FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: January 19, 2007
OFFICIALLY RUGGED WITH RD LAUNCHES ON DIRECTV, USA
THUNDER BAY, ON: Beginning on Sunday, January 21, North America's wildest outdoor program will launch on DirecTV satellite in the United States. With 15 million households, DirecTV is the nation's largest satellite provider and will greatly increase the number of viewers tuning into the show each week.
The channel formerly known as "The Men's Channel' and now called "Men's Outdoors and Recreation' (MOR) carries Officially Rugged in their line up and is broadcast on channel 604 on DirecTV. This channel is on the first tier package, meaning anyone who has a DirecTV system will automatically be able to watch the Rugged Dude each week.
Officially Rugged now has an estimated distribution of 50 million households and is available in every major television market in North America.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE : February 02, 2007
OFFICIALLY RUGGED WITH RD CRACKS THE TOP TEN!
North America. Further, back in October, the show was ranked 4th overall. It’s the only Canadian hunting and fishing show to crack the top ten in the
The ratings, released weekly, are based on market penetration, viewership reports and number of airings per week; and rank Officially Rugged very high at #16 spot of the top 100, with over 76 airings per week. Says show host, RD, “This is really great news for the show; it proves that all our hard work is paying off as we are seen by more viewers in markets across North America and especially down in the U.S. I guess there’s a lot more people walkin’ around the house saying the word ‘rugged’ than I first thought!”
Officially Rugged with RD,
North America’s wildest outdoor television show is available in over 50 million households across
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: February 02, 2007
TWICE A DAY? NOW THAT’S RUGGED!
THUNDER BAY, ON: Beginning in February, radio listeners in Thunder Bay will be exposed to a double-dose of Ruggedtivityizationalism every weekday. Due to its’ increasing popularity the recently launched series of 60 second rugged radio spots will be featured twice a day on Thunder Bay's Classic Rock, 105.3, The Giant..
Featuring the comedic stylings of RD, The Rugged Dude, host of Officially Rugged with RD, the shows will air during "The Morning Drive with Doug & Sandra' at 8:10am and during "The Afternoon Drive with Dave' at 5:10pm, Monday through Friday. Says the Rugged Dude: “Talking about hunting and fishing is almost as much fun as hunting and fishing, so I have really been enjoying making this show with the awesome staff at The Giant.”
As fans of his TV show already know, RD doesn’t like to lecture, so he will be offering up his sage advice, rants, and raves all wrapped up in some hysterical ‘how to/ how not to’ stories from his real life adventures as a professional outdoor sportsman. “Nobody wants to hear boring lectures about which bait to use to catch a big northern pike – but they will enjoy a good belly laugh hearing about the time I fell off the dock at a fly in fishing camp!”
The show is available online at www.thegiant.fm but take into acount the time zone changes.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 10, 07
RD CANCELS RADIO SHOW
Although the daily radio feature heard on 105.3, The Giant was very popular among listeners, RD has pulled the plug on his own show. "Basically, the show on just in Thunder Bay and there was no money it. If anyone thinks I do this type of work to see myself on TV or hear myself on the radio, they're dreaming." He went on to explain, "I don't need the exposure or the practice. I need money, just like any other business.
At this time, Officially Rugged is considering putting together their own radio show and syndicating it themselves.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 14, 2007
HIPPO MEDIA INC., SIGNS ON WITH OFFICIALLY RUGGED!
Hippo Media Inc., with offices in both Ottawa, Ontario and Thunder Bay, Ontario has signed with Officially Rugged Entertainment Inc., as the new management company to take control over the majority of business affairs.
The company is headed up by Doug Anderson and Brett Whitaker, who both have extensive experience in the multi-media industry, including radio, television and internet marketing. Officially Rugged President RD said, "I am relieved to finally find a company with this level experience who sees the potential in our brand and I am more than confident that things are really going to go to the next level very soon!"
The immediate plans are to develop the Officially Rugged website to make it more interactive, increase video streaming and basically, turn it into a major player in the world wide web. With the high volume of traffic it already sees, the site will no doubt, become one of the busiest in the industry.
Other sales and promotional plans will come into play very shortly and with the ever-increasing viewership south of the border in the US, key partnerships are on the horizon with major, industry related companies. Watch for big things from Officially Rugged in 2007/2008.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 22, 07
HEAD RACK SIGNS AS NEW SPONSOR FOR OFFICIALLY RUGGED WITH RD
Head Rack, based in Thunder Bay, Ontario has just signed on for a one year term as an official sponsor of the show. The Head Rack brand is releatively new but has already made a solid impact on the market place in both Ontario and Manitoba. The objective with advertising with Officially Rugged, is to reach that demographic of males bewteen the ages of 25 - 54, many of whom drive trucks.
Mike Hopkins, of Head Rack had this to say, "We are very excited about this opportunity to get on board with RD 's show. We are confident that our product will soon be seen on the back on many pick up trucks, due to the endorsement and exposure through the show. It's a practical product that's built to last and we need to get the word out there!"
