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Q: How can my partner and I get in a challenge?
A: It’s as simple as looking over an upcoming Challenge schedule and finding an event you’re interested in. If there are openings in that event, simply pay the entry fee and before long, your team is competing on national television.
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Q: Do you screen teams or interview them to see which ones get to compete? I can’t believe you just let anybody who wants to enter get to film hunts for TV!
A: There isn’t a screening process. If a Challenge has openings available, the team who signs up first gets to compete, regardless of age or experience level. It is just that simple.
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Q: But, if challenges are open to anyone who wants to compete, then how will the really good teams consistently be able to get in a challenge?
A: The top finishing teams in the individual Challenges and the top point teams in the final circuit standings will get the first options to re-enter those Challenge events. Some Challenges already have qualifying rounds because there are more teams wanting to enter than we have spots for. This is why it is so important for teams to form and begin competing while they can get in on the ground floor of an up and coming sport.
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Q: Are there prizes or cash for the winner?
A: Most Challenges offer prizes. Some have cash and prizes. Some are charity fund-raisers. Individual Challenges usually range from $5000.00 to $10,000.00 in cash and prizes. The Challenge Circuit Championship is typically worth over $60,000.00 in cash and prizes with $30,000 - $40,000.00 in cash and prizes going to the winning circuit team. (prizes based upon 15 team entry field)
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Q: Who provides the prizes?
A: Most of the cash and prizes come from entry fees. Companies often donate prizes in exchange for promotional consideration.
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Q: We own a professional production company and currently have our own hunting television show. are we eligible to compete in a challenge?
A: Yes. Challenges are open to anyone of any age or experience level. If you have confidence in your abilities to successfully film a hunt in a competitive event, then the Challenge is the best format under which to showcase that talent.
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Q: Can the Campbell Outdoor Challenge provide us and our sponsors with national television coverage, possibly eliminating our need to produce our own show?
A: Yes! Why be bothered with expensive airtime and editing costs. By becoming a professional in the sport of filming hunts your television exposure comes from your skills and abilities. Money is provided through prizes and through your ability to sell advertising for your team as you currently do for your own TV show.
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Q: My friends and I are thinking of starting our own TV show and/or production company. How can the Campbell Outdoor Challenge help us?
A: As we mentioned before each team participating in a Challenge is like a mini-TV Show that is airing inside the Challenge format. This gives participants a chance to experiment with video production at a fraction of the cost associated with producing an outdoor hunting show. The very things necessary for your own TV Show production; obtaining sponsors, videoing hunts, talking on camera are a part of the Challenge show format. The Campbell Outdoor Challenge is a great way to obtain television exposure and experience to supplement your resume, jump starting your video production company.
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Q: What about the video footage our team takes during a challenge. Do we have the rights to use it also or do you keep exclusive rights to it?
A: We don’t claim exclusive rights to our teams’ video footage. We have teams sign a media release to allow us to use the footage. We air each Challenge sporting event by combing the different teams’ footage. Individual teams retain the rights to use their acquired video for whatever purposes they see fit. These may include the production of another TV show, commercials, promotional DVDs, etc. Often your sponsors will want to use your video. That’s something you need to negotiate with your sponsors.
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Q: What is the challenge circuit and how do we participate?
A: The Challenge circuit is a team’s cumulative videoing point total from the professional Challenge events that form the circuit. The Challenge events that form the circuit are announced before each season begins. Not all Challenges are circuit events. Teams participate by paying the circuit entry fee, which covers the events that form the circuit.
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Q: Do the same two members of a circuit team have to hunt in each circuit event?
A: No. A circuit team can be made up of as many members as each team wants to carry, however only two members of the team may be participating videoing hunts at any given time. As in any sporting events teams may try to match the best two players, in this case the best hunting and filming partner combination for each individual Challenge. A team’s best turkey combination could very well differ from its best whitetail team. In all cases the points and final standings are awarded to the team.
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Q: What do the entry fees cover?
A: Entry fees cover the outfitting hunt cost (if the Challenge is held at an outfitting facility) for both team members. In certain events, the fees cover all food and lodging and are also used to help offset television expenses. Entry fees may also help to provide prizes for the winning teams.
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Q: Why are there entry fees? Aren’t you guys being paid big bucks to put this on TV?
A: We wish we were being paid to put this on television. What most people don’t realize is that, with the exception of network sponsored shows, the vast majority of shows seen on television are actually produced by independent production companies that PAY THE NETWORK to air their shows. We are one of those independent companies. The only way for us to cover the costs of the ”air time”, editing expenses, staff salaries, outfitter fees for teams, production and travel expenses is by selling advertising time on The Campbell Outdoor Challenge TV Show. This is where the entry fees help. The entry fees are basically an advertising charge based upon a value for “air time” your team receives on our show.
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Q: Who owns the rights to the challenge entry spots?
