Is SBS’ The Ghan the most boring TV show ever?

It’s the taxpayer-funded network’s first foray into ‘slow TV’, a genre popular in Scandinavian countries. 

But SBS’s The Ghan has divided viewers, with some taking to social media to criticise the show as ‘boring’ and like ‘watching paint dry’.

On Sunday night, the three-hour special highlighting the famous Australian train journey from Adelaide to Darwin was broadcast with no commercial breaks.

The special program marks SBS’s first foray into ‘slow TV’: hours-long coverage of an everyday event with minimal talking intended to relax the viewer.

While popular in Scandinavian countries, The Ghan left viewers divided on social media. 

Some viewers praised the show for being ‘relaxing’ and having fantastic cinematography, but others were less taken with the concept.  

That’s different! The special program marks SBS’ first foray into ‘slow TV’, hours-long coverage of an everyday event with minimal talking meant to relax the viewer

Not happy: One person said the show had turned them off taking the trip, explaining: ‘Extremely dissapointed,[sic] boring, boring, boring. We were contemplating going on The Ghan but not now !’ 

‘Like watching paint dry. Was thinking of taking the trip till I watched this,’ one person wrote on Facebook.

‘I watched it and was almost numbed into sleep … I hope this was not funded by government/taxpayer,’ one viewer commented.  

Another added: ‘Absolute rubbish. I switched off after about 15 minutes. So slow and monotonous. I was really looking forward to watching it as 1. I love trains and train shows. 2. I am contemplating a trip on the tbe [sic] train sometime.’

Not taking the trip now: Another added: ‘Absolute rubbish. I switched off after about 15 minutes. So slow and monotonous. I was really looking forward to watching it as 1. I love trains and train shows. 2. I am contemplating a trip on the tbe [sic] train sometime’ 

A fan: Meanwhile other viewers praised the show, saying they were taken aback by how much they enjoyed it 

Slow TV: While popular in Scandinavian countries, The Ghan left viewers divided on social media

One person said the show had turned them off taking the trip, explaining:  ‘Extremely dissapointed,[sic] boring, boring, boring. We were contemplating going on The Ghan but not now !’

Meanwhile other viewers praised the show, saying they were taken aback by how much they enjoyed it.  

 ‘Just think, not one pseudo celebrity, no renovation, no ruling kitchens, not a chef in sight, no politicians (genius or otherwise) it was almost perfect,’ one person on Facebook concluded.

‘Numbed into sleep’: One person remarked that it had almost lulled them into sleep 

Respectable ratings: Despite the divided social media reaction The Ghan was Sunday night’s 12th highest rated show with 436,000 metro viewers nationally 

‘There were yawn moments but that’s with every show. Loved it.’

Another tweeted: ‘@SBS Congratulations on exquisite work on #TheGhan Amazing planning, research, education, footage and riveting tele! #WhereToNext?’ 

Despite the divided social media reaction The Ghan was Sunday night’s 12th highest rated show with 436,000 metro viewers nationally.

Praised the show: Another tweeted: ‘@SBS Congratulations on exquisite work on #TheGhan Amazing planning, research, education, footage and riveting tele! #WhereToNext?’