.tv New TV Genre - Slow TV

[En]

A new genre of TV has been getting a lot of attention recently - Slow TV.

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slow_television

Types of shows include live train journeys, ship journeys, knitting, bird watching, log fires, etc.

Other examples could be NASA's International Space Station stream http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/nasatv/iss_ustream.html#.U7G2gpK9KK0

British Airways recently started offering Slow TV on flights:
http://www.scotsman.com/news/fiona-mccade-slow-tv-has-me-hooked-for-long-haul-1-3457059
http://www.channel4.com/news/slow-tv-nrk-train-journey-ship-video-125
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/88ffba3a-faf2-11e3-a9cd-00144feab7de.html
http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/235096
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/avi...TV-with-seven-hour-film-of-train-journey.html
http://www.bloombergview.com/articles/2014-06-23/trade-of-the-day-slow-cinema-at-36-000-feet

Norway's Slow TV attracts viewers:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-25524704
http://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/tvandradioblog/2013/oct/04/slow-tv-norwegian-movement-nrk

Slow TV coming to the US:
http://www.today.com/video/today/53971956
http://nypost.com/2013/12/02/norways-slow-tv-format-coming-to-us/
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/lmno-productions-takes-us-remake-653320
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/tag/slow-tv-us/

 

[DnEbook]

Strangely i don't think i'll be watching the knitting channel …..

 

[En]

Strangely i don't think i'll be watching the knitting channel …..

The knitting marathon was surprisingly very successful in Norway:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/wor...record-during-marathon-live-TV-programme.html
It's one of those hobbies that is addictive and hypnotic, for some people, I guess.

More news: British Airways to use 'happiness blankets' and 'Slow TV' for relaxation to put passengers into "meditative state":
http://www.sfgate.com/business/article/British-Airways-blanket-assesses-fliers-5605425.php
http://news.health.com/2014/07/08/b...ness-blanket-to-measure-in-flight-relaxation/

 

[DnEbook]

I wish you and 'slow tv' much happiness, knit one pearl one etc ….

 

[En]

This might be a bit more down (up) your street:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/blogs-news-from-elsewhere-26820572

A French public TV channel is broadcasting a nine-hour programme of a man walking backwards through Tokyo - and nothing else - it appears.

A trailer of the film, Tokyo Reverse, follows a man as he walks through the streets of Japan's capital, but with a twist: Ludovic Zuili, 28, is walking backwards for the entire programme, the newspaper Le Monde reports. The concept has been called Slow TV and has already been hailed as a "small revolution" for French viewers.

The film, to be aired by France 4 on 31 March, is shown back to front so Zuili seems to be walking normally through a world moving back in time. To make his movements seem natural, he took dance classes, Le Monde journalist Veronique Lorelle says on her blog.

Slow TV is a genre of marathon programming in which an ordinary event is filmed, often live, in its entirety. In Norway, more than half the country tuned in to watch a six-day ferry journey through the fjords. A burning log fire and knitting were previous Slow TV subjects.

Tokyo Reverse Clip

River Thames Cruise
http://www.anglotopia.net/british-t...minster-greenwich-full-journey-hd-41-minutes/

Slow TV productions are also very cheap and easy to set up. All you need really is a HD webcam and a creative mind.

 

[buyselldoms]

Not really a new genre but perhaps the reason why it isn't widespread is lack of mainstream appeal?

I myself do like watching (from time to time) driver eye view of train journeys, because I appreciate the work done making the railways and curious what the driver sees, compared to the typical view looking out the window, the perspective is also different. Its rather interesting seeing the new perspective from a regular train journey you have been doing for years none the wiser. Scenery can also be amazing.

 

[En]

Not a new genre but a new phrase to describe the concept in general, I think? Which maybe a sign that it is becoming or getting ready to go mainstream?

I like the train journeys from the driver cab, where there are fantastic views particularly. I think there is a lot of potential for plane, boat, and other transportation (taxis, lorries, cycling, motorbikes, gliders, balloons, submarines, etc.), especially with modern technologies such as 3D & virtual reality.

There doesn't seem to be a huge amount of quality content out there currently or it is very difficult to find. Perhaps if "slow tv" catches on it will be easier to find.

 

[buyselldoms]

In the UK, we have the BBC which is funded by a licensing fee (a tax in order to view TV and radio). They have 4 main channels. Unlike the other channels, commercial, they don't have advertisements.

I cannot see "slow TV" making television... to be interrupted by a 3-5 minute commercial advertisement break every 10-15 minutes destroys the genre. The only commercial channel programmes without frequent advertisement breaks are live sporting events such as football.

If its a short (3-15 mins - sort of goes against the concept of the genre) "slow TV" programme it is a perfect gap filler... I seem to recall a London to Brighton train journey in however many minutes used to be shown as a time filler... obviously the footage is sped up.

 

[En]

I think you're right about the main UK channels.

BBC Three & Four could possibly do it when currently it is off air. It's a long shot but they must be aware of slow TVs success in Norway...

Perhaps even a new digital TV channel dedicated to slow TV? One day from a submarine in the Corel Reef, another from a hot air balloon, or even a journey to the moon!

Commercials in the normal sense would be disruptive, but some events could be sponsored (if broadcast on a commercial channel)? Every now and again a, "brought to you by", message could appear on screen during broadcast.

 

[En]

They are actually going to be broadcasting the Norway train journey "across 100 channels" in the US but it will only be 1 hour out of the 10 hours recorded and obviously not live.

It will be interesting to see if/how this develops...

 

[buyselldoms]

All commercials are mainstream concepts.. they wont do something which appeal to too few people.

People in the UK used to all know how to cook, now they don't. Dancing not so popular amongst everyone. Now every other show is a take on dancing or cooking. A very lame progression. Then every show has their own celebrity version. I think people falling out with the whole celeb concept but they keep pushing it.

 

[En]

Evolution.

I only really watch documentaries nowadays.

 

[buyselldoms]

Better point out I meant "commercials" in regards to commercial TV channels, rather than "commercials" TV ads.