The future of the show Cowboys

[Marshal Halloway]

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The #1 question received daily through emails and phone calls is this:

When will Cowboys return with new episodes?

Awhile back, we reported that Cowboys is on hiatus, meaning that the Outdoor Channel programming department said no to new productions for 2011.

We changed the format for the last 2 seasons and was able to deliver on specific requests. We also saw increasing numbers in positive feedback about the show, specifically from those who requested more emphasis on Cowboy Action Shooting and Old West firearms. So..... we had some hopes for 2012.

Unfortunately, the new format was not enough to convince the Outdoor Channel executives to keep the show on broadcast. Hatch Entertainment, the company in charge of production has been notified that there will be no new contract in the foreseeable future.

We are all proud of the fact that we have been able to keep this going and the sport of Cowboy Action Shooting is the only shooting sport who has had a show on air this long and dedicated to all the activities and interests related to it. Over the years, I have personally been talking to thousands of individuals who claim they got into the sport and even bought their first firearms thanks to the show.

It has also been a door opener to other activities and interests and many of our loyal viewers of Best Defense and Shooting Gallery are cowboy action shooters.

From my standpoint and a person who has been an active supporter and promoter of all shooting sports and a second amendment absolutist for almost 20 years, I will say: I was right and Mission Accomplished ! Cowboy Action Shooting with over 120,000 active shooters worldwide across 3 continents has created an activity wider than the sport itself. Our online promotions and the TV show have both been an active component to all this and I am proud to have been part of it.

Now.... does all this mean that we think the show Cowboys is dead?

Cowboys going off the air, has triggered a concern in the industry and among those who are involved in the administration of the sport, nationally and locally. I have spend countless hours on the phone the last few weeks discussing the consequences and the "what ifs".
 
Executive producer Michael Bane and I have also spent quite some time discussing this as well and have looked at several options.
 
We accept the fact that Cowboys is a niche within the niche even though ratings show that we reach a good portion of the viewers who are enjoying shows like Shooting Gallery and The Best Defense. We are also acknowledging the fact that niche shows like Cowboys have an increasing audience on the Internet. We also add to the mix the fact that many do not subscribe to Outdoor Channel especially in urban areas where a good portion of the cowboy action shooters live. We also experience a growing number of people who prefer watching shows on the Internet and as a cheaper alternative to cable and satellite.
 
Up until now, the rule of thumb has been that Internet videos have to be short. This is no longer the case with better technology, faster Internet service and as mentioned above, Internet has become an alternative TV channel. YouTube, iTunes and other distribution options together with our own family of web sites are being considered as part of what we call Cowboys Online.
 
We believe we will over time reach an even bigger audience for a niche show like Cowboys with an an online 24/7 availability mixing the best of 8 seasons of Cowboys with new content hosted by "regulars" and also guest hosts picked out among well known personalities within the sport.
 
A broadband production is also more flexible allowing a broader content than we have produced in the past and where we can actually air "pilots" to check the response of new content.
 
Status is that we are moving towards a broadband/Internet solution for the show Cowboys.

We welcome your support and feel free to throw some ideas in the ring in terms of content. Spread the word about this thread to your cowboy action shooting friends and let's see what we can do together.

We will keep you in the loop on progress and final decision.

Marshal H.
Project Coordinator
Cowboys Online

[Four-Eyed Buck]

Sounds good Marshal. having more latitude can only help production values as well. good luck to you and Wolfbane, and keep us informed.........Buck

[olpete]

many thanks for the rest of the reallife story   and best of luck in the future   i surely set my clock over the years on that time slot!

[Danny Bear Claw]

Thanks for the heads up Marshal.  The show is sorely missed and I, for one, will be looking for it's return in any format.  I echo the sentiments expressed above...  Keep us informed.   

[smokin6]

Will be glad to see it on the internet or the little screen!

[Bugscuffle]

So, if the show is cancelled and there are only ideas of how to go about reviving it in some format, what happens to this forum? With nothing on the air and nothing in the works, what is there to talk about? Will this forum be canceled as well?

[Marshal Halloway]

As of now, this board stays the same. We are moving ahead with our plans to relaunch Cowboys on the Internet. I will bring updates as soon as I have any update.

MH

[Lumpy Grits]

Been real nice if SASS, and the like, would have helped at the start 
Respectfully,
LG

[Bear Claw Chris Lappe]

Thanks for working on keeping this great show alive!!!

[Fingers McGee]

Thanks for working on keeping this great show alive!!!

+1.  I look forward to watching new 'Cowboys' episodes in the new format.

[Sam Cobra]

Maybe something along the line of Glenn Beck's tv show. He moved onto the internet via GBTV.  I think he is charging $49 a year or something along those lines. Just a thought! 

[temmi]

that's too bad, I watched it every week

[Bugscuffle]

that's too bad, I watched it every week

Was that Glen Beck or Cowboys that you watched every week?

