Dog whisperer Millan goes global

Cesar Millan is behind Nat Geo’s Leader of the Pack

French media company Groupe AB has teamed with Televisa USA to launch its first English-language show for the global TV market, featuring Emmy-nominated ‘dog whisperer’ Cesar Millan.

The Messenger hails from AB Productions and wildlife prodco Boréales, which produced the original French version.

The show will be made in collaboration with Televisa USA and executive produced by Millan, Televisa USA’s Chris Philip, Frederic Fougea, Richard Maroko and Bob Aniello.

Each episode will see Millan share the triumphs and sorrows of animal conservationists risking their lives to rescue and rehabilitate some of the most critically endangered species.

Groupe AB will launch worldwide pre-sales for the series at next month’s Mipcom, offering six one-hour episodes of the format.

“With our deep library of programming, we have been eying a major expansion into the US and global English-language market for quite some time but waited for just the right project and star to come along,” said Richard Maroko, senior exec VP of programmes for Groupe AB.

Philip added: “Hundreds of countries worldwide respect Cesar’s expert voice, and now dozens of animal species in jeopardy of extinction will benefit from it and from his remarkable global reach.”