{"id":13667,"date":"2019-11-13T08:00:18","date_gmt":"2019-11-13T13:00:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dev2.worldscreen.com\/tvreal\/worldscreen.com\/"},"modified":"2019-11-13T08:15:02","modified_gmt":"2019-11-13T13:15:02","slug":"a-world-away","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/worldscreen.com\/tvreal\/a-world-away\/","title":{"rendered":"A World Away: Travel Docs are in Demand"},"content":{"rendered":"

The strong demand for travel docs is being fueled by innovative concepts, technological advancements and some compelling personalities. <\/em><\/p>\n

Few genres instill a sense of aspiration and wonder quite as successfully as the travel documentary. From breathtaking cinematography to ever more innovative concepts, travel documentaries continue to attract audiences across the globe. Research released by Parrot Analytics in August 2019 shows that travel is among the top genres within the documentary market. While science and nature documentaries still dominate, Parrot Analytics\u2019 research concluded that travel docs experienced sustained growth from Q1 to Q2 in 2019. These findings are supported by producers and distributors, who report that demand for travel documentaries remains strong.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere will always be a need for travel documentaries because we all want to be taken places and see locations we dream of visiting,\u201d says Holly Hodges, Twofour Rights\u2019 head of sales operations and a VP of sales. \u201cWhat to eat, where to drink and knowing the inside scoop on secret spots to explore are all part of a person\u2019s travel experience. This genre has something for everyone.\u201d<\/p>\n

It\u2019s a view echoed by Harriet Armston-Clarke, director of distribution at TVF International, who says that travel is one of the company\u2019s most requested genres. In particular, aerial travel documentaries continue to perform well, says Armston-Clarke, who cites \u201cever-popular\u201d series The World from Above<\/em> as well as Aerial Asia<\/em>, Thailand from Above<\/em> and Vietnam from Above<\/em>.<\/p>\n

These series appeal because they give audiences the chance to see places \u201cfrom a perspective they would not usually be able to access,\u201d says Armston-Clarke. She also highlights the importance of standing out in what has become an increasingly crowded space.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn a world where travel is easier and cheaper than ever before, and most people have a camera on their phone, viewers can feel they have seen it all before,\u201d she observes. \u201cSo we are looking for shows that take viewers off the beaten track and that offer a reason to travel that isn\u2019t just to take another photo for Instagram.\u201d<\/p>\n

Such shows include Special Delivery<\/em>, in which six adventurers travel on a mission to bring aid to people living in some of the most remote places on earth, and Brilliant Corners<\/em>, in which pro surfer Sam Bleakley travels the globe exploring emerging surf cultures.<\/p>\n

This drive to expose viewers to ever-broader cultural experiences is also reflected in the current slate of travel documentaries offered by German distribution company Albatross World Sales, as Polina Axenova, senior sales manager, explains.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe believe that a travel show needs to explore something new and unseen,\u201d Axenova says. \u201cGreat cinematography combined with strong characters giving a feeling of diversity and a multi-faceted exploration of a given place, culture or society are important. It\u2019s always good to let the locals talk and get that behind-the-scenes feeling.\u201d<\/p>\n

She cites as examples Greece! The Islands<\/em> and its sequel, Greece! From the Mountains to the Shoreline<\/em>, which feature stunning aerial images and \u201clovable, if sometimes quirky, protagonists.\u201d<\/p>\n

REGIONAL TRENDS
\n<\/strong>Axenova believes that travel docs are less \u201cuniversal\u201d when compared to nature or science documentaries. She says that distributors need to be aware of each region\u2019s specifics with regard to culture, religion and traditions\u2014food, alcohol and clothing, for example\u2014while at the same time, not forgetting about the current trends.<\/p>\n

\u201cA wine-tasting travelogue won\u2019t be a bestseller in Muslim countries,\u201d she says, \u201cbut there are also less obvious cases, as travel trends are very different across the globe.\u201d<\/p>\n

