MUMBAI: It gets you! Animal Planet's latest programme initiative involves pets competing for cash. Pet Stars airs every Friday at 8 pm.

The show kicks off with auditions being conducted in ten cities across the US. The most talented of the lot are then flown to Los Angeles to compete by showcasing their antics.

Viewers will see roller skating birds, rats that play basketball, a pig that displays p[aiting ability.

In a bid to boost its weekend lineup the channel has also announced The Most Extreme programme. This airs every Saturday at 5 pm. The show provides an outlook as to how the best and worst of human behaviour stack up against what the animal kingdom has to offer.

The show counts down the 10 most extreme animals for any given behaviour. Animals looked at include super sharks, poisonous pests.

For variety viewers can check out Animal Precinct. It looks at New York based organisation ASPCA's efforts at investigating the thousands of complaints received by them every year regading cruelty towards animals. The show will air every Tuesday at 8 pm.

The organisation's agents need to use their investigative skills, compassion, tact and street smartness in combating people who are often uncooperative, unsympathetic and sometimes violent.