{"id":9869,"date":"2017-03-22T09:11:27","date_gmt":"2017-03-22T13:11:27","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/worldscreen.com\/tvreal\/bon-voyage\/"},"modified":"2017-03-23T09:42:16","modified_gmt":"2017-03-23T13:42:16","slug":"bon-voyage","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/worldscreen.com\/tvreal\/bon-voyage\/","title":{"rendered":"Bon Voyage"},"content":{"rendered":"

In a cluttered landscape, travel shows need to be so much more than guidebooks to stand out.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/em>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

We all want to be taken places and see locations we could only dream of visiting. Thanks to travel series, we can do that from the comfort and safety of the living room. But these days, viewers don\u2019t just want to be shown the sites; they want an immersive experience with an engaging host who takes them along on a journey of discovery.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe traditional bread-and-butter travel shows are not something buyers would look at today,\u201d says Jon Kramer, the chairman and CEO of Rive Gauche Television. \u201cThey look at things that are out of the box. A show doesn\u2019t have to be a pure travel series\u2014it just has to take you places. It could be about eating, but it\u2019s a travel show if you get to visit places.\u201d<\/p>\n

From aspirational to down-the-middle to adventure to food and character-led series, the travel genre now has something for everyone.<\/p>\n

Angela Neillis, the director of non-scripted content at FremantleMedia International (FMI), finds that \u201cthere is still a demand for inspirational and educational travel shows. To appeal to audiences, series need to be specialized, provide something new and take viewers to places that they normally wouldn\u2019t see or have the chance to experience.\u201d<\/p>\n

This \u201cunderlines the need for either a fresh approach to travel or the need to combine other sub-genres,\u201d according to Natalie Lawley, the managing director of Escapade Media.<\/p>\n

Indeed, with traditional sightseeing out, a new breed of series has emerged, combining elements of the travel genre with another component that grabs audiences\u2019 attention. \u201cKeeping travel at the forefront but bringing in another element like food, lifestyle, history or survival, works well,\u201d says Kate Llewellyn-Jones, the managing director of TCB Media Rights. \u201cAnything that embraces the reasons people travel or is relevant to the experiences people want to have when they travel\u201d can make a show successful internationally.<\/p>\n

With this shift in the travel genre, Maartje Horchner, the executive VP of content at all3media International, has noticed a surge in demand for hybrid programs. \u201cThe standard way of showing what a location is like does not travel very well internationally.\u201d<\/p>\n

HITTING THE ROAD<\/strong>
\n\u201cPushing the boundaries with travel is the most notable evolution\u201d in the space, says Escapade\u2019s Lawley. \u201cThat \u2018money can\u2019t buy experience\u2019 can be seen in a number of successful series recently. Travel is a big part of Status: Vacant<\/em>.\u201d Shot in 4K, the series takes the viewer around the world to investigate abandoned destinations that are often off the beaten path.<\/p>\n

Similarly, Ultimate Homes<\/em> and Buying Hawaii<\/em>, two pillars of Rive Gauche\u2019s offering, provide audiences with aspirational real estate experiences. \u201cBoth series take viewers to exotic places,\u201d Kramer explains. \u201cUltimate Homes<\/em> appeals to a viewer who wants to see what the very rich have attained in terms of housing, while Buying Hawaii<\/em> is for the normal person who wants to see what it\u2019s like to buy a home in Hawaii.\u201d<\/p>\n

Mike Lolato, the senior VP of international distribution at GRB Entertainment, believes there is demand for hybrid shows because the combination of travel with other elements has the potential to bring in a younger audience as compared to typical travel series. \u201cNetworks need to satisfy as many viewers as possible,\u201d he says. \u201cWhat better way to do that than by doing a travel-adventure program instead of doing just a pure travel show or just an adventure show? You\u2019re going to bring in different people, you\u2019re going to attract more viewers, and that\u2019s the name of the game.\u201d<\/p>\n