A: The individual or company that pays the entry fee for your team owns the rights to the challenge entry spots. For example, if a company directly pays an entry fee to us and your team is the companies’ chosen representatives and your team qualifies, then the Company owns the rights to that spot. They can choose to continue to use your team to represent them or they may substitute another team member or team in your place. If your team raises money for entry fees in exchange for promotional advertising and your team pays us the entry fee then your team, not your sponsors, own the rights to re-participate in the next Challenge. Owning the rights to participate will someday be highly valued as those will be the teams that can negotiate for sponsorship dollars much like a free agent in baseball, football or basketball.
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Q: Is this just another reality show that’s on TV?
A: No. The Campbell Outdoor Challenge is not a reality show at all, it is a sport. “The Sport of Filming Hunts” is complete with rules, records and umpires or judges. Sports endure and grow with popularity. Reality shows are gimmicks and fads, producing short term entertainment with no sustenance.
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Q: We’d like to enter and compete but can’t afford to pay entry fees. What do we do now?
A: This is where the Campbell Outdoor Challenge actually begins to work for you. It is designed so that a participant or team pays the entry fee through sponsors. It provides an advertising format or opportunity whereby you can sell promotional advertising of sponsor’s products in exchange for money and/or product. The money obtained from sponsors can then be used to cover your entry fees, travel expenses, etc.
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Q: Do I get sponsors to cover only my entry fees?
A: The amount of sponsor dollars you get is commensurate with your dedication to presenting this advertising opportunity to sponsors. For instance, we have had teams raise over $12000.00 in sponsorship money and product for a Challenge with an entry fee of only $2900.00.
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Q: Are we required to have sponsors?
A: No. Many teams are self-sponsored. They paid the entry fees themselves because this is something they wanted to do for fun. There are several incentives for self sponsorship such as, getting to video and hunt at some of the very finest outfitting facilities across the Country, meeting a high quality of sportsmen in camp, sharing hunting stories and experiences, and preserving those experiences on camera.
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Q: Who are potential sponsors?
A: Any company wishing to have its name mentioned or products seen in use on national television is a potential sponsor. The possibilities are not limited to companies with hunting related products.
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Q: How should we approach sponsors?
A: You should approach potential sponsors with consideration and respect. It’s best if you could start with someone you know who has advertising responsibilities within a company. Remember, these companies don’t necessarily need to be hunting or camera related companies. Set-up an appointment and always be prompt, precise and informative. Start the meeting by explaining the Challenge concept and the potential promotional benefits it offers over conventional advertising options.
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Q: Do you have information for us to use to explain the benefits to companies for sponsoring our team?
A: Yes, we have put together a team media package to aid teams in obtaining sponsors. The media package is for those interested in obtaining sponsors to participate in our sanctioned Challenge events and possibly our entire Campbell Outdoor Challenge Circuit. The Team media package is also for an individual or team that is looking to become a professional in “The Sport of Filming Hunts” such as professional baseball, basketball or football players do for their sport or professional fishermen, golfers, rodeo riders, and race car drivers do for their circuits. This media imformation package can be mailed or sent via email.
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Q: What does the Team media package include?
A: The Team Media package includes a professionally prepared media kit explaining the Challenge concept and advertising benefits companies would receive by sponsoring your team.
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Q: If I do well in the point standings or win a challenge would we be able to get more sponsors?
A: As in all sports success should be rewarded. Benefit from your success depends in part on how well you promote yourself to your sponsors and more importantly how well you promoted them on television.
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Q: How many shows does a challenge make so I can tell my sponsors how often they will be promoted?
A: The number of shows is determined by the quality and quantity of the video footage obtained by the teams. It usually takes from one to six shows to showcase each Challenge event. These shows are aired multiple times each week on multiple networks. Shows may be re-run 2 to 3 times.
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Q: Would our team get more “air-time” in a big event that makes several shows or a smaller challenge that makes only one show?
A: There are potential advantages to both. A larger Challenge event will produce more shows and get more air-time, but have more teams being featured. A smaller Challenge event will produce fewer shows, but allow more individual team coverage, hence advertising exposure in the show. Ultimately, teams that provide the most innovative video footage will get the most air-time and sponsor exposure.
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Q: Does the team that wins the challenge always get the most exposure on TV?
A: Not necessarily. A team could win one or more of our Challenges and get a lot of air-time but, another team that is creative and entertaining may end up with as much or more exposure. This particular scenario is relative in any sport. The finest combination, and the combination that sponsors are looking for, are personably, highly skilled, competitive representatives that give their team a reasonable chance at success while professionally promoting the sponsor. Please keep all of this in mind as you talk to sponsors and compete.
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Q: As a first time challenge team, should I seek sponsors first and then enter a challenge or enter and then seek sponsors?
A: If, as a team, you have solid connections that you wish to contact to determine their potential interest in your sponsorship then it would be wise to discuss this first before entering. Also, if you don’t have any specific connections you may need to choose self-sponsorship. Here’s why: It’s easier to approach potential sponsors with concrete facts than speculation. Saying to a potential sponsor that you want to get into a Challenge and you might be participating isn’t going to be nearly as enticing for them to sponsor as facts. “We will be participating, we will be competing at this Challenge event is much more enticing for sponsors.
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Q: If we self-sponsor our team that means we will have to pay the entry fee. Doesn’t that defeat the purpose of us getting paid by sponsors to travel and hunt?
