 11-20-08 The Economy How is the economy going to effect what we watch in outdoor programming. Many factors will be considered here: 1. Stations - Ok we all know by now MAN and Pursuit teamed up to make 1 network. It is called pursuit … who actually owns it? We would like to know and I know many producers would like to know. Claiming over 100 programs now seem to be strong …. But wait, we usually will not print rumors but The Sportsman Channel is now rumored to be going to Direct TV. Many have said "HD" but trust me, they are smarter than that … they may be on second or third tier but we think with all the information we currently have in hand it is going to happen and happen soon. Then Untamed Sports is still in the picture … 3 networks … nope something will break again. The sportsman channel is the rock in all this. They seem to have all the right business plans and the station stays strong. Pursuit has over 100 shows, so they are currently strong. Untamed is a big question mark. I do not know of any producers currently that have a contract, so yes something will snap yet again. I can tell you we do not think it will be The Sportsman Channel. Pursuit … well we just do not know enough? Do they have the financial backing if say 50 shows were to bail out and go to TSC or another station? Well that would depend on the owner(s) of the station and how long they can hang in while we get through these tough times. But anyway … here we go again. 2. Sponsors - Make no mistake, sponsors are feeling this economy as much as anyone. The shows that support themselves with a 30-minute "TV commercial" will stay in the game. The independently wealthy folks that do this for a hobby … they are all in also, they do not need sponsor money to stay on air. BUT the folks say that have an inexpensive contract with The Sportsman Channel and just squeak by … GONE. I would expect TSC to increase rates according to viewers, which would price out many shows. Then you have the sponsors that are not paying out the kind of money they use to because of the economy, many have cut advertising budgets in half and with all the "new" shows coming out, more than ever mind you, Will have a hard time to find outside support. Well that about sums it up. There are many "solid" shows in our top 100, not in our top 100 and shows we have not even rated yet that will stay fine and sponsors will continue support. There are many shows that will just "disappear" from any network but there will always be up and comers to take the place. My advise if you are reading this and plan to start a new show, if you can not afford to flip the bill yourself for the 1st 2 quarters, don't bother. My advise to sponsors … Support your shows and add as many as you can, it only helps the entire outdoor industry. If you are going to cut back, quit sending free gear to supposed shows that are going to air, because over 70% never do. They build great websites and talk a good game but in the end you loose money. Take the money you save from this advise and sponsor another show that has been on air and has EARNED your support by struggling through these hard time with you. 10-30-08 Man and Pursuit If you haven't noticed yet, MAN has disappeared. Well that is because MAN and Pursuit has joined forces to create 1 network. I do think the name of the station will remain The Pursuit Channel. The details of the deal have not been disclosed. As we have said from the beginning, something had to break and it did as we predicted. NOW we still have Untamed Sports who is suppose to go live in November. Wait are you sitting down … AHHHH we don't want to say anything yet, but the plot just may thicken even more here in a few weeks … stay tuned !!!!!! 10-29-2008 Untamed stumbles Well we are late on this one. Untamed Sports takes it's first stumble out of the gates. The deal with Dish seems to have fallen through (How were we the last to hear about that??). They claim by airtime they will recover households on the cable networks. We have got no cable confirmation as of yet. All kinds of rumors going around about the networks and shows but we will hold off until we think we have some credible information. You can request the awards list from us, we will be happy to send it to you. Frankly the list started so much contraversy from producers who think there show is all that and should have won to people emailing us claiming we were owned by the pursuit channel, TV Shows and so on. For the record . WE ARE NOT! It just kills us here in the office of the arrogance of some of these shows, producers and hosts. It seems the better the show is the more humble and gratefull the producer. The hater producers who think that they have all the skills and we are over looking them is just silly. We have a staff of editors, producers, and hard core outdoor watchers that rate these