One of GRB\u2019s titles that has succeeded in luring elusive millennials is Chug<\/em>, in which host Zane Lamprey explores drinking cultures around the world. \u201cHistorically, travel shows have been a little bit conservative and slower paced,\u201d Lolato says. \u201cThen there was an explosion of new hosts [who are] different, edgier people. Chug<\/em> brings in a younger audience because 87-year-olds probably aren\u2019t too interested in the great beers or a new vodka company from Malaysia, but young travelers who want to have a good time are going to gravitate toward these newer travel shows.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s the combination of genres that makes [the hybrid shows] attractive,\u201d all3media\u2019s Horchner explains. \u201cIt\u2019s a different way of telling a story, which is quite hard in the travel genre. Trying to find something that lures people to stay tuned when the ads go on, to find a story arc, that\u2019s where the combination of genres helps. It creates a story arc [that wouldn\u2019t exist in] a straightforward travel show.\u201d<\/p>\n

Even something as simple as introducing comedy into a series can help drive viewership. Travel Man: 48 Hours In…<\/em>, hosted by Richard Ayoade, combines travel and comedy to keep viewers interested, with guests like Rebel Wilson lending their talents. The show looks at \u201cplaces that normal tourists would go to through such a funny, different angle,\u201d Horchner says, which makes the show attractive internationally. She also points to The Embassy<\/em>, which creates a story arc by following people who work in the Australian Embassy in Bangkok and incorporates travel as the cast ventures around the city.<\/p>\n

Rive Gauche is capitalizing on the hybrid trend with shows such as Buying the Bayou<\/em>. The series \u201ccombines a number of genres,\u201d Kramer says. \u201cYou get to travel to a very different place. You get to see houses that are built in the Bayou, which are much different from houses you\u2019d normally see; and the people who live in the Bayou are unique, so you get to meet homeowners and real estate agents that are characters.\u201d<\/p>\n

According to FMI\u2019s Neillis, \u201ctravel shows need to showcase destinations from a different angle and utilize new, exciting and unpredictable talent.\u201d In Dara & Ed\u2019s Road to Mandalay<\/em> (working title), for example, \u201cthe two presenters take viewers through the bright lights of Malaysia, the jungles of Myanmar and unravel the region\u2019s rich history and its link with the U.K. and Europe,\u201d says Neillis. \u201cDara and Ed bring a lot of warmth and humor to the series and this makes them the ideal travel companions for audiences.\u201d<\/p>\n

GLOBAL TASTES<\/strong>
\nFood and travel has become a particularly lucrative hybrid. \u201cFood is such a key part of most cultures; it brings people together, and it\u2019s so diverse, so it has a very natural and very appealing place in travel shows,\u201d explains Holly Hodges, the deputy head of sales at Twofour Rights. \u201cThe Indian Dream Hotel<\/em> and Alex Polizzi\u2019s travel series are just two examples where food plays a key part in the structure of the series.\u201d<\/p>\n

Jamie\u2019s Super Food Family Classics<\/em>, part of FMI\u2019s offering, uses food as a vehicle to explore the diets and lifestyles of people who tend to live longer than those in the Western world. The show \u201cputs a completely different spin on a travel show, as not only does Oliver visit and showcase the impressive landscapes of Switzerland, the island of Sardinia and South Korea, but he also educates the viewers on local cultures, produce and methods of living a healthier life,\u201d says Neillis.<\/p>\n

The combination of genres can sometimes pose an issue. \u201cFunnily enough, with travel and food you\u2019ve got to be careful because sometimes it leads to confusion for a buyer, where they\u2019re asking if it\u2019s a travel show or a food show,\u201d adds all3media\u2019s Horchner.<\/p>\n

Even so, Lawley at Escapade reports, \u201cThe travel-food hybrid has been a very popular combination for some time now. Although still in demand, buyers are seeking this hybrid with a fresh approach.\u201d<\/p>\n

HOST WITH THE MOST<\/strong>
\nAnother key selling point in the genre is having a compelling and engaging travel companion. Rive Gauche\u2019s Kramer points to The Illegal Eater<\/em> as an example of how a host can make a show appealing. The series is presented by Steven Page, a former member of the rock band Barenaked Ladies. \u201cHe\u2019s a famous rocker, very personable, very quirky, and he takes you to a lot of strange places to eat,\u201d Kramer explains.<\/p>\n

