DENVER (August 2, 2024) – The Outdoor Channel is celebrating its milestone 30th anniversary, and who better to reflect on this monumental occasion than Chris Dorsey, the prominent host of Sporting Classics with Chris Dorsey. With decades of unparalleled dedication to outdoor programming, Dorsey shares his insights on how the landscape has evolved, the impact of technological advancements, and the cherished memories that have shaped the show's history.
Q&A with Chris Dorsey
Q: Chris, as someone who's been in the industry for many years, how have you seen the TV landscape, particularly outdoor programming, change over the last 30 years?
A: "To give you some perspective, when we started in outdoor TV nearly 30 years ago, there was no social media to speak of. To say the media landscape in general and the TV world in specific has changed since then would be a significant understatement. I go back to the TNN and ESPN outdoor days with very large universes and audiences on cable. While a good show can still find an audience, TV is generally just part of the content delivery equation. The good news is that video is still the universal donor of content feeding most media platforms from TV and social to YouTube and streaming."
Q: What are some of the biggest technological advancements that have impacted how outdoor shows are produced and consumed today?
A: "The proliferation of specialty cameras that can go almost anywhere, from underwater to overhead with drones, has really transformed the viewer experience with outdoor content. Giving viewers a realistic sense of what a distant landscape looks like or capturing the intimacy of a close encounter with an epic beast is expected today. I remember hauling a portable jib across Africa 20 years ago to give some movement to otherwise static scenes. We were quite proud of those jib moves, which is almost laughable today given what a drone can capture. When it comes to finding your favorite content, you often have to extend your hunting skills to a wide assortment of platforms and apps, for there is some great content out there, but finding it isn't always easy."
Q: Can you share some key changes or milestones in the show’s history that stand out to you?
A: "We like to find global bucket list adventures and then do justice to the unique experiences by making the landscape as well as the wildlife stars of the shows. We decided to bring our mainstream cable TV production values and sensibilities to the outdoor genre because it's the category that means the most to me as a lifelong outdoorsman, conservationist, and biologist. We decided early on that it wasn't enough to call something a sporting classic; we need to immerse viewers in these places and the amazing experiences and critters found there."
Q: Looking back, what are some of your favorite memories from the TV series?
A: "Setting off to faraway places to catch or hunt remarkable species is always captivating, but when we traveled to Ethiopia to hunt mountain nyala in the cloud forest above 10,000 feet, the trip certainly ranks as one of my favorites. A bighorn sheep hunt in Alberta was another one that stands out, for it provided everything a mountain hunt can offer—dramatic landscapes, four seasons in a day, a little danger, and an unforgettable conclusion."
Q: What guest appearances or collaborations have been particularly memorable for you?
A: "Having grown up a fan of the Apollo missions, it was a special treat to share a South Dakota pheasant field with General Charles Duke, the youngest man to walk on the moon. Joining me on that same shoot was Marine General Walt Boomer. The two men were in their 80s yet hiked across those Dakota fields better than many men half their ages. The stories they shared, the history they lived and saw, made for some special campfire fodder. I've shot a lot of pheasants in my life, but never with better company."
Q: How has the partnership with the Outdoor Channel been instrumental in the success of Sporting Classics with Chris Dorsey?
A: "Outdoor Channel has been a good partner for Sporting Classics and, even in a tough landscape, has maintained a high standard of production value. I think the brands see that, and I know viewers get that, for when your passion is the outdoors, you know when the information is accurate and when the action is authentic."
Join us in celebrating 30 years of excellence in outdoor programming. Follow along with Chris Dorsey and Sporting Classics crew as they continue to bring the beauty and thrill of the great outdoors into homes around the world.
About Outdoor Channel: Outdoor Channel has been taking viewers across America and around the world on unparalleled adventures since 1994. Dedicated to the outdoor lifestyle and conservation, the independent cable network is a division of Outdoor Sportsman Group and provides a complete spectrum of riveting hunting, fishing, shooting and adventure entertainment. Outdoor Channel is the largest outdoor TV footprint in the country and is available in more than 50 countries internationally. Outdoor Channel can be viewed in HD and is accessible by broadband and mobile platforms. For program times and other information, visit www.outdoorchannel.com. Follow us on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and YouTube.
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