Slow TV
Slow TV is long, relaxing videos that have no story or narration. For a brief primer, read Nathan Heller’s 2014 New Yorker article.
Recommended videos
YouTube is an excellent source of videos. You may need to encounter a short advertisement before the video begins, but the resolution is very high and watching is otherwise uninterrupted.
Know of a good slow TV video? Please send it to me.
How to search YouTube for slow TV
- Choose a geographical location. e.g., “Norway”.
- Add the word “train,” “drive,” or “walk”.
- Specify “4K” for the highest resolution.
- Combine these terms to search, and then filter by “Long (> 20 minutes)”.
Note: Quality will vary widely and generally be low. The expense of professional AV equipment—with features like image stabilization—is prohibitive in producing even this simple entertainment.
Additional sources
- Slow TV (channel 437) on Pluto — rebroadcasts of NRK, “All Aboard: Life on a Train: Euro Trip”
While you watch
- Enjoy a beverage. I recommend flavored sparking water, tea, or honey liqueur.
- Listen to chill music. I recommend DI.fm. You can also find curated playlists on Spotify or equivalent.
- Take notes on paper. Capture your thoughts to explore them later.
- Enable your mobile phone’s airplane mode. Everything can wait.