SBS’s The Ghan divided viewers when it aired in January, with some slamming the show as ‘boring’ and saying it was like ‘watching paint dry.’
And now it seems the documentary is back, with Mumbrella reporting that BBC Four bought the international broadcast rights to air the show in the UK and Ireland.
The show was SBS’ first foray into ‘slow TV’, a genre popular in Scandinavian countries – and is simply footage of the train journey from Adelaide to Darwin.
The most boring show in history is back: BBC Four buys the international broadcast rights to Australian ‘slow TV’ documentary The Ghan
Flame Distribution’s Eileen Pesah said: ‘We are thrilled BBC Four succeeded to secure the rights for UK & Ireland.’
The documentary also reportedly sold to the likes of Amazon Video Prime in North America and India.
Earlier this year, the three-hour special highlighting the famous Australian train journey from Adelaide to Darwin was aired with no commercial breaks.
That’s different! The program marked SBS’ first foray into ‘slow TV’: hours-long coverage of an everyday event with minimal talking meant to relax the viewer
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.
Shortly after, a 17-hour version of the show was aired on SBS.
While the format may be popular in Scandinavian countries, The Ghan special 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.
Not happy! One viewer said the show turned them off taking the trip, explaining: ‘Extremely disappointed, boring, boring, boring. We were contemplating going… but not now!’
‘Like watching paint dry. Was thinking of taking the trip till I watched this,’ one viewer wrote on Facebook.
‘I watched it and was almost numbed into sleep,’ another person commented. ‘I hope this was not funded by government/taxpayer.’
‘Absolute rubbish. I switched off after about 15 minutes,’ wrote another viewer.
‘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 train sometime.’
Experiment: While the ‘slow TV’ format is popular in Scandinavian countries, The Ghan special left viewers divided on social media
One person said the show had turned them off taking the trip.
They wrote: ‘Extremely disappointed, boring, boring, boring. We were contemplating going on The Ghan but not now!’
Meanwhile, other viewers praised the unique 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… it was almost perfect,’ wrote a Facebook user.
Respectable ratings: Despite the divided social media reaction, The Ghan was Sunday night’s 12th highest rated show with 436,000 metro viewers
‘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!’
Despite the divided social media reaction, The Ghan was Sunday night’s 12th highest rated show with 436,000 metro viewers.