Indeed, recognizable hosts can be a selling point in the international market. \u201cThere\u2019s a strong desire for more well-known talent,\u201d says Matthew Ashcroft, the CEO of Parade Media. The company has done well with Andy & Ben Eat the World<\/em> and Andy & Ben Eat Australia<\/em>, starring two Master\u00adChef Australia<\/em> alums. According to Ashcroft, \u201cYou can go to the same locations again and again, but every star is going to have a different spin.\u201d He adds, \u201cWe work on projects with new talent, but there\u2019s risk aversion.\u201d<\/p>\n

Simply put, \u201cfamous faces still work,\u201d all3media\u2019s Horchner agrees. \u201cObviously, they\u2019ll work in different territories, so people who are famous in Europe might not necessarily travel into Asia. They need to have some international link.\u201d The company is leveraging baker and motorhead Paul Hollywood\u2019s star power in the travel genre as well. At MIPTV, all3media is launching Paul Hollywood\u2019s Car Nations<\/em>, which takes viewers to destinations like France and Germany, looking at these places through an automotive lens.<\/p>\n

No matter how well known the host, \u201cThe immersive travel experience for the viewer needs to feel credible, and that\u2019s achieved through the talent,\u201d says Hodges at Twofour Rights, which distributes shows such as Alex Polizzi\u2019s Secret Italy<\/em>. Hodges finds that Polizzi is \u201chugely popular [because] she offers a wealth of experience in travel and business [and] she\u2019s a reputable, strong character.\u201d<\/p>\n

GRB\u2019s Lolato believes that an engaging, authentic host has a voice and is not someone who simply wants to do a travel show. It\u2019s important that the presenter has a genuine interest he or she would like to explore. In Hayden Quinn South Africa<\/em>, the titular host and former MasterChef Australia<\/em> contestant doesn\u2019t have years of experience under his belt, but he\u2019s making a name for himself and gaining a following because he feels authentic and has a passion for exploring the country\u2019s food and culture.<\/p>\n

\u201cHosts have to be engaging and lively, but they need to be credible,\u201d echoes TCB\u2019s Llewellyn-Jones. \u201cYou have to believe in the host. There needs to be a reason for them to be presenting,\u201d so they must be doing something in which they have a level of expertise. In Ainsley Eats the Streets<\/em>, part of TCB\u2019s catalog, presenter and British chef Ainsley Harriott samples street food in different countries, and his cooking background brings credibility to the show.<\/p>\n

FMI\u2019s Neillis also believes that \u201chosts that are intellectual, reliable and genuinely interested in the culture of the location resonate extremely well with global audiences.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s really important that the host\/guide has a passion for what he or she is representing, with solid experience and knowledge,\u201d Escapade\u2019s Lawley explains. \u201cIf we look at the most successful hosts to date, they are the essence of the series.\u201d<\/p>\n

HIGH-TECH TRAVEL<\/strong>
\nTechnology is also reshaping the travel genre. \u201cTechnology, including VR options, can provide a new perspective so that viewers can experience the destination or location,\u201d says Lawley. \u201cFood.Sail.Love.<\/em>, shot in true 4K, gives the viewer such a vibrant, sensual journey across the Mediterranean. True 4K breathes spectacular color and clarity into these destinations.\u201d<\/p>\n

Parade\u2019s Ashcroft agrees, noting, \u201cTechnology and the drone have given production companies access to some of the most breathtaking locations and shots, which deliver premium onscreen value and some terrific cinematography.\u201d<\/p>\n

As technology continues to advance and viewers embrace interactivity, ancillary content is another element buyers are looking for to support travel shows. \u201cYou do need to be able to add value to programming,\u201d TCB\u2019s Llewellyn-Jones explains.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe try to accompany all our projects with value-added content,\u201d says Escapade\u2019s Lawley, \u201cincluding access to talent for interviews, promos, recipes, travel information and dedicated websites that viewers can visit to plan their own trip.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