[temmi]

Was that Glen Beck or Cowboys that you watched every week?

I watched Glen Beck every night

[McCandless]

I'd be glad to see this show on the Internet... even reruns... My cable provider did not carry the Outdoor Channel, so I never got a look at it!

[GunClick Rick]

Probably need more of a Wild West Tech sort of thing but better.Now Wolfy hangs out at a place called White Horse Ranch,they use it as a filming school for western for the most part,Wolfgang built a couple of buildings for them.They have tourists from France coming through and are doing real well with the tourism as they love to see the western stuff from America.

 We have folks here on this forum,that have alot of knowledge in all kinds of stuff,historical,leather making of all sorts,knife making,myself,i am a bit of a musician,as i play native american flute,harmonica,some singing with my geetar and i am a charactor so i am told...Now ya need a good handsome and well built host,sort of built like the Marshall with his radio exsperience, Roy or the Lone Ranger and you could have a lady guest host or whatever like Marshallette,Deja Vue would be a good charctor from over at Sass,and also Alie Mo,they have the exsperience for sure!Have folks stop by like Joey Dillon and his friends to give a twirlin lesson every week.Have a friday night campfire sing along and story tellin,have some real native americans show how they did things way back when,A blacksmith now and them showin kifemaking or and iron works.Latino Vaqueros to show thier talents.

I would call the White Horse Ranch and see what they say and go independent~Sponsers you have here would be a good start,heck if i did anything i would volunteer in return fer a bedroll and some chuckfrom the likes of Delmonico.Make a reality show of sorts with good personallities and charactor actors,i kin do Festus

[GunClick Rick]

Guess i caint write no more the page was jumpy...

[Marthor]

Howdy, this is my first post here. I had the unfortunate timing of getting into CAS just in time to miss this show on the air. I actually tuned in for this show and when it wasn't on I had to search the Internet to find the status only to find its last airing was just the week before. Aaah!

What tipped me off to looking into CAS was the show "American Guns" where they made a custom Colt 45 for a preacher that was into CAS. That got me poking around and I heard about this show too and wanted to watch it.

Anyway, I've been gathering all my gear to get into CAS over the past couple months. I'll post more later... Gotta go right now. 

[Marthor]

Here's what I've got for gear...


I've got orders to move to LA this summer and I'm waiting until then before I actually go to an event. I plan on meeting up with the original CAS group, the Cowboys.

It was also fun to piece together a Halloween costume based on Clint Eastwood...

[Two-Step]

Honestly, Internet may be the new way to go for shows. I am sick of paying $90.00/ month for a small handful of decent channels.
When the shows are available on-line, be sure to post links. I would be happy to watch them.

[Preacher Earoff]

Hi,

I know that it's been a while since anyone has replied to this topic, but I, too, would love to see Cowboys come back as an internet show, or whatever. I always found the show interesting, fun, and informative.

Preacher Earoff (Rob)

[Hashknife Hartley]

Howdy,

I'd like to see Cowboys again. Great show, got me wanting to start CAS and Wild Bunch and now I have that chance.
Have you considered a channel on Roku http://www.roku.com/developer? That Glenn Beck guy simultaneously started his internet channel with a Roku channel. There is over one hundred channels now.

[Bow View Haymaker]

I just wish they would show the reruns on outdoor channle now.  I didn't have outdoor channle when Cowboys was in production.  I sure missed out.  Is there any dvds of the series available?

[mr phil]

 
Howdy
 I too miss the show. It was the reason that I became aware of Cowboy Shooting.
Right now we need anything that shows the shooting sports in their TRUE LIGHT.  People need to see how   SAFE  and FUN this sport is.
The very first thing I noticed about the people in my local Posse was that they were the friendliest and nicest helpful people I had ever met. Men , women and kids.  Because of some tougher economic times I now work weekends and am unable to shoot.  I miss it greatly. I miss the folks greatly.
Anywho .... I still enjoy watching all the shows on  the wed night lineup. But several of these shows are repeated in the same evening. Can't we run some best of or something on Cowboys ?
I will say it again.
The show is a good example to the non shooting world. That should not be ignored.
IMHO...........

[PABLO DEL NORTE]

  I TOO GOT INTO THE COWBOY SHOOTING "THING" PARTLY 'CUZ OF THE SHOW.
  THAT WAS MY EXCUSE TO THE BOSS LADY FOR BUYING SO MANY COWBOY GUNS- FROM .22 TO .44 MAG, NOT TO MENTION 7 or 8 .30-30's FOR THE GRANKIDS!!   
WHATEVER FORMAT YA'LL KEEP CAS, SASS, COWBOY SHOOTIN'- DO IT!  'CUZ NO MATTER WHAT WE TAKE SHOOTIN' IT'S ALWAYS MY COWBOY GUNS GUNS EVERYBODY WANTS TO SHOOT!!!