Why Television???

[TGA]

Why television??? Well, let me get up on my soap box just to explain my thoughts, to see if anyone agrees or if I'm just crazy.

I believe most would agree that our sport deserved coverage on national television, which was one of the primary reasons for launching Tailgate Adventures. But the other reason truly was to "Promote Hounds, Tree Dogs and Those Who Hunt Them", which is our slogan. I really wanted to help grow and develop the great sport of chasing and/or treeing game with dogs.

Here's what I think...

- I'll bet there are many coon hunters, even registered dog owners, that still think there's only one registry that holds "money hunts" and many more that aren't aware of hunts for trucks and other large prizes.

- I'll bet there are some cur dog owners that still think there's only one kennel club registering curs.

- I know there are very few that are aware of what the kennel clubs and other associations are doing to protect our rights and battle uninformed legislation.

- I know there are a limited number of hunters that know what the kennel clubs and other groups are doing to help our youth.

- If we are to protect, grow and develop our sport, it will be done through the efforts of the registries, clubs, state organizations, breed associations, and individuals.

- If the millions of hound and tree dog enthusiasts knew what the different organizations were up to, more would get involved.

- If the tens of millions of other sportsman knew what we were up to they would join in, or heck, maybe even get a dog themselves.

But... I believe there's only so much that can be accomplished by continuing to communicate and advertise to our existing base of members. So how do you reach the millions that don't receive publications or just don't read the subscriptions they have???

Easy... you find your way into their living room and tell them your story! If we want to gain registries, membership, sponsors or supporters, we have to tell them what we're about. It's a great story that should be told!

I believe this is where television comes in... am I crazy?

David Schmidt

[Dads dogboy]

TGA

If Folks will check they will see that at the most, Hits on threads on here run about 200. If it is a Hot topic maybe up to a thousand hits.

Full Cry has under 30,000 subscribers, the new Mag will get to 10,000 subscribers, the Breed Mags have under 20,000 per book, just not many eyeballs looking at the sport.

A 1/2 of 1% viewership rating on a TV Show will generate over 100,000 eyeballs. Most Shows are going to over 70 million households. Some go to over 100 million Households. Not every one gets watched, but the oportunity is there.

Multiply this by the number of times most Cable Shows air (3) and even discounting the number of people who watch a Show twice in a week, the numbers are huge.

The Chance to educate the others who may be watching a Show with a dedicated Hunter are priceless! Presenting the Sport of Hound Hunting to the Non Hunters is a great oportunity!

The Internet is coming on strong as the Media of the future, but TV is the Media of the present!

Just out Thoughts!

CJC

[Buddyw]

I don't think those magizines have nearly that much reach.. I think Bloodlines (largest Hound Magizine) has about an 8K base last I checked a year or two ago..

Full cry mag.. I would guess is less than 5K.. maybe they are bigger than bloodlines but I don't get that feeling.

If I had to guess this new magizine will hold at about 1-3K for quite a while. (Completely just a Guess, I have no idea what it is.) And it's so far in my opinion it's got the best chance of any of making a solid name for it's self based on content and quality. (however there have been some service issues lately..).

TGA show, Great idea.. I Just can't bring myself to watch it very often.. If I were to be honest, I Need more Cat hunts Big Game Hunts for me personally, and a little more action, comedy.. Intertainment Value.. Somthing?? . You've got to spice that thing up some next season.. Just my Two cents, Don't take it personally I just stopped watching it.. I still TVO it and will once in a while go back and look or scan through them.

Now the ironic part about it, is Your Promoting it pretty heavy and getting your Viewer ship from the websites, and forums while promoting "TV media". Otherwise you'd have to pay Big Bucks to advertise on the TV programs.. So maybe the TV is the media of the Future, But Near as I can tell your solely using the Free "Media of the Future" to promote and get people watching your Show. I would think it should be the other way around? I assume you charge Big Bucks for Advertisments, At the same time your hitting up the Message boards and trying to drum up Viewership on websites. Like I said in the Begining, I don't mind a plug here and there for your company, But this message forum should not turn into a big Classified board, So when your only here to promote your company for Free, Then i could come up with a Post call.. "why the internet.. "

The Three Major coon dog Websites that I know about, this one, UKC, and Coondawgs, are probably netting somewhere around 50-100K visitors each month.