In a cluttered landscape, travel shows need to be so much more than guidebooks to stand out.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":477,"featured_media":9870,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"pmpro_default_level":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[79,69],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-9869","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","","category-features","category-top-stories","pmpro-has-access"],"yoast_head":"\nBon Voyage - 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\/bon-voyage\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Bon Voyage - TVREAL\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"In a cluttered landscape, travel shows need to be so much more than guidebooks to stand out.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/worldscreen.com\/tvreal\/bon-voyage\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"TVREAL\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2017-03-22T13:11:27+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2017-03-23T13:42:16+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/worldscreen.com\/tvreal\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2015\/09\/Secrets-of-the-National-Trust.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=\"Sara Alessi\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Sara Alessi\" \/>\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\/bon-voyage\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/worldscreen.com\/tvreal\/bon-voyage\/\",\"name\":\"Bon Voyage - TVREAL\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/worldscreen.com\/tvreal\/#website\"},\"datePublished\":\"2017-03-22T13:11:27+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2017-03-23T13:42:16+00:00\",\"author\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/worldscreen.com\/tvreal\/#\/schema\/person\/3a30a856ec6d9cc2372bf054d26a0418\"},\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/worldscreen.com\/tvreal\/bon-voyage\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/worldscreen.com\/tvreal\/bon-voyage\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/worldscreen.com\/tvreal\/bon-voyage\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/worldscreen.com\/tvreal\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Bon Voyage\"}]},{\"@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\/3a30a856ec6d9cc2372bf054d26a0418\",\"name\":\"Sara Alessi\",\"description\":\"Sara Alessi is the associate editor of World Screen. She can be reached at salessi@worldscreen.com.\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/worldscreen.com\/tvreal\/author\/salessiworldscreen-com\/\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Bon Voyage - 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\/bon-voyage\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Bon Voyage - TVREAL","og_description":"In a cluttered landscape, travel shows need to be so much more than guidebooks to stand out.","og_url":"https:\/\/worldscreen.com\/tvreal\/bon-voyage\/","og_site_name":"TVREAL","article_published_time":"2017-03-22T13:11:27+00:00","article_modified_time":"2017-03-23T13:42:16+00:00","og_image":[{"url":"https:\/\/worldscreen.com\/tvreal\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2015\/09\/Secrets-of-the-National-Trust.jpg","width":1,"height":1,"type":"image\/jpeg"}],"author":"Sara Alessi","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Sara Alessi","Est. reading time":"10 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/worldscreen.com\/tvreal\/bon-voyage\/","url":"https:\/\/worldscreen.com\/tvreal\/bon-voyage\/","name":"Bon Voyage - TVREAL","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/worldscreen.com\/tvreal\/#website"},"datePublished":"2017-03-22T13:11:27+00:00","dateModified":"2017-03-23T13:42:16+00:00","author":{"@id":"https:\/\/worldscreen.com\/tvreal\/#\/schema\/person\/3a30a856ec6d9cc2372bf054d26a0418"},"breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/worldscreen.com\/tvreal\/bon-voyage\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/worldscreen.com\/tvreal\/bon-voyage\/"]}]},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/worldscreen.com\/tvreal\/bon-voyage\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/worldscreen.com\/tvreal\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Bon Voyage"}]},{"@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\/3a30a856ec6d9cc2372bf054d26a0418","name":"Sara Alessi","description":"Sara Alessi is the associate editor of World Screen. She can be reached at salessi@worldscreen.com.","url":"https:\/\/worldscreen.com\/tvreal\/author\/salessiworldscreen-com\/"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/worldscreen.com\/tvreal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9869","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\/477"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/worldscreen.com\/tvreal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=9869"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/worldscreen.com\/tvreal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9869\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/worldscreen.com\/tvreal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/9870"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/worldscreen.com\/tvreal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=9869"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/worldscreen.com\/tvreal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=9869"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/worldscreen.com\/tvreal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=9869"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}