SMO 4: 12 Steps to Producing an Outdoor TV Show (Part 2)

In this episode, we continue the discussion of how to produce an outdoor TV show. 

Step 5. Decide on Network, Airtime, Sign Contract

- Once you have secured a few pre-production sponsors it is time to take the leap and get an airtime contract. Make the commitment.

- If they like your pilot..they accept your show,..agree on timeslots and number of commercial spots and SIGN a contract for a HUGE amount of financial responsibility. Send in the first payment. No turning back!

- Online options are less of financial risk. Can air a shorter time online to get social proof.
- Contact a network/producer (Hunt Chan, Pursuit Ch, Sportsman Ch)
- You speak to the programming director as to available airtimes , time-slots, and pricing.

- Airtimes are PURCHASED by the Producer from the channel, usually giving you 3 slots per week (usually get a prime, sub-prime, one more)

- Prices per week (based on viewership if Neison rated)
- Pricing (Outdoor, Sportsman, Pursuit, Hunt) - online (CarbonTV, Gen7Outdoors, HuntChannelOnline)

- 26-week contract can cost from $65,000 to $260,000 just for the airtime.

- That gives you anywhere from 6-10 commercial spots..depending on the network ( you want to pay the least you can,..and get the most commercial spots that you can!)

- 13 episodes run 2X - or just air for a qtr (13 episodes) - WP created 7 episodes and ran 6 of them 2x

Step 6: Schedule Hunts / Pay for Hunts

- 50% deposit up-front
- exchange promotion for discounted hunts
- Connect with outfitters, find MLD or culls for WT
- Some outfitters/ranches have a product or service - trade commercial spots on the show for a hunt
- Consider taking veterans on hunts

Step 7:  Build a website

- or use existing site (expense?)
- Build a WP site yourself (Episode 2)
- Capture leads for marketing and social proof
- Display sponsor page, products, etc
- Create short promos of the show
- List show times per week

Step 8: Film the Hunts
How much work is it? Listen to these examples:

Turkey - you hunt from march 6 to May 31 for turkeys..following the seasons. starting in Florida...we ended in Maine. You travel thousands of miles and are away from home most of the time. 

Your days start at an hour before daylight and end an hour after dark.

The elk/bear/deer seasons are brutal. You start in august and end in January 31st. 5 months of traveling thousands of miles and your days start an hour before light and end real late!

Example - You have to haul cameras and gear up and down the Rockies chasing elk..the air so thin your sucking air trying to breathe. Spending all day hunts in treestands 25 feet above the ground for the whole month of November during the rut?

Someone has to bring all the cameras, tripods, swing arms, blinds, and treestand sets.It gets to be totally exhausting. and you have to unload them every night on those 3 day drives into your hotel..and then back down in the am, so they don't get ripped off from your truck. Then a hunt can fo bust and you have to do it again.

Warrior Pursuits TV - for me, it was a one-man show to video. Can be done but I was worn out.

Then it was time to edit all the shows. The first few were airing I was hammered in October editing shows, day and night. Didn't think I would make it.
What did I learn? Plan better and space out the work.

Step 9: Edit Shows - Tech requirements for Producer / Channel

Get familiar with network/producer requirements in the planning stage.

Step 10: Send to Producer
Continuation of Step 9

Step 11: Promote the Show
Promote on social media, website, etc.

Step 12: Watch Party
Celebrate! Then continue working on the rest of the episodes.