One example is hiking tourism, says Axenova, which is big in Europe. The trick, she says, is to know the broadcasters\u2019 and platforms\u2019 needs and restrictions, and to offer the right title to the right buyers and their audiences.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere are a lot of travel programs out there, so we try to focus on those that are special in some way: a fresh concept, a charismatic host, a powerful story. Travel docs encompassing more than just travel-guide or travelogue types of content\u2014especially if they are visually powerful\u2014are generally more successful with international broadcasters and platforms. When talking about travel programs, it\u2019s also important to mention airlines, which are naturally interested in travel content; our inflight sales have increased in the last few years.\u201d<\/p>\n

Distributors and producers report that demand for travel shows is coming from specialist channels as well as free-to-air and OTT services. \u201cThe demand is seen across the landscape,\u201d says Amy Kemp, head of sales at Orange Smarty. \u201cSome free-to-air broadcasters have regular lifestyle\/travel slots to fill, but there are also volume deals to be made with the specialist channels and some OTT services.\u201d<\/p>\n

Armston-Clarke at TVF International also says demand is coming from all areas: \u201cLinear and VOD, traditional free to air and OTT.\u201d She adds that such broad audience reach highlights the distinct appeal of the travel doc across the market.<\/p>\n

\u201cTravel is easy to watch, inoffensive and can appeal to a broad range and all gender identities, where other genres perhaps can\u2019t,\u201d she says. \u201cWe recently licensed Fabulocity<\/em>, a series from OUTtv that sends vibrant hosts to cities all over the world, to Journy, Ovation\u2019s VOD platform in the U.S.\u201d<\/p>\n

With demand for travel series remaining strong, there is rich potential for ancillary content to help promote and grow the brands. While some producers report limited demand for supporting content from broadcasters, others are proactively pursuing this option.<\/p>\n

MILEAGE PERKS
\n<\/strong>Twofour adopts a very honed process for maximizing its productions with value-added content to make them stand out. The company has a dedicated team to build a social media presence for its brands. \u201cWe now consider what we can offer by way of additional assets: interviews, promos, recipes,\u201d says Hodges. \u201cThis is an area we are focused on developing, and we are starting to see viewers finding our branded YouTube channels.\u201d<\/p>\n

Orange Smarty\u2019s main priority is to localize any ancillary content to make it relevant to audiences. The company offers broadcasters supporting interviews and Q&As with the main presenters for some of its travel shows. In some instances, it will provide cut-down versions of the program that can be used for online promotion.<\/p>\n

As audiences seek unique and aspirational experiences, the pressure is on producers to deliver a fresh spin on well-trodden locations. One of the most effective ways of doing this is via hybrid productions, which are documentaries that combine travel with other subgenres such as food, property, lifestyle, science, adventure and history.<\/p>\n

\u201cHybrids provide an opportunity to put a different spin on the travel show format, so there is a desire for these types of shows,\u201d says Orange Smarty\u2019s Kemp. Strong sellers include long-running property series A Place in the Sun<\/em>, which Kemp says continues to generate ongoing and new sales. \u201cCombining both travel and property, the series follows house-hunters finding their dream homes in the sun. This returnable series allows the broadcasters and platforms more opportunities to promote the series and invest in the brand.\u201d<\/p>\n

By combining two genres, travel hybrid shows broaden audience reach and attract different demographics. \u201cThe hybrid travel shows have the potential to attract a younger audience,\u201d observes Hodges. \u201cChannels want to satisfy as many viewers as possible, and combining travel with other elements will likely bring more viewers and different demographics. I think the combination of genres helps create a story arc that wouldn\u2019t exist in a pure travel show, and this lures people in to stay tuned.\u201d<\/p>\n

FOOD FOR THOUGHT
\n<\/strong>Travel and food is a potent hybrid, a fact borne out by Hairy Bikers: Route 66<\/em>. The Twofour series, commissioned by BBC Two, will see Si King and Dave Myers riding along the iconic U.S. road through spectacular scenery, sampling the diverse range of regional cuisine across eight states.<\/p>\n

Weird Food Diaries<\/em>, Vanishing Foods<\/em> and Big Food<\/em> are among the series being distributed by TVF International, while long-running series At Our Neighbour\u2019s Table<\/em> has proven to be a strong seller for the German factual outfit Autentic Distribution.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf you look at At Our Neighbour\u2019s Table<\/em>, which travels around Europe and meets locals that cook regional dishes, you can experience how food adds so much passion and emotion to a travel show,\u201d explains Patrick H\u00f6rl, the managing director of Autentic. \u201cInvolving the viewer is key. That\u2019s why mixing travel and adventure is also a good idea.\u201d<\/p>\n