A: Not really. You must look upon that as an investment in yourself and your team’s skills in filming hunts and promoting products. Just because you pay the initial entry fee doesn’t mean that you won’t raise the money, and possible more, before the Challenge takes place. Often times a potential sponsor takes the stance that if your team doesn’t have enough confidence to invest in yourselves, then why should he invest in your team.
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Q: If this is a sport, and I’m a professional who is good at filming hunts, why don’t sponsors seek me out to represent them?
A: Someday sponsors will seek you out, which is one of the many goals of the Campbell Outdoor Challenge. “The Sport of Filming Hunts” is a new sport. We copyrighted our Challenge rules in July of 2003 and began our first professional Challenge in October of 2003. Those original Challenges aired on Fox Sports South and Fox Sports Midwest in January thru June of 2004. This is a golden opportunity for our members to take pride in building “The Sport of Filming Hunts”. As in any endeavor, those on the ground floor have the most to benefit as the sport grows.
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Q: Why do you say that this is our sport?
A: This is your sport because the sport will only grow if the members want it to grow and are willing to help it grow. Because it is a sport, it not only needs participants, but it also needs a fan base. There are an estimated 21 million licensed hunters in America and another 21 million hunter friendly and supportive Americans. Videoing hunting activities has never had an organized competitive format complete with rules that determines through competition who is the elite of the sport, until now.
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Q: I like the idea of having a sport of filming hunts but who is it really for and how can I help it grow?
A: Because it is a very new sport it will only grow in popularity by members spreading the news on how fun and exciting it really is. The Campbell Outdoor Challenge is for any hunter or cameraman that has ever dreamed of becoming a professional and making a living by doing what they love. This sport is for anyone who has had dreams of being able to match their outdoor videoing skills and abilities against others, or dreamed of being able to EARN their way to the top of the hunting or videoing industry based upon skills and ability. If you have any of these same dreams then you can help the Challenge grow by telling others.
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Q: I’d like to be a professional on the Campbell Outdoor Challenge circuit. I’ve dreamed of being paid to travel, film and hunt and of being able to match my hunting skills, but how does helping the outdoor challenge grow, help me?
A: By helping the Challenge idea grow you are directly helping yourself and your team. To help make your professional career dreams come true, the Campbell Outdoor Challenge must have financial backing and the blessing of advertisers in Corporate America. Those same advertisers will be your team sponsors. Those are the ones that pay you! They will be the ones to provide the means for you to be a professional in this sport. In addition the sponsors will be putting up the prizes that your team is trying to win. That will only happen if “The Sport of Filming Hunts” gains a strong fan base from which advertisers will take notice. You can only become a professional in “The Sport of Filming Hunts” if there is enough money to support you and your family. In much the same manner we can only continue to present and promote this sport if we can find financial support. You can’t really be a professional in a sport if it doesn’t exist.
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Q: Why should there be a sport of filming hunts?
A: There is the sport of hunting. There is the challenge of outdoor videography. If you combine the two you have a completely unique sport. The satisfaction that teams feel as they successfully coordinate their efforts in videoing a hunt can only be described by those who have accomplished it. I know of no outdoor activity that more successfully tests a person’s or team’s hunting skills and abilities more than successfully filming a hunt for wild, free-ranging game. Anyone who has ever tried it will agree.
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Q: I’d like to be in a challenge but I don’t have a partner. Can you help me find one?
A: Yes. We can match Challenge hunting members with cameramen members and vice-versa.
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Q: Are challenges always for wild free-ranging game?
A: Yes
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Q: Are challenges always held at outfitting facilities?
A: No, but the majority are.
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Q: We have a company and would like to sponsor a team. How do we do this?
A: As a company you can choose your own team members to compete or choose to sponsor established teams. You can contact our staff to put you in contact with teams needing sponsors.
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Q: I’d like to sponsor a team but how do I know that they are actually going to compete in a challenge?
A: We track our challenge participating teams through membership numbers and entry fees. Any team that is entered in a Challenge should be able to provide the sponsor with a Challenge contract of participation. If a member is seeking sponsorship before they enter a Challenge event, as many teams do, they should state that fact.
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Q: I have a company/product that I would like to advertise on the Campbell Outdoor Challenge television show. What options do you offer?
A: We offer numerous options including 15 second commercial spots, 30 second commercial spots, billboard ads, prize providing sponsors, Challenge naming rights sponsors, Circuit naming rights sponsors. In addition we can tailor an advertising package to fit your needs. Call 877-384-3337 for more info.
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Q: What would be your best description of the Campbell Outdoor Challenge so I could describe it to my friends?
A: Hunter and Cameraman team competitions in the sport of filming hunts.
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Q: What type of cameras and equipment do we need in order to compete in a professional challenge event?
A: Cameras required are a minimum of a 3CCD Chip. We prefer teams use a camera with a digital format. If a team doesn’t have its own broadcast quality camera they are available for rent at each Challenge event
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Q: How do I know when the next challenge is?
A: Challenges are posted on our website after we have notified our members through e-mail and a quarterly newsletter.
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Q: How much do these cameras cost?
A: They range in price from $2300.00 on up for the cameras.