Travel Channel to Drive Slow on Black Friday

By R. Thomas Umstead
published

Travel Channel will team with the LMNO Cable Group to telecast a live, 12-hour road trip on Black Friday (Nov. 27.)

The show, ‘Slow Road Live,’ is based on a slow-moving entertainment format developed by the Norwegian Broadcasting Association and will follow a car caravan on a “serene and captivating journey” through an as yet determined destination, according to network officials.  

Viewers watching Slow Road Live can participate in a real-time discussion of the event through social media, according to officials.

"While everyone else is out hustling and bustling to get the latest deals on Black Friday, we’re giving our viewers a chance to unwind with 12 hours of reality in real time" said Ross Babbit, senior vice president, programming and development, Travel Channel in a statement. “This live programming event will get everyone together to simply enjoy the stunning, beautiful scenery and realize the only big character in this show is the world around us.”

R. Thomas Umstead
R. Thomas Umstead

R. Thomas Umstead serves as senior content producer, programming for Multichannel News, Broadcasting + Cable and Next TV. During his more than 30-year career as a print and online journalist, Umstead has written articles on a variety of subjects ranging from TV technology, marketing and sports production to content distribution and development. He has provided expert commentary on television issues and trends for such TV, print, radio and streaming outlets as Fox News, CNBC, the Today show, USA Today, The New York Times and National Public Radio. Umstead has also filmed, produced and edited more than 100 original video interviews, profiles and news reports featuring key cable television executives as well as entertainers and celebrity personalities.