Said show host, RD, "When I first saw the Head Rack product on a truck in Thunder Bay, I thought it looked totally rugged! Now that I've had the time to get a closer look at it, I saw right away how solidly built the unit is. Amazingly, you do not have to drill any holes in your truck to install the Head Rack. I can't wait to try it out this summer with my boats!"
Watch for the Head Rack commercials, produced by Officially Rugged, to begin airing coast to coast in Canada on April 18, 07.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 10, 07
OFFICIALLY RUGGED ONE OF MOR'S BEST PERFORMING SHOWS.
One of the largest hunting, fishing and outdoors television channels in the
Men's Outdoors and Recreation (MOR) channel, owned by the Turner Media Group in Denver, Colorado has a distribution of nearly 35 million full time households on nation-wide digital cable, DirecTV and Dish Network satellite.
Michael Klahr, Director of Programming for MOR recently made the announcement and had this to say, “Not only does RD make us chuckle when we watch Officially Rugged, but the show is a consistent top ten performer in our well viewed weekend schedule.” He also added, "The show has been ranked as high as the third most watched show on MOR and that occurred on Sunday, January 7, 07."
Officially Rugged host and Executive Producer, RD, The Rugged Dude, was very pleased, obviously. “I think the reason for the high viewer numbers on MOR is simple. It’s a comedy-based show that appeals to anyone from very young kids, to people who just fish or hunt occassionally - all the way to the hard-core guys who just like to relax a bit and have a few laughs.” He then added, “In fact, we often hear through emails or at personal appearances that I make, that a lot of our viewers don’t hunt or fish at all. They don’t want to necessarily learn something, they just think I'm kinda nuts.”
The format of the show has never been education. Officially Rugged writers, production staff, investors and board directors are convinced that this approach is the reason for the success of the show thus far.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: August 15, 07
TURNER MEDIA GROUP FILES CHAPTER SEVEN BANKRUPTCY
The Turner Media Group (also "The Media Group), parent company of the channel known as "Men's Outdoors and Recreation" (MOR) has gone broke in the US. Unfortunately for Officially Rugged, MOR was the carrier and main distributor of the show in the United States.
As RD, expains. "Basically, this means our show is no longer on the air in the US. MOR gave us nearly 40 million households and now overnight, we are down to about 7 million households, which is mainly in Canada. This is going to be a major set back for us. It's taken us six long years to get our viewer numbers up to where we can actually sell the show and now it's all gone for a sh**!"
Officially Rugged's sales agency, Out-Sourced Business Management in Florida, was in final talks with several very well known companies for sponsorships for 2008 and now there's no way they would put money into a show that is no longer on the air in the key markets are interested in. Officially Rugged is trying to find a new channel to get the numbers back up, but it will be hard. Since there were about 90 other outdoors type shows that also lost their distribution when Turner went broke, there will be plenty of competition for shelve space on the other networks, like The Outdoor Channel or Verses.
At this time, the show is still on the air in parts of Ilinois and nationally, in Canada.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: October 29, 07
RUGGED DUDE HOSPITALIZED AFTER ACCIDENT
While working on some house renovations at his country home near South Gillies, Ontario, RD, The Rugged Dude was seriously injured when he fell twenty feet off a ladder. The result is a broken hip, a broken collar bone and two broken ribs.
RD was up staining some boards near the peek of the roof when the ladder slipped and he landed hard. Luckily, he was not knocked unconsious, but he was alone at the time. RD lives in a remote area with very few cars driving by or people around. He lay on the ground for about ten minutes hoping someone would see him and come to help. But, he quickly realized he need to get to a phone or he could go into shock and die. It was also nearing dark.
After a grueling 30 minute crawl around the house and up some stairs, RD made it to the phone. After calling 911, the Neebing First Repsonse Team was there in a flash. Shortly after, a helicopter ambulance landed in the field beside his house and he was transported to the Thunder Bay Regional Hopspital where he underwent hip surgery about 1 am the following morning.
Unfortunately, RD is expected to remain in hospital where he will undergo physio-therapy for 6 - 8 weeks. This will be another major set back for the company.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: November 12, 07
RD RELEASED EARLY FROM HOSPITAL
After injuring himself while doing some home renovations, RD was expected to remain in hospital for 6 - 8 weeks. But, he was out after only two weeks. The doctors and physio-therapy professinals said RD was making a remarkable recovery and could go home early.
Luckily, RD's parents are retired and came up from southern Ontario to help him out at home for a few weeks or so. RD is a single guy and lives alone and without the someone being at home with him, he would have had to stay in the hospital for the duration.
"If I had to eat that ****ing food one more day in that hospital I would have jumped out the window! I just HAD to get out of there," said RD, from his home in South Gillies, Ontario. Using crutches and a wheelchair, RD can move around at home without putting any weight on his damaged hip. He should be fully recovered by the end of December.