When it comes to creating travel documentaries, the role of presenters can be paramount. Albatross\u2019 Axenova says that \u201copen and funny\u201d presenters work best for travel and lifestyle hybrids, while experts well versed in their fields are best suited for travel series with a scientific or educational slant. For travel documentaries focusing on a specific place or culture, meanwhile, local protagonists with interesting and unusual location-specific occupations or hobbies work well, she says.<\/p>\n

Armston-Clarke at TVF International believes established, well-known presenters resonate best in the English-speaking international market, such as Penelope Keith in Hidden Villages<\/em> and John Torode in John Torode\u2019s Asia<\/em>. But elsewhere, TVF has found a real appetite for young presenters with an international background, a neutral accent and ideally some social media following, such as Sharda Harrison and Adrian Jalaludin, presenters of the new series Walk This Way<\/em>.<\/p>\n

TOUR GUIDES
\n<\/strong>Twofour\u2019s Hodges cites the \u201chonest chemistry\u201d of the Hairy Bikers, which is built on over 25 years of friendship and shared passions. She also praises hotelier and presenter Alex Polizzi, hugely popular around the world because she offers a wealth of experience in travel and business\u2014and is a reputable, strong character loved by global viewers. \u201cRecognizable hosts can be the real selling point in the international market,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n

H\u00f6rl at Autentic says there is a stable and extensive market for hosted shows. These are mostly fueled by commercial broadcasters, specialist factual channels and SVOD services, he says. Clients who opt for hosted shows demand credible, authentic hosts with personality, he adds, although not every market appreciates hosted travel shows.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere is still a distinct, affluent market segment that generally rejects hosts,\u201d he says. \u201cThese are often non-English-speaking markets and, most frequently, public broadcasters.\u201d<\/p>\n

The evolution of travel shows in recent years has been driven by one defining factor\u2014technology. 4K productions have emerged as the new gold standard for travel shows, resulting in high production values and allowing viewers to immerse themselves in beautiful landscapes and locations. Drones, too, have transformed the space, offering stunning panoramic views, while VR is also making its mark, helping to instill new clarity and color into vibrant destinations.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn the digital age, there\u2019s absolutely no mercy for badly produced shows,\u201d says H\u00f6rl. \u201cProduction values are absolutely key. If you can combine those with a particular perspective on the destination you\u2019re covering, you can stand out.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cTravel is increasingly being produced in stunning 4K, which allows viewers to experience exotic locations from the comfort of their living room,\u201d says Armston-Clarke.<\/p>\n

While technology enables viewers to see well-trodden locations through dynamic new perspectives, shifts in traditional storytelling techniques also play a significant part.<\/p>\n

TRAVEL BUDDIES
\n<\/strong>There is now increasing interest in strong characters within travel documentaries. These characters are generally on a mission, and they experience interesting people along the way.<\/p>\n

Such characters are crucial to the story arc of good travel shows today, says H\u00f6rl at Autentic, as travel becomes a much more specific expression of one\u2019s interests and personality. \u201cAs a consequence, we can see a long-lasting trend toward specialization in travel programs. Traveling to dangerous places, dark tourism (to places where dark moments in history took place), visiting spectacular architecture\u2014all kinds of journeys become topics of travel shows that resonate with modern viewing habits.\u201d<\/p>\n

