Norway's fascinating 'Slow TV'

It's television's version of taking a deep breath...a very long, very slow, deep breath. It's called "Slow TV," and it's a surprise smash-hit in Norway, where millions tune in to watch live, unedited broadcasts of train journeys, ferry boat rides, firewood burning or people knitting for hours or days at a time. As Rune Moklebust, who helped conceive of Slow TV, explains to Seth Doane, the broadcasts simply reflect life: "Much of life itself is boring. But in-between, there are some exciting moments, and you just have to wait for them."

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[BenjiHansell]

In Britain we have a version of this called "snooker".

[jarls]

Slow TV should not be thought of as a "TV-show" in the usual sense. Think of it more like a new window in your living room - a window to a place you usually would not have a chance to see.

And i suspect many do not sit down to watch this - but leave it on in the background - while cooking, reading a book, cleaning - watching a little bit now and then - just like a real window.

[shiddy.]

Norway is awesome for starting this - greetings from Minnesota

[Fjesing]

Funny story: I met an American in his 30's last spring in Tokyo, who told me how he and his GF read a news story about one of the broadcasts - think it was the Hurtigruten coastal cruise. They dug around a bit and found a cable channel who had the broadcast, got high and started watching. Best TV we ever saw, was his verdict.

[baardkopperud]

I would love a "slow-TV" from the USA in a train traveling from coast or coast...

[sigurdfyllingkarstad]

As a Norwegian, I find other nations astonishment astonishing...

[ZeacorZeppelin]

the train ride from Oslo to Bergen inspired me to do long exposure photography I've gotten pretty good at it too

[nalissolus]

It's about being information overloaded and the need to take things slowly, to calm down. Also, there is no underlying agenda in a raw capture of nature.

[jamesjacobson]

Norway is beautiful. Probably not for everyone, but that is my dream home

[cactuskaktus]

Well, I've never heard Bergen pronounced like that.

[donnabaardsen]

I lived in Norway for years, Stavanger. It's my second home, second language. Wonderful people, beautiful country. Exactly as portrayed here❤️🇧🇻🇺🇲

[uverhaul]

Slow TV is perfect background noise. Sitting alone at home one afternoon and doing whatever, having the television on in the background and letting the seven hour train journey play undisturbed.

[johngreene]

Here down in NYC you can watch the highway security camera live footage. But it's not the same and in 240p

[wmtyrance]

Public television in the 70's used to have shows like this. I remember seeing a train ride through, Canada coast to coast.

[CaptainCaliansAdventures]

It's crazy how I watched that same Oslo train ride video years back. The fact that there's a TV channel now for it and various other activities is great!
Love from Southern California! ♧

[saandvi]

im norwegian and i have never seen any of these shows, except the boat. the one with the boat is really popular, kind of like a summer tradition for many norwegians

but from the video you make it seem like this is everything on the TV in Norway, while it isnt. this is special here too. it only 1 tv channel, and most of the time there are normal shows on that channel as well.

[lgarcia]

In the US we had a version of this for 4 years! It was absolutely crazy watching our country slowly self destruct every day on TV and Twitter!!

[bfholm]

as i can remember we have brodcasted
- Train twice
- Boats three time (Hurtigruta / Skibladner / dont remember the last)
- Raindeer and fish
- nitting
- cow
- Every song in the norwegian christian song bok

[jalisaalanaye]

I think it’s so sweet, pure and simple that these people genuinely enjoy this. I could definitely get into this, I probably wouldn’t grab some popcorn, sit down and be hyped about it, but I’d definitely put it on while I’m cooking, cleaning, using it as background noise and video. I like it ! Norway seems like such a nice beautiful place to live with good people.

[mamadillo]

Sooo cool! I wonder if they would just upload their slow TV segments to youtube. I watch several TV series while I work crossword puzzles. I like the story-lines and characters of the shows, but they don't always need full eyes-on-the-tube concentration.

And it's always nice to get to peep into the lives of folks (and boats, trains, knitting circles, and fishers) from far-away places.