shows, we are now up to 64 so it is not just figured out on a whim. Because these producers think they are so great, they have no room to grow and get better which you have to do in this world of realtree roadtrips, whitetail freaks, and even new shows like arrow affliction. Enough of our rant. 10-21-2008 The Pursuit Channel The Pursuit Channel by our estimations must be close to full as far as producers go. Just about reaching the 100 show mark by 2009 and still working towards new shows from reports we have coming in. TSC being the strongest in the cable market, The Pursuit channel right now seems to be the strongest in the Direct TV market (in division 2). With a full staff and the website working they seem to be getting their groove. 10-20-2008 MAN channel picking up speed It seems the MAN channel is on a roll. It looks to be around 70 shows and growing fast. They use to offer a free package and we are not sure if they still do but they are getting some programming and some pretty good programming at that. Hats off to MAN, we like seeing the new shows and the programming is up to par. 10/10/08 Untamed Sports in more homes than the Outdoor Channel? Well it certainly looks like it. Nielsen Media Research has estimated that TOC is in 31.4 million homes. Untamed Sports is hitting the TV market with 40 million homes. Producers will be able to air on Untamed Sports right now for about the cost of airing on MAN or Pursuit 3 days a week with just over 17.2 million homes. Untamed Sports seems to be in a class by itself and if all goes as planned, producers will have the chance to get some serious exposure without the serious price tag. We expect once the station goes live and the producer find out, Untamed Sports will be the station producers will be running to. Though not in the sports tier and many other competitors claiming an infomercial based station, We have reports that no infomercials will be aired on untamed sports but Christian programming in lieu of infomercials. 10/07/08 Untamed Sports Network We have got multiple reports from around the country that Conquest TV is now known as Untamed Sports TV. Well that is not the big news, The big news is they will be broadcasting to Direct TV, Dish network, and 10 million cable households. That is right, there is finally a station that is going to compete with the big boys and if the price sheet in front of me is correct, depending on airtime, it will be the same price as stations only airing on Direct TV. Untamed Sports seems to be swinging for the fences and with Olympusat at the helm they have the backing to make it happen. They are reported going live in November of 08 with the many of the shows going to air starting in January. Being almost like a chess game, I can't wait to see what comes next in the world of outdoor programming. The Pursuit channel reports that the time slots they have available are almost filled. How is Untamed Sports going to effect contracts being signed with producers and who is going to bail with any commitments they have with other networks? Stay tuned I have a feeling this is going to be good ! 9/27/08 AWARDS!! Bestoutdoorshow is gearing up for the 2008 Awards. We have 2 classifications of awards. Division 1 which are stations like ESPN, Outdoor channel and Versus. Division 2 which are stations like Pursuit, Man, TSC and others. We have many classifications such as music, viewer favorites, overall and much more. So the time is now to get in your last minute votes. A complete list will be online very soon. Being almost like a chess game, I can't wait to see what comes next in the world of outdoor programming. The Pursuit channel reports that the time slots they have available are almost filled. How is Untamed Sports going to effect contracts being signed with producers and who is going to bail with any commitments they have with other networks? Stay tuned I have a feeling this is going to be good ! 8/3/08 Outdoor Programming Here are reports we have coming in from the field. MAN - Seems to be picking up. They have picked up many great shows. MAN does not seem to have as many "bad" shows airing on it. I have never heard from Michael, but they don't seem to be signing anyone with a checkbook, I am assuming they are actually watching the shows before they air them unlike some other stations. Conquest - Conquest tv seems it will go live in November from the information I have been getting in. This may be the station to watch. By all reports they have everything it takes to run a first class tv station from financial backing to advertising. The Sportsman Channel - Still the rock in the business. Some big shows jumping to the network. Is it still the "bigfoot" station? … everyone knows it is there but has anyone actually seen it? Reports from the producers say "no" but it is getting a little better. We also have