BBC acquires The Ghan slow documentary
BBC has obtained the rights to one of SBS’ most successful programs, the three hour documentary of The Ghan train ride.
The commercial-free program ran on SBS in early January, with more than 400,000 viewers tuning in to watch the “slow TV train journey” as it travelled from Adelaide to Darwin.
The Ghan achieved more than 400,000 viewers when it aired on SBS
At the time, the program was considered a huge success for the broadcaster, which also aired the show on SBS on Demand and ran Facebook Live commentary with SBS The Feed’s Mark Humphries.
Following its success, SBS decided to run a 17 hour un-cut version of the train journey, the following weekend.
Now, Flame Distribution has secured a deal, which will see The Ghan aired in the UK and Ireland.
Eileen Pesah, senior vice president of content sales, for UK and EMEA, said the BBC was very excited to take on the TV show.
“We are thrilled BBC Four succeeded to secure the rights for UK & Ireland,” Pesah said.
The BBC’s deal follows the sale of the documentary to First HDTV for CIS, Beyond Home Entertainment Australia and Amazon Video Prime in North America and India.
Well done to them. The concept would also do very well in the uk. They take trains and their history seriously over in old blighty to an extent we can’t relate to.
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