David E. Kelley Gets Into Live Streaming — Salmon Included
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David E. Kelley, known for legal dramas such as Ally McBeal and Big Little Lies, is branching into a new format with Live Migrations, a nature series he is executive producing with creator Tucker Malarkey. The show, launching Wednesday on a dedicated website and YouTube channel, will stream animal migrations in real time, joining the "slow TV" genre of unhurried, long-form programming popularised by Norway's NRK. It marks a notable departure for the prolific TV producer, though it builds on his existing interest in marine and wildlife projects.
The first instalment, The Great Sockeye Migration, follows sockeye salmon returning to Bristol Bay, Alaska, with future editions planned to track sandhill cranes, whales, wildebeest and monarch butterflies. Kelley already has ties to aquaculture and conservation through his trout-farming business Riverence and his role advising on the PBS series Hope in the Water. Malarkey, whose production company Norcross Productions is behind the series, said the aim is to let television "return" attention rather than just capture it, framing the broadcasts as a way to foster connection with nature and highlight the perilous journeys the animals undertake.
- David E. Kelley produces new real-time nature series Live Migrations
- First episode tracks sockeye salmon migrating to Bristol Bay, Alaska
- Show follows "slow TV" format, launching Wednesday on YouTube
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Live Migrations is a new nature series from producer David E. Kelley, best known for scripted television such as Ally McBeal and Big Little Lies. Rather than a conventional documentary, it streams animal migrations as they happen, in the style of "slow TV" – a genre of long, unedited real-time broadcasts that began with Norwegian broadcaster NRK. The series launches on its own website and YouTube channel, with the first episode following sockeye salmon on their journey to Bristol Bay in Alaska.
The project is a collaboration between Kelley and creator Tucker Malarkey, whose production company is making the series. It fits with interests Kelley already has outside scripted drama, including a trout-farming business and involvement in a separate PBS series about aquaculture and conservation.
The story matters partly because it shows a well-established television producer moving into a very different, unscripted format, and partly because it reflects wider interest in slower, more contemplative programming as an alternative to fast-paced entertainment. Future episodes are planned to follow other migratory animals, including cranes, whales, wildebeest and monarch butterflies.
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