This extraordinary project, the longest program ever broadcast in France, draws inspiration from Norwegian slow TV and marks a turning point in how nature is filmed.
A Total Immersion in Rambouillet Forest With Deer
On September 8, 2025 at 6:00 PM, France Télévisions launched an unprecedented experience: broadcasting live, day and night, the deer rut from the Rambouillet forest. This exceptional program, lasting 504 hours, stands as the most ambitious ever produced in France. By leveraging the power of slow TV, already popular in Scandinavia, the public service broadcaster aims to offer a sensory breathing space to an audience saturated with rapid, formatted images.
The setup to capture the deer rut is unprecedented in scale. France.tv installed seven fixed cameras, carefully positioned thanks to the expertise of naturalists and technicians. These devices, autonomous and solar-powered, record 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for 21 days, capturing every moment, from the spectacular to the silent.
The objective is clear: to immerse viewers in a raw, unadorned environment. “A sensory experience over three weeks,” France Télévisions promises in a press release. This choice to film without a host, without narration, and without a script signals a break with traditional television. The technical autonomy of the project is not without challenges: the solar panels deliver 300 W in full sun but barely 10 W in cloudy conditions, which required specialized engineering to prevent any interruption.
The project, co-produced by France 3 Paris Île-de-France and Eden, also represents a logistical feat. As production director Guillaume Lecuyer notes, the cameras were placed at strategic points to maximize the chances of spotting deer during the rut, while respecting the tranquility of wildlife. Additionally, night-vision devices ensure that the deer’s life remains visible even under the forest’s darkest canopy.
The deer rut: a natural spectacle and a cultural symbol
Each year, from September through October, the Rambouillet forest’s deer perform a spectacular ritual. The rut corresponds to the mating season, when males, through their powerful cries, seek to intimidate rivals and attract females. This event, well known to nature enthusiasts, typically draws discreet observers deep in the woods. Now, with this televised setup, it will be possible to follow this unique moment without disturbing the animals.
The cultural and sensory dimension of the event is at the heart of the project. “This manifesto has neither a script, nor a plot, nor a climax. Sometimes nothing happens, and it is precisely that silence we seek at the heart of our busy lives,” France Télévisions further notes in its press release. This approach deliberately distances itself from the traditional wildlife documentary. It invites viewers to slow down, to embrace waiting, and to rediscover the long, patient tempo of nature.
For many experts, this initiative is also a way to raise awareness about the role of forests and the importance of protecting wildlife. By choosing Rambouillet, a vast forested massif in Île-de-France, France Télévisions highlights an iconic space where deer, wild boar, and a rich biodiversity coexist. Through this immersion, the program transcends mere entertainment and becomes a form of broad ecological education for the public.
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Ethan Hartwell
I break down everyday products to understand what they truly contain and what they imply. My goal is simple: make information clear and useful so people can make more responsible choices without complexity or unnecessary noise.