Unfortunatetly For non-hound guys (again, Just my opinion) The truth is it's not going to hold their attension and get them watching in the current format, The only people that are going to watch this show are Guys that hunt with dogs and that's the only reason they are watching, and the reason you are here trying to drum up viewers..

[TGA]

Well quite frankly we aren't able to charge big bucks for advertising, because a hound show and the advertising of hound products and services haven't caught on. In fact the first season came out of my personal checkbook for the most part. The great sponsors that we did have, and appreciate, paid about the equivalent of a single publication magazine ad for three months. But trust me, our production costs were far more, and would have been even greater had we traveled the distances we wanted to, to film more big game action.

With that said, I'm not trying to plug the show as much as I'm trying to understand the perception of a hound show and how it can help our sport. I'm quite certain that after the few words shared on these message boards and a couple magazine ads, the grapevine far surpassed what was being achieved here.

However, what is achieved here is constructive feedback and advice, which we appreciate and take to heart. Season II will be a far better production, more informative and more entertaining as we learn our way. BUT... it will only exist if sponsors and advertisers help us afford to produce it.

My wife just won't let me near the checkbook anymore!!!

[Buddyw]

My wife just won't let me near the checkbook anymore!!!

I sure know that feeling..

I don't mind letting folks like your self use the website to drum up bussiness, especially when it's for a good general cause, I don't think you'll make a Dime on it for a long time.. if ever. So Don't get me wrong, I don't think it's profit related at all that your after. And if anyone thinks they are going to get rich off Hound guys.. It's pretty funny idea, Hound guys are trying to find Gas money in the couches most of the time..

Advertisers are tough to come by in this day and age, that's true for any Media avenue.. I'm pretty tight on where my money goes and I "need" to see results when I spend money.

Sure Glad to hear about some changes coming, it's not my show, But Like I said, I think you have a good idea, its a good thing going. It's just a bit Dry for me.. There are some folks on this website that if you could hook up and hunt with, I would for sure watch just to feel like I was meeting them, see and watch them hunt. And a few more that I would watch just because they are funny and witty as hell, CB talk BS'ing, Joking and having a good time. It's about the dogs your show is covering some of that, but it's about the Overall Experience Good times, Shitty times, and Times just Bullshiting around the fire telling a funny story, that what makes me enjoy hunting.

Go down and hunt with Dads dog boy, Drive to any location in Utah and pick any one of those Utah guys (that's got to be entertaining).. those are two shows I sure wouldn't miss.

Well.. I've got to get ready to finish up work and Head out for a Weekend of Hunting.. Hope everyone has a good New years.

Buddy

[Brady Davis]

I think TV is a great thing. The reason why shows like Realtree Roadtrips are so succesful isn't cause they kill big bucks, it's cause they have entertaining shows and they are fun to watch...regardless of the hunting. Good show, I think just watch the big ones...Realtree roadtrips, The Crush, etc etc and there is a pattern of entertainment.

I hope our sport gets some good PR with what you're doing...Good job!

[Doogie]

we would all be lieing if we admited the only reason we watched The Crush was because they kill big bucks lol

[tylers dad]

there is going to be a season two, right? I enjoyed it even if I don't coon hunt and would rather see more lions and bears.

[TGA]

There will not be a Season II if sponsors do not step up to the plate and allow us to afford a Season II. And if there is a Season II there will not be expensive trips across the country to film big game hunts or provide more coverage to Southern or Western states or cover more breeds, etc. if there are not sponsors that help make that happen. And sponsors will not make that happen unless viewers help them realize; one how important a show like this is, and two how much they have to gain by advertising their products and services to the masses via television.

The intent of this post was to dialogue on whether this makes sense for our sport... can we grow and protect the sport through National Television, as deer and turkey hunting and bass fishing has???