RD has moved his office back into his home, so he can at least keep up and get some things done while he's out of the office. The company is temporarily "inactive," with no new shows being produced until the spring of 2008, when RD can get back to the action. The show is currently off the air on Thunder Bay Television, NTV and most others in Canada. But there will be other stations across North America who are playing reruns of the show.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: January 26, 08
OFFICIALLY RUGGED BACK ON DISH NETWORK IN THE USA!
Back in the summer of 2007, the Men's Outdoors and Recreation channel, also called "MOR," the channel that was bringing Officially Rugged to millions of American households went bankrupt. Without warning the show lost its distribution of 36 million homes south of the border.
It was confirmed just yesterday that American viewers will once again be able to tune in to see RD's crazy antics with the newly launching "Pursuit Channel" which will be on Dish Network, channel 230. The Pursuit Channel's CEO, Merrill Sport, is pleased to have Officially Rugged in their line up. "I know that when The Rugged Dude was on US television with MOR, the show performed in the top ten each weekend and with numbers like that, we're sure glad to have him on our team. The show is so much different due to its comedy twist. Or, I am supposed to say, 'rugged' twist?"
From his home in South Gillies, Ontario, RD was obviously very relieved. "It's been pretty stressful around here the last few months or so. When MOR went broke and we lost our distribution and viewers, it was like the whole world stopped. The phone stopped ringing, the emails all but dried up and the website visits were down about 75%. I can't wait to get back to where we were before the big crash!"
Exact launch date has not yet been finalized, however, expect to see Officially Rugged with RD some time in mid March. The timeslots are as follows: All ET; Saturday, midnight, Sunday, 8 am and Wednesday 2 pm. The Pursuit Channel is a single feed broadcaster meaning the shows are sent out in eastern time. Make sure you account for changes in your time zone. The Pursuit Channel will be on first tier packages, meaning anyone who subscibes to Dish Network will automatically get the channel and - Officially Rugged.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: January 29, 08
MATTICE LAKE OUTPOSTS HOSTS THE 2008 MEDIA TRIP CONTEST
Once again, RD will be bringing two lucky people on the annual media trip to Canada and this time it's to Guerin Lake Outposts, operated by Mattice Lake Outposts, based in Armstrong, Ontario. This iwill be the third trip to Mattice lake Outposts for Officially Rugged.
"It's a great operation, " said RD. "I always catch tons of fish there; mostly walleyes, and the cabins are all first rate!" The camp is owned an operated by The Elliot family from Armstrong and they have been in business for more than twenty years. They have at least 12 outposts to chose from and some camps have exclusive use of the lake.
The trip will take place from September 6 - September 10, 2008 and hopefuls have until April 15, 2008 to put their name in. All expenses are covered and the winners will appear on the show with The Rugged Dude. Go to the Home Page of this website for more information.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, February 1, 2008
OFFICIALLY RUGGED LAUNCHES ON FANZ TV IN THE USA
Just as things were looking up once again for Officially Rugged, on January 29, they started looking even higher up. After being contacted by Rod Myers of FANZ TV in Los Angeles, a deal was struck to begin airing the show on their syndicated cable networks. In all, the reach will be close to 8 million housholds.
FANZ TV is currently available in various regions of California, Nevada, Kansas, Tennessee, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Florida, Virginia, Ohio, Connecticuit and Massachusettes. Plans are in the works to get on satellite with Dish Network and DirecTV as well. Within four to six months, FANZ TV plans to launch "The Wildlife Network" where the majority of the programming will feature hunting and fishing content. Officially Rugged will be one of the first shows to be broadcast on the new channel when the time comes to hit the air.
"This is more good news for us after a disasterous year," said show host, RD, The Rugged Dude. "We need to get back on board with as many viewers as we possibly can and right now is a critical time for us." FANZ TV Program Director, Rod Myers is excited to have some Canadian content in their line up. "RD's show is certainly different, it's VERY Canadian, it's funny and it highlights the great fishing and hunting of Canada, so we're very happy to sign a deal with him and get his show on the air."
26 shows have been sent out to FANZ TV, so look for the show to start running sometime in mid-late February. The show will be on the air seven days a week. Go to www.fanztvnetwork.com for more details on channel distribution.
FOR IMMEDITAE RELEASE
The Pursuit Channel Launches on DirecTV
On April 23, 2008, the brand new outdoors based channel called, The Pursuit Channel, launched on DirecTV, channel 611. The 24 hour a day hunting and fishing network is available to all first tier DirecTV customers.
Officially Rugged with RD has been off the air on US satellite television since last August, when MOR went bankrupt leaving several hundred shows without distribution. RD, The Rugged Dude was very relieved to hear the news. "It's been a long, tough winter and we finally have a new channel out there who can deliver a solid audience and we're eager to get back to business. This sitting around and waiting crap drives me nuts!"
DirecTV has a subscription base of 17 million households, making that approximately 51 million viewers. Watch for RD every Wednesday at 2 pm, ET & Friday, at midnight, ET.