History said today it is renewing its survival series Alone for a second season, with the news coming ahead of the first-season finale tomorrow at 10 PM. A prize of $500,000 will be awarded to the person who survives the longest in complete isolation in the harsh wilderness. Season 1 of Alone is averaging 2.5 million total viewers and 936,000 adults 18-49 after nine weeks in Live+3 delivery, putting it in the top three among new nonfiction cable series this year. Production on Season 2 is set to begin in the fall again in Vancouver Island.

The series, produced by Leftfield Pictures, pits 10 hardcore survivalists isolated in the wilderness – no camera crew, no teams, no producers – on a single mission to stay alive. Self-documenting their experiences and carrying only what they can fit in a backpack, the survivalists are separated from one another in harsh, unforgiving terrain to hunt, build shelters and fend off predators.

Russ McCarroll and Zachary Behr executive produce for History and Brent Montgomery, David George, Shawn Witt and Gretchen Palek are exec produce for Leftfield.