[walkersrule]

i dont think that the sport is large enough for the sponsors that you are looking for to fork out the money that you are looking for in my opinion. the economy is bad right now and the companies that you would be talking to probably wont want to shell out any more money than they already have to. its sad for sure because it could be a very good thing. but there is a time and a place for everything. if i was rich i would donate some to it, but im far from it. maybe try to talk to the NRA, or some big organization like that that has a way to inform others about what it is about in the hunting world. maybe they would be able to get some donations together to help out some. i have a friend who has his own tv show and it was a long road to hoe. he went a few years of having alot of out of pocket expences and now he is doing fine but it wasnt very easy at all for him and still isnt. like others said though, the ups and downs along with the informative stuff is what the viewers want to see, not the documentary stuff. hope there is a way to get the second season with some big game, bobcats and fox's this year.

jimmy

[Ike]

I had a good buddy over the other day and he told me to turn to shut and shut and sure enough there was a sportsman channel on my Satellite television, and I'd never bothered to look it up and have never since watched it. Likewise, I've not watched a complete basketball or football game on the television in over twenty years. I pay for the service, and it comes into my home but it is never watched. Perhaps if they did less talking, or talking down to people, shut their mouths and just showed the action I'd be interested. But truthfully just having to listen to most of those people on those shows prevent me from tuning in................

A few years back an outfitter buddy of mine did a lion hunt for some video crap, and all of us sat around and laughed our asses off after they put some smooth talking jerk on there to explain the action. My suggestions are be real, have real hunters talk us through the action and leave the slick talkers home that haven't a clue what running hounds is about. Maybe it's just the jerks who write the copy for those shows, don't know. I let Doyle Moss come video tape a hunt with me when I killed a state black bear nine years back. He shot an hour of film and clipped the hunt to less than five minutes, a bear that was number two world record and is still the state record. After that I promised myself that i would never do an interview or participate in a film where I didn't have control of the copy.........

ike

[TGA]

Well, I personally have been a houndsman for over 20 years, and have hunted nearly every breed. But this whole show is a balancing act... we can't air a 30 minute "rock video" of just dogs on a tree. You have to tell a story of some sort, but then that becomes problematic, as well. There are some folks that like the informative nature of some of the episodes (there were only three in that format) because it helps the young people and the non-houndsman that we're trying to gain.

On the other hand, I've got some people asking for more B.S.ing at the tailgate as houndsman do, and others that just want dog action. Some people want all big game, some people want all coon hunting. Some people want more competition hunting some people want none.

As I said it's a balancing act.

[guy54]

Is there any chance you could get aired on the outdoor channel? I think you might get more viewers. I could be wrong, just thinking outloud on the forum.

[Dads dogboy]

guy 54

Let me try to answer this for TGA.

The Outdoor Channel is a BEAR to get on. 1st they like to own all of the programing that airs on the Network. More money in it for them, and the folks at the Outdoor Channel are all about the Money!

2nd if they were to approve and accept your programing the cost would be prohibative. in the $10,000.00 per week for one non prime time air and only allow you 3 or 4 thirty second spots for you to try to pay all the bills.(OH by the way, You, the Show pay the $10,000.00 you don't get it.)

The Venues that are affordable for begining Producers are "The Sportsmans Channel" but it is owned by Intermedia and they too want to air their own programing. Then their is also the Pursuit Channel this is owned by the not so reputable guys from Denver that used to own another Network that went Bankrupt and hurt lots of people...again not a good option.

The Network that TGA is using is getting more coverage as Direc-TV is picking it up.

If you tell your prospective audience where your programing will be,either in Print Ads, News Releases, Interviews or on Forums like this folks will find you and start watching.

The Bad news is that it takes about three 13 week seasons to build enough of an audience to make a Show start paying out. A tough Bear to Chase!

About the only thing harder than successfully pursuing Bobcats, is Producing a TV Show!

CJC

[TGA]

Thanks CJC, you pretty well summed it up...

The other advantage of airing on ICTV, although a lessor known channel, is that it's on the basic subscription of both sattelite networks, which not only provides us access to more households than The Outdoor Channel (although not on cable), but when folks do hear about us, they won't have to pay extra to watch us.