Norway’s latest reality TV stars are a herd of reindeer moving from inland mountain plateaus to their summer grazing lands on the coast. The broadcast is live and continuous, and the pace is determined by the animals.
They are being followed by camera crews on snowmobiles, by drones, and even by cameras attached to some of the reindeer. According to Per Inge Asen, one of the producers for Norway’s NRK public TV channel, “The reindeer decide (the pace) depending on the weather conditions and the grazing possibilities along the way…There will definitely be a lot of breathtaking views of nature.
If it seems like an unlikely hit, keep in mind that ‘slow TV’ specials have been drawing huge audiences in Norway for several years, including ones on salmon fishing and the art of burning firewood. Nearly half the country watched in 2011, when the network attached cameras to a cruise ship following Norway’s coast.
Maybe get a few Americans to chase them.
Put a bet on “Last Reindeer Standing”
Norwegians have much too much free time on their hands.
UPDATE!
The Norwegian ‘slow TV’ broadcast of migrating reindeer was suspended temporarily on May 2 because it became just TOO slow: the herd stopped moving. For details, click HERE.