reports of a big airtime cost increase. Maybe because they can get it because of the InterMedia take over and new shows. We do know they are in more households and more households equals more money. They still broadcast some of the worst shows we rate and maybe will price them off tv. Hopefully they won't loose the good programs they currently air. The Outdoor Channel - You can't ignore this station, they make up much of the top 100. Are most of them cookie cutter shows? Yes, most of them, but the shows on TOC have started most of the trends and we still love the original hunting shows that started it all. Versus - This station seems to have the least impact of viewers watching outdoor programming. They are in the households but for the numbers they reach, we do not see the results. Pursuit - Seems to be growing and adding some big shows and they are eager to announce it. Some of the programming they air is not top quality in our and others opinion. I don't know who watches pilots that come in but they should watch them more closely. They have a huge inventory of shows but if you cannot stand to watch 1/3rd of them, I think people are going to change the station with 2 other hunting networks on direct TV. A little harsh this week I know, but we report it as it comes in. 7/17/08. Outdoor Programming on Direct TV HOLY COW!!!! It is on, Direct TV has taken on some outdoor programming. We have The Pursuit Channel, channel 611. Seems to have the most programs of any of the other stations. Rusty Faulk seems to be the face of the station, but the folks I have spoke with tell me Merrill Sport is running the show. Next MAN, Maximum Adventure Network. This station is growing like crazy with 50+ shows added to the line up in the past 60 days. Michael Klahr is the president of this station (channel 608). For those in the business you might remember Michael from The Mens Channel. OH YA ... there is one more, channel 320. Conquest TV. Yes ANOTHER outdoor station. This channel being fronted by Max Baer may be the run by the largest and most stable company Olympusat. Yet to be seen what force they will have in the market, I have to tell you something seems like it has to snap. All these stations seem to be an INFOMERCIAL station with outdoor programming, none has stepped up to think of us the viewers and put hunting and fishing shows in prime slots instead of an informercial. I feel the first to step up like the Sportsman Channel on cable TV will be the winner in this contest of outdoor programming. 4/23/08. *Update* THE PURSUIT CHANNEL It is here ! The Pursuit channel went LIVE as of 6am this morning. For those of you with Direct TV, tune in to channel 611. By the looks of the shows, these guys may just become the new powerhouse of outdoor TV. 4/05/08. *Update* THE PURSUIT CHANNEL Well by now everyone knows about the upcoming Pursuit channel. Well we have requested information from them, and I got a message that Rusty Faulk would get back to me, well nothing to date. So we have to wonder what is going on with the supposing Pursuit Channel. What we do know is the MAN (Maximum Adventure Network) has launched on Direct TV. They do not have many shows yet but seem to be growing.. Michael Klahr worked at The Mens Channel which went bankrupt and that may be why shows are hesitant from signing up but to be honest from what I gather, Michael just worked their and had nothing at all to do with the failure of Mens. Back to Pursuit, their launch date was March 26th on Direct TV on channel 611. Well the date has gone by and they still have not launched. My sources tell me they should be up within a week from Monday and they have had a soft launch (whatever that means). I have heard of shows bailing out if they do not get up within the next 10 days so I hope they do, they certainly seem to have the shows but they need to get on air before they turn into a ghost. 4/09/08. *Update* THE PURSUIT CHANNEL Well I guess we have yet another delay on The Pursuit Channel front. This time it has something to do with The Masters Golf Tournament. This one is not suppose to be Pursuit's fault. This is a letter that is being distributed by The Pursuit Channel. "DirecTV has a priority to make sure The Masters Golf Tournament this week has as much available resources as possible. Due to this event we have made the decision to launch Pursuit Channel on DirecTV next week to avoid conflicts and network inconsistencies. We have notified our advertisers of the rescheduled launch. Please contact all producers and sponsors to notify them of the recent change. If you have any questions or concerns, as always feel free to contact me directly Thank you for your business and patience..." Tony Perez Director of Media Sales Apex Media © 2005,2006,2007,2008 Outdoor Research Media Group
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