Verizon blamed high costs and low viewership for its recent dropping of Outdoor Channel and Sportsman Channel, but the move has many questioning the cancellations. While other niche channels like Al-Jazeera America continue to be broadcast, outdoor viewers are being told they don’t make up a large enough audience to justify contract renewals between the telecom giant and the channels’ provider, Outdoor Sportsman Group Networks.
According to Multichannel News, the changes began September 1 when Verizon announced Sportsman Channel would be dropped. Broadcasting halted, but no warning was given regarding the future cancellation of Outdoor Channel. The second drop was announced October 1 on Outdoor Channel’s website.
“We are committed to providing our customers with the best TV experience while keeping our prices low,” Verizon said in a statement regarding the latest drop. “Each year, the cost of content increases substantially, and in order to prevent those costs from being reflected on your bill, it is sometimes necessary to remove channels from our lineup. We have decided not to renew our contract for the Outdoor Channel and have discontinued broadcasting it. We are sorry for any inconvenience this may cause.”
Jim Liberatore, President and CEO of OSGN, said the changes in programming should concern both viewers and the country as a whole.
“Our partners, advocates, and viewers of outdoor lifestyle programming are very disappointed with Verizon’s actions in the last month,” Liberatore said. “It should concern all Americans that one company can silence the only relevant voice of an entire industry with the flip of a switch.”
Verizon has offered a list of “alternative similar content” in lieu of the cancelled programming. Viewers won’t see Jim Shockey, Michael Waddell, or Tom Makris, but they can watch History Channel, Discovery Channel, and Nat Geo Wild.
OSGN is encouraging its viewers to change providers immediately to regain access to the channels. Those interested in staying with Verizon’s service are encouraged to contact the company via email, phone, or social media to request the channels be offered again.
The matter has drawn attention and support from Union Sportsmen’s Alliance and the AFL-CIO, which are also urging viewers to take the aforementioned steps.
“We have more than 6.5 million members who make the outdoors an important part of their lives,” AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka said on the group’s website. “We are disappointed that Verizon has chosen to take these actions against Outdoor Channel and Sportsman Channel. Working people can’t be silenced by big corporate interests and will stand up to fight back against this unfair move by Verizon.”
Trumka, Chairman of the Union Sportsmen’s Alliance as well, sent Verizon’s Ceo and Chairman Lowell C. McAdam a letter expressing his and the unions’ concerns.
“Research conducted on behalf of the AFL-CIO indicates that a vast majority of our members self-identify as sportsmen and women,” the letter read in part. “In fact, we conservatively estimate that between 8 million and 10 million members spend time in the woods and on the water on a regular basis. I, too, consider myself an avid outdoorsman and that is why I agreed to serve as the chairman of the Union Sportsmen’s Alliance, an organization dedicated to uniting the union community through conservation.
“The removal of Sportsman Channel from the Verizon system eliminates one of the leading outdoor enthusiast platforms and stifles an important voice in this space. Your decision also has a very direct impact on the Union Sportsmen’s Alliance and the AFL-CIO as it effectively limits the exposure of our award-winning television show, “Brotherhood Outdoors,” which serves as a critical vehicle to communicate labor’s conservation message.”
Viewers can find more information on the changes at OSGN’s KeepMyOutdoorTV.com and a list of optional programming providers at ChannelFinder.