Such encounters will become increasingly important in travel documentaries, concludes H\u00f6rl. \u201cWhat we find is that new trends in real-life traveling are reflected in new travel formats. It\u2019s no longer just about distraction, escapism and lying on the beach.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The strong demand for travel docs is being fueled by innovative concepts, technological advancements and some compelling personalities.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":13668,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"pmpro_default_level":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[69],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-13667","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","","category-top-stories","pmpro-has-access"],"yoast_head":"\nA World Away: Travel Docs are in Demand - TVREAL<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/worldscreen.com\/tvreal\/a-world-away\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"A World Away: Travel Docs are in Demand - TVREAL\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"The strong demand for travel docs is being fueled by innovative concepts, technological advancements and some compelling personalities.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/worldscreen.com\/tvreal\/a-world-away\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"TVREAL\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2019-11-13T13:00:18+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2019-11-13T13:15:02+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/worldscreen.com\/tvreal\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2015\/09\/Brilliant-Corners_TVF-1119.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"1\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"World Screen\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"World Screen\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"10 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/worldscreen.com\/tvreal\/a-world-away\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/worldscreen.com\/tvreal\/a-world-away\/\",\"name\":\"A World Away: Travel Docs are in Demand - TVREAL\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/worldscreen.com\/tvreal\/#website\"},\"datePublished\":\"2019-11-13T13:00:18+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2019-11-13T13:15:02+00:00\",\"author\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/worldscreen.com\/tvreal\/#\/schema\/person\/48d5d8caeca98083bf34512b4ce8c4c7\"},\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/worldscreen.com\/tvreal\/a-world-away\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/worldscreen.com\/tvreal\/a-world-away\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/worldscreen.com\/tvreal\/a-world-away\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/worldscreen.com\/tvreal\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"A World Away: Travel Docs are in Demand\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/worldscreen.com\/tvreal\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/worldscreen.com\/tvreal\/\",\"name\":\"TVREAL\",\"description\":\"\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\/\/worldscreen.com\/tvreal\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":\"required name=search_term_string\"}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/worldscreen.com\/tvreal\/#\/schema\/person\/48d5d8caeca98083bf34512b4ce8c4c7\",\"name\":\"World Screen\",\"description\":\"The leading source of information for the international media business.\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/worldscreen.com\/tvreal\/author\/admin\/\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"A World Away: Travel Docs are in Demand - TVREAL","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/worldscreen.com\/tvreal\/a-world-away\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"A World Away: Travel Docs are in Demand - TVREAL","og_description":"The strong demand for travel docs is being fueled by innovative concepts, technological advancements and some compelling personalities.","og_url":"https:\/\/worldscreen.com\/tvreal\/a-world-away\/","og_site_name":"TVREAL","article_published_time":"2019-11-13T13:00:18+00:00","article_modified_time":"2019-11-13T13:15:02+00:00","og_image":[{"url":"https:\/\/worldscreen.com\/tvreal\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2015\/09\/Brilliant-Corners_TVF-1119.jpg","width":1,"height":1,"type":"image\/jpeg"}],"author":"World Screen","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"World Screen","Est. reading time":"10 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/worldscreen.com\/tvreal\/a-world-away\/","url":"https:\/\/worldscreen.com\/tvreal\/a-world-away\/","name":"A World Away: Travel Docs are in Demand - TVREAL","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/worldscreen.com\/tvreal\/#website"},"datePublished":"2019-11-13T13:00:18+00:00","dateModified":"2019-11-13T13:15:02+00:00","author":{"@id":"https:\/\/worldscreen.com\/tvreal\/#\/schema\/person\/48d5d8caeca98083bf34512b4ce8c4c7"},"breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/worldscreen.com\/tvreal\/a-world-away\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/worldscreen.com\/tvreal\/a-world-away\/"]}]},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/worldscreen.com\/tvreal\/a-world-away\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/worldscreen.com\/tvreal\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"A World Away: Travel Docs are in Demand"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/worldscreen.com\/tvreal\/#website","url":"https:\/\/worldscreen.com\/tvreal\/","name":"TVREAL","description":"","potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/worldscreen.com\/tvreal\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":"required name=search_term_string"}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/worldscreen.com\/tvreal\/#\/schema\/person\/48d5d8caeca98083bf34512b4ce8c4c7","name":"World Screen","description":"The leading source of information for the international media business.","url":"https:\/\/worldscreen.com\/tvreal\/author\/admin\/"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/worldscreen.com\/tvreal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13667","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/worldscreen.com\/tvreal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/worldscreen.com\/tvreal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/worldscreen.com\/tvreal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/worldscreen.com\/tvreal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=13667"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/worldscreen.com\/tvreal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13667\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/worldscreen.com\/tvreal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/13668"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/worldscreen.com\/tvreal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=13667"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/worldscreen.com\/tvreal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=13667"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/worldscreen.com\/tvreal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=13667"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}