A New Hunting Show - looking for input

[mrpoindexter]

The first safari has been filmed. We are still a ways off from having a finished show edited and ready to air, but I am on my way.

The show will be called Insane Bowhunter.

Yesterday, I got my Facebook page started, YouTube channel created and Twitter account made. I don't know if I want to go down the social media rabbit hole any father than that. No content to post on YouTube yet, but I will be trying to put some things on the FaceBook page until the video is ready.

https://www.facebook.com/insanebowhunter/

 

[008]

Post here if you can as well for the rest of us. Good luck!

 

[sheephunterab]

Sadly TV hunting shows don't get "picked up" You buy your air time and hope you have enough sponsorship to pay for that plus the production costs. It's a very poor business model with the networks making the bulk of the money.

 

[mrpoindexter]

I understand that economic model that most of the shows and likely mine will be under. Unfortunately, that puts all the marketing pressure on the show makers, rather than the network. This allows for creative financing to flourish, but I would rather spend my time hunting and not trying to look for advertisers. I guess that is what happens when you try to break into a market that is already falling apart from the disruption of the Internet. Hell, even ESPN is suffering these days.

 

[sheephunterab]

It's been that way for the past 20+ years. Yes, getting a tv show equals less hunting and more marketing....unfortunately.

 

[cpr0312]

I'll be checking your fb page out!

 

[ChasingHemingway]

Mike: Yes there are obstacles in front of you, but Yes you can overcome. Utilize your business / marketing skills with your passion and see what happens. Either way you win.

My only thought is align the title of your show with its greater purpose. I am your biggest fan. Here to support in any way I can.

All My Best,

dt

 

[TOM]

I say the below with the best of intentions and to try and give you some insight from my side as a manufacturer in the archery industry who is constantly bombarded with people who have a "new show that is totally different".

1. TV is dead. For real. Sponsors and major industry players are dropping out of television...and for very good reason...nobody watches and the game is changing...quickly.

2. Social media, Youtube and interactive outlets are growing rapidly and are the future of the viewer/consumer content.

3. Grow your following on the socials, upload consistent content to youtube. Promote your brand and unique qualities directly to your viewer.

4. Get a following, then approach would be advertisers/sponsors. If you dont need sponsors and are financially independent...still grow your brand on socials.

My .02

 

[sheephunterab]

TV is definitely not dead but no doubt is slowly dying. No doubt some manufacturers are looking more to social media but the bulk of big players are still investing heavily in television as they can quantify their reach. I don't disagree that it's time to begin building a social media presence but Facebook and Youtube to name a couple are making that increasingly difficult to the point of nearly impossible and they are making it increasingly difficult for your followers to see content. On average, 2% of your followers on Facebook actually see your posts if you post as a business. You can bump that reach greatly but it either costs money or it costs a lot of time. Having a show is a great way to promote your social media and most manufacturers are still willing to pay...for now anyhow. It's a changing marketplace no doubt but TV isn't in the grave yet.

 

[TOM]

TV is definitely not dead but no doubt is slowly dying. No doubt some manufacturers are looking more to social media but the bulk of big players are still investing heavily in television as they can quantify their reach. I don't disagree that it's time to begin building a social media presence but Facebook and Youtube to name a couple are making that increasingly difficult to the point of nearly impossible and they are making it increasingly difficult for your followers to see content. On average, 2% of your followers on Facebook actually see your posts if you post as a business. You can bump that reach greatly but it either costs money or it costs a lot of time. Having a show is a great way to promote your social media and most manufacturers are still willing to pay...for now anyhow. It's a changing marketplace no doubt but TV isn't in the grave yet.

I will agree to disagree. Bulk of big players are cutting tv budgets like crazy, not investing in tv. TV does not allow investors to "quantify" their reach...at all. Social media does clearly and easily. The numbers just dont lie. As for fb costing money...that argument always kills me...of course it does!!! Its a business!!

 

[sheephunterab]

Which numbers are those?

 

[TOM]

https://www.google.com/amp/variety....netflix-video-social-tv-study-1201740829/amp/



https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.fo...millennial-trends-that-are-killing-cable/amp/


https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.fo...millennial-trends-that-are-killing-cable/amp/

 

[TOM]

I can do this all day. But wont.

 

[sheephunterab]

Pretty well exactly what I said...it's slowly dying but definitely not dead and millennials are a poor demographic to look at for manufacturers of hunting gear with the bulk of hunters being much older and the bulk of disposable income is in that older demographic as well. If one looks at the actual demographic that is spending the most on hunts and hunting gear, TV is still your best bet. Is that changing? Sure but TV dead.....not until a lot more old guys die. Having a product that appeals to a broad audience is much different than one that's geared at a very targeted demographic. Hunting gear is very targeted.

 

[TOM]

Pretty well exactly what I said...it's slowly dying but definitely not dead and millennials are a poor demographic to look at for manufacturers of hunting gear with the bulk of hunters being much older and the bulk of disposable income is in that older demographic as well. If one looks at the actual demographic that is spending the most on hunts and hunting gear, TV is still your best bet. Is that changing? Sure but TV dead.....not until a lot more old guys die. Having a product that appeals to a broad audience is much different than one that's geared at a very targeted demographic. Hunting gear is very targeted.

Like i said, ill agree to disagree. Magazines and tv are effectively dead. Hunting gear and activities are indeed very targeted and the ability to target that audience is what social media and the internet does so well.

 

[sheephunterab]

Yet the bulk of big hunting manufacturers still spend the bulk of their advertising dollars on TV and print. A little more goes to internet each year but the percentages toward traditional media are still very high. You are right though that one ne3eds to get a head of where it's going but there are still a few years left.

 

[mrpoindexter]

I expect that TV will just change from being broadcast over the air or via cable/sat to just being streamed and that the format will change with it. We won't be bound by the 30/60 minute run times and can edit shows to how long they need to tell the story, much like movies which don't have a standard run-time. That said, attention spans seem to be getting way shorter. Cutting a 60 minute hunting video into ten 6-minute clips, one per animal for a PH hunt might do better for views on YouTube but will probably negatively impact the story one is trying to tell if there is something more to show than the shooting of the animal.

Hopefully I can have a show format that can survive the transition. Time will tell.

But for now, I have to finish my hunt report for Zimbabwe and start posting that. Work, work, work. At least it is still fun, lol.

 

[IvW]

Too much BS! shown on some TV shows. Be honest and share the experience just the way it happened. If you make a bad shot, wound the animal or lose it, it should be shown as that.

I guided a "famous" bow shooter/long range rifle shooter many years ago(he still makes TV shows). What a fraud! Sometimes shot 3 animals(2 wounded and lost) and then pretends only one was shot with the perfect shot at extreme range etc. It just carries on and on. Shooter and not a hunter.

After a few hunts like this, I refused to ever guide him again. He has no respect for the animals he kills, is unethical and is only in it to boost his own ego and make money.

No thanks, and as an Englishman would say. "Not my cup of tea".

Just the way I see it.

 

[rinehart0050]

I'm looking forward to your show! I'm guessing this means your first safari had been a success?

 

[sheephunterab]

I wasn't trying to quell your passion mrpoindexter and I'd definitely watch what you are doing. I was just trying to bring a bit of perspective about the industry to the discussion....an industry I've been involved in for 25+ years. I hope you do well with it and don't take my comments as any more than helpful tips. I'd like to see you do well.