reshet’s flagship programs before the 2024 transfer, together with the more than 20,000 pairs applying for that year’s season, reflected its continuing prominence as a television competition.[3][12]