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How Do You Get on the Discovery Channel?
Anonym1ty asks: "My group of Amateur Radio Operators is planning a DX-Pedition in 2005 to an Island in Alaska. We are planning on operating a station for a few days to become the rare ham radio contact from the island. We already have sponsors, but we want to showcase this event and Ham Radio in some way to the public and were hoping to find some way to get PBS, The Discovery Channel or some other network to tag along with us and showcase what Amateur Radio is. In researching how to contact these I find a sea of red tape. The Discovery Channel Networks only take suggestions from scientists or production crews. PBS seems interested but the few stations I have actually received a response from seem to just mention how they have no budget. How do I find a production company and convince them this would be a good idea? It is important to note that we Ham Radio operators cannot make any money on this and any pecuniary gain would go to the production company."
Just film it yourself. Buy a digital video camera, get lots of footage, and edit a demo tape. If it's really that interesting, National Geographic, PBS, Discovery, or someone might buy it. They would likely reedit your footage with voiceovers, etc., but expecting them to foot the bill of sending a crew, etc. is a longshot.
You mentioned that Discovery is only interested in talking to Producers... there you go. Become a producer.
I daresay you'll reach more hams via Slashdot than through any TV show. Are you just trying to draw attention to your endeavor, or are you hoping to attract more interest to amateur radio in general and perhaps recruit new fans? (call the show "Elmer Live"...) I'd hope any nascent genuine geeks won't be wasting time watching the mostly-drek on the Discovery Channel (Mythbusters notwithstanding) - figure out what the kids watch, and show 'em what's cool about ham radio if you can.
(KB0UQY - got the licence 8 years ago now, and have never so much as touched a radio since...)
Perfectly Normal Industries
Meanwhile, pretend you have a producer and go talk to sponsors. Whose sleeping bags are you using? Whose trucks are you using? There must be some equipment you're using that isn't sponsored -- ask those folks to pay for the video crew. Whose radios are you using? Your own? Great -- find a radio manufacturer and ask them to sponsor the video, leave your radios at home and use theirs. I'd say the radio makers have the most to gain from popularizing ham radio.
Have you talked to the ARRL about this?
If all this should have a reason, we would be the last to know.
I find it strange that you're blaming the lack of interest on "red tape" and "funding". What you haven't told us is, What's your pitch? Why should anybody spend a lot of time and money to put you on TV? What's visually compelling about your event?
Yeah, there's a lot of boring stuff on TV, and you think your event would be an improvement. But not everybody shares your interests. If you want to be on TV, you have to sell yourself. And do it fast, 'cause there are a million or so people in line behind you.
Look into leasing DV cams, or institutions that might even loan them out for projects such as this, or even local sponsors such as a Good Guys or what not who have already restocked product to lend.
Put an ad in local art school newspapers and contact them about the opportunity you're offering, and how far you're willing to go. (No money, but free transportation and boarding.) Even your local TV station might help you out possibly by loaning equipment, possibly with interns, or someone else who gets the shit jobs.
Let's face it. The beeb is the world's last, best hope for decent documentaries of this nature.
-- A mind is a terrible thing.